Several female leaders have received extraordinary recognition for their efforts to advance the fashion industry. The owner of Fashion For Profit Consulting, Frances Harder, is one of these well known figures. It is quite remarkable how Frances has worked to enable fashion firms and designers to reach a worldwide audience.
The significance of the fashion industry cannot be overstated because of its enormous impact on the global economy. Employing more than 300 million people along the value chain, the clothing industry is worth USD 1.3 trillion, making it a significant contributor to our economies. (Ellen MacArthur Foundation)
In 1999, Frances started Fashion For Profit Consulting in California to provide aspiring business owners with expert guidance on how to launch their own clothing line. The firm is dedicated to providing top-notch technical, academic, sourcing, networking, operations, marketing, mentoring, and consulting services.
Being a partner of several globally renowned fashion trade shows, FFP hosts a number of seminars pertinent to many specialized fashion fields with top industry executives and guest speakers. It frequently hosts events by inviting well-known professionals from throughout the country to share their personal fashion experiences and impart knowledge.
Frances also started the FBI (Fashion Business Incorporated) in 1999, a 501c3 educational organization that offered recognized job training programs, tools, and vital business growth to both the US and other countries. In 2017, the company closed and reopened as a for-profit organization in 2018 under the Fashion for Profit Consulting platform.
Frances previously worked as a full-time Associate Professor at institutions like Otis College of Art & Design, California Design College, and Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandise, as well as an Apparel Business & Design Consultant for companies like Priscilla Presley, the Sultan of Brunei, and Fredricks of Hollywood.
Leadership plays a key role in driving organizational growth. Frances is a wonderful example of this. Fashion For Profit Consulting is rapidly growing under her astute leadership and is now among the top companies assisting business owners in launching and growing fashion ventures.
Frances has also made a name for herself in the literary world. In order to provide businesses with useful guidance on how to thrive in the very competitive fashion industry, she wrote the books Fashion for Profit (11th edition), Forms for Profit, Brand Building for Profit, and Costing for Profit.
Product creation, brand building, costing, business planning, financial needs, manufacturing cycle, sales and marketing, and creating a retail operation are all covered in this comprehensive series of self-published textbooks. These textbooks are used in curricula at educational institutions all around the world.
The accomplishments of Frances set her apart from other female experts in her industry. She is recognized in Who’s Who in America (2023-2024), has won the IAOTP’s Top Founder & President of the Year 2024 award, and has been named one of LA’s most influential individuals by Apparel News for 18 years.
Frances has presented, organized, and moderated seminars at a number of important trade fairs, including DG Expo, LA Textile Show, Apparel Textile Sourcing Show, and Sourcing at MAGIC International. She has been an Adjunct Professor and Curriculum Advisor at California Polytechnic University, Pomona, since 2013.
Frances’s story is incredibly motivating. Success comes to those who embrace challenges. Frances is a great example of this. She put in a lot of effort and conquered numerous challenges, including dyslexia, which went unrecognized in her early years, but she persisted in becoming the woman she is today.
Frances has accomplished too much to mention here. Her work as a UN consultant to assist apparel manufacturers in Peru, Nepal, and Egypt in getting their products into the US market is quite remarkable.
Having helped countless individuals start successful fashion-related businesses throughout her more than 26-year career, it would not be inaccurate to say that Frances Harder has become one of the industry’s most influential women.