BS: How to market art for textiles - anyone?

Subject: BS: How to market art for textiles - anyone?
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Jul 05 - 06:55 PM

Doing a bit of research for a talented artist/friend whose work most people think should be used in textiles...perfect designs for bedsheets, towels, rugs, etc.

Anyone here have any idea of how to get the artwork into the right hands? Any knowledge of the textile industry and how they go about getting their designs?

I am just starting this, so I know I may find stuff on google, but we're such a varied lot here, I thought I'd ask anyway.:-)

Thanks for any info,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: How to market art for textiles - anyone?
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Jul 05 - 07:05 PM

A friend of mine works for Brunchsweig and Fils. Her daughter designs textiles. It is a highly competitive field and the bigger firms have in-hose designers. PM an email and I will get them in touch.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: How to market art for textiles - anyone?
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Jul 05 - 11:32 PM

"in-hose" eh, Sins?**bg** Thanks! I will send an email etc. tomorrow.

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: How to market art for textiles - anyone?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Jul 05 - 03:16 AM

Are there any local companies that make that sort of thing on a smaller scale? It's possible that they might be approachable.... small businesses don't have the budget to encourage designers to work for them, but there might be something on a one off basis. This could at least get them noticed and if the designs are that good, offers might follow.

The thing to do is get out there and 'prostitute' a few designs.... once the initial break has been made, it becomes easier. Trouble is, that initial break is the hardest thing to do, unless you're related to someone in the business; have a vast amount of money and can start your own business; already have a famous name (example: all those actresses who've started knicker businesses).

Good luck, and the key is... persevere.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: How to market art for textiles - anyone?
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jul 05 - 12:17 PM

A pair of friends make handcrafted soap.

There is not much of a local market so they created their own and have been doing better and better each year. Their specialty market is GIFT BASKETS.

http://www.fairyinthetub.com/

Subject: RE: BS: How to market art for textiles - anyone?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jul 05 - 12:33 PM

If she would be interested in starting it as a cottage industry, and then marketing from a successful start toward the mass market/manufacturers, CarolC had a recent thread about marketing her artwork. Not specifically fot textiles, but maybe relevant about doing it from home.

I had friends who were wonderful artists and made a nice living designing molds for table service-- potters who had day jobs designing hospital trays, plates, cutlery, etc. They always talked about how heartbreaking it was to deal with the employer-employee feature when it came to art from their hearts. I've experienced that as well, writing ad/promotional copy in a commercial setting when what I love to do is write grant proposals for projects I believe in.

~S~