Breaking into the fashion biz: career opportunities - includes a directory of Black fashion design companies - 25th Anniversary of the B.E. 100s - Cover Story

Black Enterprise, June, 1997 by Lloyd Gite

Lars echoes this sentiment, "Learn from other people. Work for other designers and learn something about your business on somebody else's money. That's an absolute do." But most of all, to succeed in the fashion industry you must have patience and perseverance. "You have to want this like nothing else," explains Pratt Institute's Jones. "You've got to go in there and say `I can do this job better than the other people.' You can be a success in this industry if you believe in yourself."

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Jeffrey Banks International New York City 212-889-4424

Alvin Bell New York City 212-869-9797

C. C. Unlimited Brooklyn, New York 718-542-4875

Leslie Coombs New York City 212-234-6446

Freedom Apparel Inc. Chicago 773-488-FREE

FUBU Clothing Co. New York City 212-564-2330

Anthony Mark Hankins Dallas 800-789-4AMH

Veronica Jones Showroom New York City 212-967-0814

Karl Kani Infinity New York City/Los Angeles 212-382-3900 213-232-4411

Shaka King Menswear Brooklyn, New York 718-638-2933

Byron Lars New York City 212-355-3235

Anthony Liggins Atlanta 404-842-0621

Moshood Brooklyn, New York 718-243-9433

Montgomery New York Brooklyn, New York 718-953-5868

Nigerian Fabrics & Fashions Brooklyn, New York 718-260-0514

Wheaton International New York City 212-355-3232

Toni Whitaker Inc. Houston 713-520-8555