Apparel Search publishes two how-to libraries, written for two different readers. The industry guides walk through the work of starting and running a fashion business, step by step and in order. The style guides answer the shopper's version of the same question — how do I wear this? — with fit rules and outfit formulas for the garments people search for most. This page is the front door to both: pick the library that matches your question and start from its hub.
How-To Guides for the Fashion Industry
Who it is for: founders, designers, production and sourcing staff, and anyone starting or growing a clothing business.
What is inside: the full path from first idea to delivered order — defining a customer and collection, creating tech packs and size charts, finding and comparing clothing manufacturers, costing a style, planning production timelines and first orders, quality inspection, and selling a collection to boutiques, plus manufacture guides for specific products such as jeans, knitwear, outerwear and handbags.
Browse the Industry How-To Guides →Start with these popular guides:
How to Style — Guides for Consumers
Who it is for: shoppers and anyone building outfits from their own wardrobe.
What is inside: one guide per garment or shoe — wide-leg and barrel jeans, jorts, denim dresses and shirts, satin skirts, slip dresses, oversized t-shirts, blazers, cardigans, loafers and ballet flats. Each starts with the fit and proportion rules, then gives outfit formulas by occasion and season, and links to the Apparel Search clothes guide for that garment.
Browse the How to Style Guides →Popular styling guides:
Common Questions
- What is the difference between the two how-to sections?
- The industry guides are about making and selling fashion — starting a clothing line, finding a manufacturer, creating tech packs, costing a style and planning production. The style guides are about wearing fashion — outfit formulas and fit rules for the clothes in your wardrobe. Same how-to format, two different readers.
- Where are the free fashion industry tools?
- Apparel Search publishes free calculators and planners for costing, production and buying on its Apparel Industry Tools page, and the industry guides link to the relevant tool at each step.
- Are the how-to guides free to read?
- Yes. Every Apparel Search how-to guide — industry and style alike — is free to read online, with no account or sign-up needed.
Apparel Search: the free Apparel Industry Tools — calculators and planners for costing, production and buying — sit alongside the industry guides.