Top 10 Must-Read Books On Fashion Business Management For 2022

Bored of understanding the fits and figures while studying fashion business management? You can learn the tricks to trade from the masterminds themselves. 

Whether you want just to increase your knowledge of fashion or pursue it as a field of study, these books should be your go-to resource. Numerous courses in design have these books in the curriculum owing to their comprehensiveness and practical approach. The interesting part about the books is that they can be read irrespective of the background one comes from. 

 Books on fashion business management are a powerhouse of stories, inspirations and insights from fashion tycoons. If you scroll through online platforms, terrific fashion and business management books are making it overwhelming for you to pick the right ones. Let us walk you through a guide on the top books on fashion business management.

10 Best Books To Read On Fashion Business Management That Redefine The Industry

Whether you just want to capture the essence of the fashion industry or dig through the nuances of fashion celebrities, there is one for all. To help you dig deeper into the fashion industry, here is a list of books that will help you dive into the world of fashion and couture. 

1. The Fashion Designer Survival Guide: Mary Gehlhar
First published in 2008, Mary Gehlhar has provided first-hand experience and insights working with top fashion designers across the globe. You can find pieces of invaluable advice from renowned fashion names including Tommy Hilfiger, Donna Karan, and Richard Tyler among some other brands you can think of. 

Not just insights, it works as a complete handbook for novices and practising fashion designers, working to build their brand from scratch. It offers a perfect amalgamation of the fashion and business industry, giving top-notch advice to become a successful fashion designer in the competitive industry. 

You can understand how to create a business plan, ways to source materials, get your designs on the runway, market your brand, manage production and even some insider tips and tricks. 

2. The End of Fashion: Teri Agins
Published in 2000, ‘The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed The Clothing Business Forever’ is written by Teri Agins, who is a fashion journalist herself. To better understand an industry, it is important to know its origin and the breakthroughs that took place in the industry. 

Without knowing the history of something, it becomes difficult to explore the potential that it holds. A decade ago, fashion was limited only to the people from the upper sects of society. However, the definition has transformed over the years. This book succinctly explains the developments of fashion that we once knew of. The author explores the developments across different facets of the fashion industry, beginning with retailing, marketing, financing and manufacturing. It also lays emphasis on how marketing has triumphed over design in the present day. 

3. The Beautiful Fall: Alicia Drake
Another masterpiece among the best books to read on fashion business management. This book will surely keep you hooked, wanting to read it all in one go. 

The Beautiful Fall walks you through Paris in the 1970s, through the careers of the two most influential fashion designers of all time: Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld. Alicia Drake beautifully pens down the journey of these two best friends in the field of fashion, who went on to become each other’s rivals with the acquisition of power and fame. The journey of these two has been written with intricate biographical details of the fashion icons and is undoubtedly a must-read to walk through the journey of the fashion stars. 

4. Gods & Kings: Dana Thomas
‘Gods & Kings: The Rise And Fall Of Alexander McQueen And John Galliano’ walk us through the story of the fashion figures who dominated the industry and changed its face of it. They were both different people, but equally successful and turbulent. They were at the peak of their careers during the 90s. Galliano was the owner of Dior while McQueen owned Givenchy. 

And so, within a decade of the 90s, both of them encountered tragedies in their journey. For McQueen, it happened in 2010, when she committed suicide, while for Galliano, it happened in 2011 with a professional implosion. Who was to blame? What was the story? Read through the book to explore it all. 

5. The Little Dictionary of Fashion: Christian Dior

Talking about books on fashion business management, and not mentioning Dior doesn’t sound right! ‘The Little Dictionary of Fashion: A Guide To Dress Sense For Every Woman’ is written by fashion tycoon, Christian Dior himself. 

It doesn’t entail any storytelling, nor do you need to read it chronologically. Walk through the book and get acquainted with the terms that interest you first. Every industry has some trends, which at a certain point in time, start becoming unspoken and unbreakable rules. In this book, Dior gives in some of his timeless tips and tricks about the fashion industry alongside being a teeny tiny dressing up guide. This one can be a fun book to read through. 

6. Fashion Design Essentials: Jay Calderin
‘Fashion Design Essentials: 100 Principles of Fashion Design’. Is your mind constantly bombarded with questions revolving around fashion? You ought to read this book. It can become your best friend during your design journey. 

This book contains 100 insights outlining and defining the crucial concepts of the fashion industry. Each of the concepts is supported with the help of real-life fashion design illustrations and is recommended by dissertation writing experts. If you want to take your mind off the fashion business management concepts alongside garnering knowledge about understanding textiles, defining concepts, sewing skills, and garment construction among others, this book is a sure shot treasure chest of knowledge. 

7. The Fashion Business Manual: Fashionary
‘The Fashion Business Manual: An Illustrated Guide To Building A Fashion Brand’. It is the one-stop essential guide to fashion brand building. First, it walks you through a comprehensive survey of regional textiles across the Indian subcontinent. It contains the history, materials and techniques of the commercial and tribal textiles. 

This is followed by providing a step-by-step informational guide on how to build a brand from scratch. The unique factor of the book lies in the illustrations that it uses to break down and provide complex business concepts. If you are a fashion student or an entrepreneur who is just starting in the fashion industry, this book is a must-read. 

8. The Fundamentals of Digital Fashion Marketing: Clare Harris

Digital marketing is a well-known concept in the present day. But, how is it integrated into the fashion industry? This book by Clare Harris explores the contemporary practices being carried out in fashion, and also illustrates the role of these practices through industry examples. The marketing practices that are mainly covered include social media, video, online marketing, in-store technologies, and digital spaces among several others. 

The book also includes interviews and case studies from the top brands and cutting-edge companies, alongside promoting learning through exercises and activities. This puts together a book stimulating and inspiring the next generation of creative marketers in the field of fashion and business. 

9. The Battle of Versailles: Robin Givhan
This book is an account of a unique event that took place in the Palace of Versailles on November 28, 1973, where the world’s social elites gathered together for a fashion show. It was this event that turned the tables for the world of fashion and how it is known to us in the present day. 

Have you ever heard of a catwalk battle on the ramps? We guess not! But, this was it. The event started as a fundraiser to restore the palace of King Louis XIV, where top five American designers faced off against top-five French designers. The audience included celebrities and trendsetters. But, what happened that evening altered the face of fashion forever. This book is a must-read and undoubtedly better than a lot of fictional pieces. 

10. Apparel Manufacturing: Grace I. Kunz and Ruth E Glock

If you are just starting your business in the field of fashion, the foremost thing you need to focus on is your product. I.e., apparel. This book provides an in-depth understanding to the readers of the complete manufacturing process. 

Right from product development analysis to the design phase, you get an overall insight into the process. The book also allows the readers to get versed in the nitty-gritty of the apparel management process, which surely plays a valuable role when starting your brand. Read this book on fashion business management to get started on the right note. 

The Showdown: 

The field of fashion demands consistently staying up to date with the trends alongside being versed with the past. To ensure that you have a perfect blend of fashion knowledge, you can read these fashion and business management books which will not just provide you with insights but also some engaging stories from the world of fashion. The next step, if you wish to venture into the field as a professional, would be to look for the best design courses offered both at the undergraduate and graduate levels.