Nichole de Carle, a fashion industry pioneer, has worked for Alexander McQueen and DKNY, invented an architectural design approach for lingerie design, established a successful worldwide brand, and had her creations worn by celebrities like Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez. She now runs a profitable lingerie and swimwear company and a bodywear consultancy, providing specialized product development and sustainable production solutions. Nichole teaches courses at the London College of Fashion and shares her experience building her personal brand. To start a successful fashion business, Nichole suggests creating a strong financial plan, knowing one’s strengths and weaknesses, and choosing the right team. She also advises overcoming challenges, like managing a business like having a child, by enjoying the journey and staying positive.
Nichole de Carle has worked for the fashion giants Alexander McQueen and DKNY, invented an architectural design approach for lingerie, established a successful worldwide brand with her own lingerie line, and had her creations worn by celebrities like Beyoncé and Jennifer Lopez.
With a profitable lingerie and swimwear company in addition to a bodywear consultancy that provides worldwide businesses with specialized product development and sustainable production solutions, Nichole is now a pioneer in the British bodywear sector.
For the London College of Fashion, Nichole teaches an on-campus course and an online short course in lingerie and swimwear design. We got in touch with her to find out more about what it takes to succeed in the fashion business.
How did working for Alexander McQueen, DKNY, and Pleasure State help you build your personal brand and lingerie design?
Although I’ve always wanted to start my own brand, I wanted to get as much practical experience as I could before making the leap. I gained a thorough understanding of the many business models used by the industry via my work at several fashion houses, from haute couture to more mainstream collection work. I joined the then-new premium lingerie company Pleasure State after McQueen and DKNY. I gained knowledge from this experience about how a fledgling firm manages rapid development over a short period of time, which helped me figure out how to solve the usual teething issues that come with beginning a business. The hands-on training helped me become ready to start my own business.
What suggestions do you have for folks looking to start their own record label?
Create a strong financial plan. Depending on the kind of brand you’re trying to create, a different amount of cash will be needed, but creating a globally recognized brand demands a large investment. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses is also crucial. It might be seductive to want to carry the weight alone, particularly as a female entrepreneur. However, by being aware of your own skills and taking a step back, you may select the ideal team to work with and concentrate on your strengths.
Do you have any advice for overcoming the challenges involved with starting a new business as a seasoned entrepreneur with a fashion consultancy?
“Similar like having a kid, managing a business. There will be challenging times, but the most important thing is to enjoy the journey. Even if you’ve had a bad day, you still need to wake up in the morning, ride your bike again, and keep peddling.
How did you stand out from the competition in such a crowded market?
The lingerie, swimwear, and athletic markets are saturated in some regions, as are other sectors today. You might find gaps where you can establish a niche for yourself by thoroughly understanding the market you desire to penetrate. It is crucial to have a solid awareness of the industry and the potential before releasing anything exciting and novel.
At the London College of Fashion, you are the online instructor for the “Lingerie, Swimwear and Bodywear Design” course. What guidance do you offer students that sign up for your course with the goal of starting a successful business?
“A fashion business needs a variety of elements. Like making a confection, success depends on using the right ingredients. You need both the right connections and a high-quality product or design to be able to open doors. You will next want a financial strategy to guide you through each stage of your company journey once you have the product and are attempting to promote it. Additionally, there is no such thing as an independent business owner. Having a strong team will influence whether the cake rises or not.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of working independently after managing your own business and working for major labels?
Having total control over your daily routine is the main advantage. The drawback of this is how difficult it is to turn off! It is crucial for business owners to find their equilibrium, in whatever form it may be.
Lingerie and swimwear business owners should put the customer or the design first.
“My early experiences were extremely different when I initially started making bespoke artwork, mostly for private clientele. However, as a result of Instagram, there has been a huge movement toward creating items that complement consumers’ lives and shopping preferences. While maintaining a certain amount of authenticity in your design, it’s critical to change with your customers and produce goods that are representative of their life.
The fashion business is really cutthroat. Have there been any challenges in growing your clientele?
“It’s critical to develop creative strategies to boost your brand and broaden its awareness and reach because advertising may be expensive. Although you now have a direct line of communication with your market thanks to social media, working with other businesses may be a great way to interact with your audience and widen your reach.
Do you have any suggestions for business owners looking to reduce the dangers involved with starting a label?
“You must start off quietly. On a little workstation in the corner of my room, I started making my items, but I didn’t hire anyone until I was sure the company could sustain a crew. When building your brand, you must be flexible and open to make adjustments because the fashion market is always changing. Your initial company strategy will be very different from the one you have five years later. Successful businesspeople approach the market with a clear strategy but are flexible enough to adjust as necessary.
The development of connections with other colleagues is also crucial. Make sure you always have choices as you grow since there is no way to recover if one of your biggest partners, like your manufacturer, files for bankruptcy. It may have an impact on your business.
The biggest danger in cash flow management is producing too much inventory before building a loyal client base. As you get to know your clients, what spectacle they like, it is advisable to build smaller collections at first. You’ll know exactly what to create for a devoted client once you have one.
What impact do lingerie and swimwear business trends have?
“Compared to the rest of the fashion business, the lingerie and swimwear sector is less structured. As fashion trends change, some forms, like the bralette, may become more fashionable. It is intriguing to see how product categories are blending nowadays, with swimsuit firms moving into lingerie and vice versa. Developing a brand around a lifestyle or personal brand rather than a trend is undoubtedly more important than ever today.
One final worry. What is the future of lingerie and swimsuit design?
There is a lot more “social designing” today. Many designers work with social brand ambassadors who already have an audience to sell to to produce collections, such a well-known blogger, DJ, or dietician. For entrepreneurs who are not influencers by trade, working with a reliable influencer makes more sense than trying to build an audience from scratch.
For further information
You can contact me on LinkedIn or check my site
We gather unique personal stories in connection with design from all over the internet, to inspire you to achieve your dreams. This case study was supervised by our team and it definitely caught our interest. You can find other inspiring stories here.
English 
German 
Spanish