In this interview, we delve into the remarkable story of how Frances Harder, the Owner of Fashion For Profit Consulting, embarked on her path to success in the world of fashion entrepreneurship and consulting. Join us as Frances shares her vast experiences, notable achievements, leadership insights, and the values that have shaped her global impact. Discover what makes her approach to fashion education and mentorship truly unique, how she turned challenges into opportunities, and her aspirations for empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs. Get ready to be inspired by Frances Harder’s journey and her enduring influence on the fashion industry.
From Rolling Hills to Southern California Revival
Following a return to Los Angeles, Frances Harder and her family discovered a foreclosed home that fit within their budget and offered the potential to become their dream residence. While extensive remodelling was needed, Frances embraced the challenge and enjoyed the transformation process. Resettling into the Southern California lifestyle that she and her family had long cherished, Frances quickly adapted and resumed her professional pursuits. She returned to FIDM to teach part-time while her children were in school, finding that teaching offered the ideal work-life balance. This period marked the beginning of new personal and professional opportunities—some uplifting, others challenging, but all of them ultimately formative.
New Ventures and Learning Through Adversity
During this phase, Frances launched two clothing businesses. Despite her passion and effort, both ventures were undermined by unreliable business partners. Although these experiences were disappointing, Frances turned them into invaluable lessons about the realities of startups and the intricacies of navigating the fashion business. These challenges would later become a foundation of wisdom that she generously shares with aspiring entrepreneurs.
Teaching at Otis and Launching a Best-Selling Book
A pivotal moment came when Frances received a call from Otis College of Art and Design. The institution sought a studio instructor and had heard of Frances’s reputation from another faculty member. This opportunity led to nine years of full-time teaching at one of the United States’ top fashion schools. Frances thrived in this role, gaining just as much as she gave. She faced new challenges that inspired her and opened doors to freelance assignments, all of which added layers to her growing expertise.
During this time, Frances recognized a major gap in fashion education—students were not being taught the business side of the industry. Motivated to fill this void, she developed a new class on entrepreneurship and authored Fashion For Profit, a practical guide for fashion startups. Now in its eleventh edition, the book has become a cornerstone resource to new companies launching a new brand. Her work inspired many institutions to integrate business-focused curricula into their fashion programs.
Founding the Fashion Business Incubator (FBI)
While juggling her teaching career and book writing, Frances met artist Sandy Blifer. Their partnership resulted in the founding of the Fashion Business Incubator (FBI) in 1999. Initially created to support fashion entrepreneurs, the incubator evolved into Fashion Business Incorporated—a nonprofit providing extensive job training programs. Sandy played a key role in encouraging Frances to network, attend meetings, and distribute business cards, leading to opportunities at city hall and helping secure funding and grants for their nonprofit’s expansion.
International Influence and Speaking Engagements
Frances’s career soon took on an international dimension, starting with an invitation to speak at MAGIC International and Sourcing in Las Vegas. Since her debut in 2000, she has remained a regular speaker and session organizer. This exposure led to freelance consulting and design work around the world.
In Turkey, Frances worked with a knitwear company as a freelance designer and consultant. In Tokyo, she licensed her name to produce a junior contemporary line, managing production in LA while manufacturing occurred in Japan. A notable experience came in Brunei, where she assisted in redesigning the royal sports team’s uniforms. This project was marked by high-level meetings at the palace and even games attended by the Prince, now Sultan.
She collaborated with Priscilla Presley on a Home Shopping Channel collection that sold out twice. In Guatemala City, she consulted a denim factory producing for top LA brands, admiring the artistic workmanship despite the heavily guarded city environment. Her travels also took her to Paris, where she joined fashion leaders invited by the French Government to learn about anti-counterfeiting strategies. Similarly, the German Government invited her to explore their initiatives in green technology across cities such as Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin—particularly meaningful as Frances had lived in Germany for six years.
Expanding Through Asia, Australia, and South America
Frances led groups of fashion entrepreneurs to showcase their work at Hong Kong Fashion Week, under invitation from the Hong Kong Trade and Development Association. Her networking during a city-led mission to China earned her further invitations to speak at Shanghai University and advise local apparel manufacturers. In Australia, she delivered lectures across four major cities, guiding companies on how to enter the US market through topics like merchandising, costing, and marketing.
In Peru, Frances was hired through a UN initiative to support local Alpaca product manufacturers as they prepared to enter the US market. This experience, along with a similar project in Nepal to assist Cashmere producers, and more recently consulting to Egyptian manufacturers, became deeply meaningful to her—both personally and professionally.
Educational Leadership and Homecoming Moments
A return to her hometown came when Frances was invited to lecture at the University of Salford in England. She shared her expertise on the contrast between the UK and US fashion industries, offering valuable insights from her years of global experience. These lectures further affirmed her standing as a respected voice in international fashion education.
Industry Expert Witness and Legal Insight
Frances’s influence also extended into the legal realm. Introduced to the world of expert testimony by a colleague about 15 years ago, she began serving as an industry expert witness. Hired by attorneys in intellectual property cases, Frances offered insights on copyright and patent disputes—cases that often involved the copyright infringement of original prints, lace designs, and patented fashion concepts. While demanding, this role provided another layer of industry knowledge, networking and financial reward.
Adapting to Virtual Platforms During the Pandemic
In 2020, Frances accepted a new consulting assignment with the UN to assist Egyptian apparel manufacturers aiming to enter the US market. This opportunity also fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Egypt, but the pandemic forced the meetings to move online. Virtual sessions proved less effective, with many scheduled calls going unattended. Nonetheless, Frances remained committed to sharing her expertise. Around the same time, she was asked by MAGIC Sourcing to organize online seminars for their new permanent virtual platform, creating a digital space for global fashion networking.
Empowering Ukrainian Designers in the Global Market
Frances’s latest project in 2024 that was sponsored by a grant from the US government, involves mentoring 10 Ukrainian designers preparing to present their collections on the runway following the Oscars. She has offered branding advice and encouraged companies to adopt names that are easy to pronounce and remember. Her keen eye for detail and understanding of international markets continue to help emerging designers succeed on the world stage.
The Lasting Power of Networking
Throughout her career, Frances has continually emphasized the value of networking. She reflects on how the significance of each connection often becomes clear only in hindsight. Her story underscores a powerful message: doors open when you perform. A recent example includes her assistant Rebecca, a student Frances met through her manicurist when Rebecca was only 16. Now a college graduate and talented artist, Rebecca is carving out her own path in the industry—a testament to the ripple effects of mentorship and opportunity.
In conclusion, Frances Harder’s journey is one of determination, innovation, and boundless generosity in sharing her expertise. From rebuilding a life in Southern California to becoming a globally respected fashion educator, author, expert consultant, and mentor, Frances has touched nearly every corner of the industry. Her legacy is not only defined by the programs and platforms she’s built but also by the countless individuals she has guided and inspired. With her work still expanding across continents and cultures, Frances remains a powerful force in fashion’s evolving future.
