As I come across more and more amazing and talented independent fashion designers, I am sort of floored by the number who do not have a readily accessible media kits. Designers, the press you crave will come much easier if you map out all your wonderful traits (aka, why your work is noteworthy) and make it easy for members of the media to grab and go.
Remember that first and foremost you want to tell us who you are,what you do, and why you’re special. Answer these questions through a great bio and a powerfully written mission statement or even a Q&A; make the reader want to not only write about you and your work but share it with everyone she knows.
Editor’s note: Back in my days of hand-weaving and designing handbags, I worked hard to connect with members of my local press in Philly. As a budding entrepreneur in very early stages of teaching myself business acumen, I was only sometimes successful. However, my bags did manage to catch the eye and really resonate with an editor from Philadelphia Magazine to the point of which she didn’t just write about me, she bought my work, wore it when she went to fancy and fun gatherings, told all her friends about me, and called me her “current obsession”. Now, being young and still learning business savvy, I did this without a media kit. However, to this day(some 10years later), I can’t help but think of how many more members of the press I could have reached so deeply if I had created one.
It’s not just consumers who have the potential to become your army of ambassadors. The media can latch on to someone or something with just as much passion, you simply need to give them the tools to do it.
So, what should you include in your media kit?
- Your logo, both hi-res and for the web
- Amazing, detailed, perfectly lit product photos
- Stunning campaign photos (remember that photography is the single most important piece of content on your website. Invest in it.)
- A press release introducing your line or a new collection
- Recent press coverage
- Any cool collaborations with notable members of the fashion community
- Your social links
- Contact information
If you’re on a budget (which most new designers are), creating your own media kit is OK. However, having a talented graphic designer put it together for you, is even better. Either way, making sure that you have created something that the press can access and easily pull from, is key to coverage success.
Bobbi
Hi there,
Great advice!! Could I please ask you who I would specifically mark my press kit for the attention of? Would it be the press officer at various fashion magazines? Who else could I sent it too? Would I just write an engaging covering letter/email and attach my press pack to my email?
Thank you sooo much! x
I have had a press pack ready for months but not been sure who to send it to!
alina jiwani
HI Nicole
Can you share a media kit example that is done well so we can get an idea?
Jojo
That was so helpful! I am new to the PR freelance world and have only one client right now. She is a fashion designer but she asked me to help her do a media kit – and although I did do a few back in college, I thought that a fashion media kit was a little different. What are your tips for doing a digital portfolio and is it any different?
Joneien
That definitely helps. Thanks!
Joneien
I have a question, what format is a Media Kit in? I keep hearing that I need one, and seeing the list of things it includes, I have all of this readily available on my computer, ready to send out at any time. But as a “kit”, does this mean everything is on a jump drive, CD? Is it printed, or is it in a pdf you can e-mail out? That’s the part I never understood. Physically, what exactly is a media kit? Maybe that’s why so many of us don’t have one, because we don’t know what it actually is, even if we know what needs to be in it. 🙂
Nicole Giordano
Hi Joneien,
Excellent question! The best option for a media kit is usually PDF and add a page to your website, where media can visit and access everything without having deal with email at all.
If you aren’t able to add the page to your site just yet, having a PDF on hand to instantly email is a good start. Just remember to add a line about media kit requests to your “Contact” page.
Hope that helps!