Fashion Startup Funding: What 250 Creatives Told Me About the Money Problem

Welcome to the second edition of Sim de la Mode // Fashion Startup Logs — where I share what I’m learning from hundreds of students and how it’s shaping the Sim de la Mode app: a mobile game that teaches fashion entrepreneurship through hands-on, real-world challenges.

If you're interested in fashion or dreaming of starting your own brand someday, this series is for you. Each post shares insights from my market research — and what it means for your future in the industry.

Last week, we learned that brand building is the #1 skill future fashion founders want to master.This week, we’re tackling the biggest elephant in the room: 💸 Startup funding.

The Cold, Hard Truth About Fashion Startup Funding

When I asked 250 students and recent grads what’s really stopping them from launching their own brands, the response was loud and clear:

40% said funding was their biggest obstacle. 💔

As one student put it: “When there isn’t enough money, creativity can be limited.”

Other concerns included lack of experience (15%), industry connections (13%), and finding customers (10%) — but money clearly dominated the conversation.

The Fashion Startup Catch-22

Whether you're starting a physical fashion label or a digital platform like mine, the reality is the same:

You need money to make something — but it’s hard to get money without something to show.

Sound familiar? It’s like needing experience to land a job, but needing a job to gain experience. Frustrating — and totally real.

My Real-Life Experiment in Fashion Startup Funding

I recently wrote a piece on 7 Smart Ways to Fund Your Fashion Startup. And I’m not just suggesting them — I’m putting them to the test.

Right now, I’m experimenting with:

1. Crowdfunding (via my Indiegogo campaign)

2. Pre-orders (included as a reward tier)

3. Grant applications (submitted to EIT Culture & Creativity)

And let me tell you — it’s wild out here. 😅Spammy “marketing agencies” flood my inbox, platform algorithms hide new campaigns without early buzz, and promoting everything myself feels like a full-time job.

This is exactly why I’m building Sim de la Mode — to let you simulate real business decisions before you spend real money.

What You Can Do Now (Even Without Money)

If you’re in the early stages of your fashion journey, here’s my advice:

✅ Start small — test before you invest big

✅ Combine funding strategies — don’t rely on one source

✅ Build your network now — today’s contacts are tomorrow’s investors

Help Shape Sim de la Mode 💡

I want to make this app worth your while — and I need your help to do that.

What would make Sim de la Mode worth €50 to you?A specific feature? A certain type of content? Something else?

💬 Drop your ideas in the comments — or hit reply if you got this via email.

🎯 Support the Vision

If you’re exploring the idea of launching your own fashion brand, or want to work in fashion someday Sim de la Mode is your chance to practice first — in a safe, creative, and realistic way.

💥 Early supporters get more than a discount — they get a head start.

Back the Indiegogo campaign today and unlock a special in-game perk that gives your virtual brand an edge right from the start. (Think extra funds, special access, or VIP advantages… 👀)

👉 Support Sim de la Mode on Indiegogo

And stay tuned — I’ll be sharing more real insights from students just like you in the next post!

Thanks again for being part of this journey 💛