How to Start a Clothing Line: The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Clothing Line (2024)

If you're thinking of starting a clothing line, you're in the right place.

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I think we can all agree, the thought of starting a clothing line is pretty exciting.

With your own clothing line, you can put your new business idea to the test and discover what itโ€™s like to build an unforgettable brand name.

Your clothing company could take you around the world, to the cat walks of New York and Milan. At the same time, it gives you an opportunity to capture the attention of endless and other fashion designers.

So, why not just bite the bullet and do it?

For most people, the problem is that they simply donโ€™t know how to get started.

Like with starting any small business, launching your own clothing line comes with a lot of hurdles to jump and challenges to overcome. You need to think about everything from your business name, to your marketing plan, production costs, and more. If you donโ€™t have the money for your clothing items planned out, then youโ€™ll need to consider things like crowdfunding and angel investors too.

Fortunately, if youโ€™ve got the passion required to make your fashion business work, youโ€™re already on the right track.

Launching Your Own Clothing Line: Table of Contents

Does creating an online brand and launching a digital store selling your apparel fuel you with excitement? If the answer's yes, then today weโ€™re going to help you make your business idea come to life.
There are tons of success stories of people setting up an online store and making their first $1,000 in just a few weeks! It stands to reason if they can do it, then you can too.

Let's dive into this handy guide on how to start a clothing line!

Step 1. First Things First, Choose a Winning Product

Creating your own clothing line requires a lot more work than printing out a t-shirt or two and selling them online. Youโ€™re going to need a business plan, a comprehensive business idea, and a step-by-step plan for how youโ€™re going to make your fashion business come to life.

Firstly, you need to decide on the products you want to sell.

Chances are if you're finally living your dream and launching a fashion line; you'll have a rough idea of what you'll want to create.

However, ifย you're not settled on a particular product yet, never fear because the fashion industry opens up aย whole world of opportunity.

You could consider selling any of the below apparel:

  • T-shirts
  • Formal shirts
  • Sweatshirts
  • Leggings
  • Dresses

Just to name a few!

how to start a clothing line - winning product

The good thing about running a fashion business is that you can work with clothing manufacturers to create a wide range of different products. Alternatively, if you want to reach out to a very specific niche with your fashion brand, you can focus on one exclusive thing.

It doesn't matter what product you want to launch; you need to pick an initial piece to build your business around. You can be sure that each article poses a new set of challenges and opportunities for your online clothing business.

Homework: Take some time and think about the kinds of clothes you want to design, create, and sell. Consider the style and vibe you want your brand to exude. How will your products reflect that?

Step 2. Which Business Model is Best for Starting a Clothing Line?

Youโ€™ve got an idea of what youโ€™re going to sell with your clothing brand, and what sort of target market youโ€™re going to reach with your clothing company. Now itโ€™s time to build on that business idea with a go-to-market strategy. This is a crucial part of your business plan, and itโ€™s otherwise referred to as a step by step business model.

Now, you have a product in mind; you need a business model. There are four main options (as listed below). The expense and practicality of each of them vary massively; so you'll need to consider your options carefully.

1. Print-On-Demand Clothing

Out of all four possibilities, this is by far the easiest.

Print on demand is when a company prints your design on a blank version of your product by utilizing a digital ink-jet printer. This allows them to print directly onto the garments with impressive accuracy.

This business model might be ideal for you, if:

  • You're on a low budget. There are no startup fees, so it's cost-effective for fulfilling small orders. In theory, you could hit the ground running within a few hours, for under $50!
  • You value automation in your business.
  • You want to produce printed clothing quickly (a matter of days).
  • You don't want to be limited by your choice of colors.
  • You want room for expansion. You can design a plethora of clothes; from tees to leggings and everything in between.

However, there are a few disadvantages to note:

  • Lower profit margins in comparison to the other two business models.
  • ย You won't have much of a say when it comes to; theย  quality of material, the stitching, the sizing, etc., because you're using standard wholesale clothing,
  • It's not cost-effective for fulfilling larger orders
  • You don't usually benefit from volume discounts
  • You'll have limited finishing options

Top Print-On-Demand Tips For Starting a Clothing Line

If you're unsure which e-commerce platform to use to launch your clothing line, then check out this article. Over there you'll find a brief review of six of the best platforms on the market. You won't go too far wrong with any of these!

If you like the sound of this business model, research both Printful (read our Printful review) and Shopify (read our Shopify review). They're both perfect platforms for laying the foundations for your online store.

When you get an order, the printing process automatically kicks in; they also handle the shipping for you.

You should note, Printful flawlessly integrates with your Shopify store, allowing you to get the best of both these services.

how to start a clothing line - Printful

A print on demand strategy for your own clothing line means that you can reduce the amount of stress associated with finding a range of fashion designers to work with to bring your ideas to life. You can choose a number of basic clothing items instead from available clothing manufacturers and add them to your new business. The production costs are low, the manufacturing process is easy, and you can start taking payments quickly.

2. Dropshipping Clothes

Of course, not everyone will be attracted to the business idea of the print on demand clothing store. If you want your new business to offer something a little more unique, then dropshipping can still be an excellent strategy for a first time business owner.

If you fancy trying your hand at drop shipping, check out this guide on how to get your drop shipping business up and running quickly. It's well worth a read!

Dropshipping is a popular choice of business model. It allows you to fulfill orders while entirely removing you from the process- how awesome is that?!

This is how works:

  1. ย A customer orders something from your online boutique.
  2. ย Your drop shipper handles, packages and ships the customer's order directly to them.

As you've probably guessed, the products you advertise and sell online are stored inย your supplierโ€™s warehouse.

Although you'll be responsible forย customer service issues, your drop shipper usually handles returns. Meaning you have one less thing to worry about!

Dropshipping is ideal if you're on a budget. A lot of us don't have the capital to either rent or stock a warehouse, and this business model provides an excellent workaround.

Plus, if you want to market a new product, there's way less financial risk involved. You don't have to waste money stocking products to test them. Instead, you can hit the ground running with an array of apparel at your fingertips.

dropshipping starting a clothing line

However, there're a few cons to drop shipping you should be aware of:

  • You lack control over order fulfillment and shipping times: if your drop shipper fails to send your products on time, your customer's will have a poor experience. This can lead to complaints, poor reviews, and decreases the likelihood of repeat custom and referrals.
  • Lower profit margins: with dropshipping you're more likely to pay more per item in comparison to stocking an extensive inventory of products; making less room for profit.

Tips for dropshipping

It's of paramount importance you find and use a high-quality drop shipper. There are plenty of people out there that can support your fashion business with everything from t-shirts to swimwear.

While conducting your research, check online reviews and see whether their customers are happy with the service they're receiving. If they're not, run for the hills!

Read more about how to setup your own dropshipping business.

Remember, when youโ€™re creating a fashion business using the dropshipping strategy, youโ€™ll need to focus on quality. Even if itโ€™s your first time building a fashion brand, choosing the right manufacturer will be essential. Most fashion entrepreneurs know how tough the clothing industry can be. If you donโ€™t have the right quality in your store, then you will instantly find that your clothing store begins to suffer.

3. Private Label Clothing Line

Setting up a private label clothing line is very similar to print-on-demand.

However, you need to buy blank clothing in bulk. Then, add your design using screen-printing, as well as inserting things like labels, tags, etc. So, it requires more of your time and attention than print on demand.

If you donโ€™t mind putting the hard work into your fashion brand so you can stand out in the clothing industry however, then this could be the ideal eCommerce strategy for you. Although it requires more effort from a first time business owner, the private clothing line business plan has its own benefits to think about.

A private label clothing line boasts the following advantages:

  • A greater variety of customization over things like labeling, packaging, tags, etc.
  • The potential for higher profit margins. As you're purchasing items in bulk and upfront, you'll usually receive a volume discount. You can also add unique details which increase the perceived value of your product.
  • Screen printing produces high-quality results
  • It's cost-effective if you need to create higher volumes of your product because there isn't a minimum order.

However, you'll have to battle through the drawbacks below to reap the rewards:

  • The initial costs are expensive. Although screen printing provides a better quality finish, it's labor-intensive. You'll need to budget for around $2,500 to get up and running.
  • You can only print simple designs.
  • You'll need to organize warehousing to store and ship your products.
  • It takes more time to launch (weeks rather than days).
  • If you haveย plenty of designs, colors, and sizes, in your clothing line, this isn't a cost-effective option.
  • You can't fulfill smaller orders (typically ten units or less)

Our Advice for Launching a Private Label Clothing Line

Set up an account with either ThreadBird or Just Like Hero.

ThreadBird provides blank products, printing, and a ton of finishing options. Typically, you'll need a minimum order of 25 pieces to kickstart the process.

Just Like Hero also offer blank apparel, but forย what they lackย in varietyย they make up in quality. However, unlike Threadbird, you'll need to source a printer.

threadbird

Ultimately, as with any other business idea for a fashion entrepreneur or fashion designer, selling your own clothing items through a private label requires the right strategy. If you want your new business to thrive, you need a step by step strategy, that includes everything from a marketing plan to an understanding of your production costs.

4. Custom Cut and Sew Clothing Line

Last but not least, there's the custom cut and sew clothing line business model. This requires you to do everything.

Obviously, for first time business owners, stepping into the clothing industry with a DIY fashion brand is going to take a lot more hard work than any other business plan weโ€™ve covered. Youโ€™ll need to choose everything from your business name to your ecommerce strategy on your own. Every aspect of building your own line needs to be planned out, and the production costs can be a lot greater.

From the initial sketches to sourcing manufacturers and everything in between. Put simply; it's hard graft. So there're a few drawbacks to consider:

  • It can take months until you're ready to launch.
  • Finding a manufacturer that'll accept smaller orders can be tough.
  • Sourcing and working with a pattern maker can be a hassle.
  • You'll have to find and test potential fabrics
  • You'll need to budget for thousands of dollars to get up and running
  • You'll need to fathom a warehousing and shipping strategy

Despite all the disadvantages, you'll enjoy the benefits below:

  • You're able to completely customize your product, which is fabulous you have a specific vision in mind.
  • There's a lot of potential to increase the perceived value of your product, and therefore your profit margins.

If you arenโ€™t an experienced fashion designer or business owner, then you might want to consider working with other clothing manufacturers. Building your own clothing items from scratch can make it difficult to offer a good price point to your customers and keep your own production costs low. Although youโ€™re more likely to make a splash in the clothing industry this way, many fashion entrepreneurs will struggle with things like crowdfunding their own line or finding an angel investor to support it.

Additionally, when you're building your own clothing line completely from scratch, thereโ€™s nothing to guarantee that other people will fall in love with your clothing company. Youโ€™ll need to do something unique to stand out with your clothing items, and this wonโ€™t appeal to everyone.

Homework: Research these four business models and work out which suits your needs the best.
how to start a clothing line - fashion design

Step 3. How to Pick a Unique Selling Point for Your Clothing Line

Just because youโ€™ve chosen a business plan for your small business clothing company, doesnโ€™t mean that the hard work is over yet. Thereโ€™s still a lot to do before youโ€™re ready to reap the successes of your clothing brand.

Now you need to pick a unique selling point (USP).

Thisย has a twofold benefit:

  1. Your clothing will be way easier to market online.
  2. It'll help you stand out in a very crowded marketplace.

It's very rare entrepreneurs are successful in selling to large groups of people, which is why a USP is essential for defining your brand.

For example, if you want to sell hoodies, think about how you'll specialize them to suit a specific audience. For example, super thick fleeces for people who enjoy camping. Or, lightweight sweatshirts for guys who spend their time hanging out on the beach.

You get the idea!

Ask yourself; who's my ideal customer, and how can I create a brand that speaks to them? This process starts by picking a unique niche. You can figure out your target market by building a series of user personas as part of your business plan.

If you're struggling to work out who your audience is, ponder the below questions:

  • What type of clothing do I want to make?
  • Who purchases these kinds of products?
  • How will I provideย value to my customers?
  • What's my competition doing and how will I stand out against them?

how to start a clothing line - blank shirts

Once you've fathomed your target audience, you can tailor your brand to fit their precise needs. Youโ€™ll even have a better idea of what kind of fashion designer or clothing manufacturers you need to work with. Your insight into your USP and your target audience will help you to build a successful clothing line all the way from picking a price point for your clothing items, to choosing a brand name, and deciding your marketing plan.ย  which leads us excellently to step four…

Step 4. Clothing Line Branding 101

Branding is key to your success.

Once youโ€™ve got your own clothing line set up, youโ€™re going to need to think about how you can make your new business stand out from the crowd. After all, youโ€™re not going to become the biggest fashion brand in New York by accident.

It's the only way to separate yourself from your competition.

Every part of the branding process should focus on communicating your businesses values, message, and your story.

So, how do you achieve this?

Sit down. Grab a notepad and write a few words that spring to mind when you envision your clothing line.

In other words, what do you want your brand to embody?

Then, pin these words around your workspace to ensure every part of your brand persona reflects these attributes. This will remind you to brand consistently while starting a clothing line.

From website design to customer service, your brand should embody the persona of your brand. Think about how you can highlight the unique aspects of your fashion business in everything from your brand name, to your marketing plan. You can even implement your fashion brand into the manufacturing process by adding a logo to your clothing items.

What About Clothing Line Brand Visuals?

By brand visuals, we mean things people see and associate with your brand. For example, your logo, choice of fonts, colors, etc.ย Anything that your target market can associate with your new business can be part of your marketing plan and your fashion brand.

Before you settle on anything, do some research.

Scour Pinterest and save ideas that inspire you. Look through magazines, catalogues, newspapers, etc. and cut out branding elements you like the look of.ย There are plenty of fashion entrepreneurs out there in the clothing industry that can inspire you when youโ€™re creating your own line.

Once you're done, refer back to them as you begin creating your visuals.

Now, pick a color scheme, and stick to it. Like we've said consistency is critical when it comes to branding. Look at all the inspiration you've gathered, and decipher which colors appear the most.

Use these as a basis for your color palette.

Once you'veย got a color scheme in mind, you can create a logo. Remember, simple is always more effective. If you're on a tighter budget, use software like Canva to make a professional looking logo.

canva design tool

Ideally, youโ€™ll want to keep the visual elements of your fashion business as consistent as possible when it comes to building your marketing plan. You need your customers to be able to recognise your fashion brand wherever it is, without even seeing your business name.

Step 5. Pricing Clothing Products to Make a Profit

Before you consider the product development process, you need to get your budget in order. If costs constrain you, this will fuel your choice of fabrics, extra branding features, the quality of manufacturer, etc.

Finding the right price point for your clothing items isnโ€™t always easy, particularly when you have production costs to think about. However, choosing a good price for your fashion brand can really make an impact when you introduce your ecommerce business. It will also help angel investors and other people to remember your business name.

To help you out, we've compiled a list of things to include on your budget sheet (if you've opted for either a print on demand, private label clothing line or drop shippingย business model, some of these aren't relevant to you).

  • Product development pros
  • Samples
  • Materials (fabrics, zippers, hook and eyes, diamontes, etc.)
  • Fuel to get to factory meetings
  • Labor
  • Shipping
  • Production

Once you've thought about this, you'll have a better idea of your budget, and what you'll need to price your products to make a profit.

This info is essential when it comes to communicating with potential factories and clothing manufacturers. Remember, you donโ€™t necessarily want to go as cheap as possible with your price point as a fashion designer. A lot of customers will expect to make more for clothing items from a high-end clothing company. If you want your brand name to be associated with quality, then you need to charge appropriately.

how to start a clothing line - budget

Step 6.ย The Nitty Gritty of Clothing Line Product Development

Please note, if you're following the print on demand business model, this isn't relevant to you.

If you're brand new to the fashion industry, this is often the most complicated step. You might want to consider partnering with people who have experience in the following areas:

  • Pattern making
  • Tech pack creation
  • Designing

You get the idea!

When you get help from a professional, you'll find the whole product development process way easier, and yourย manufacturer will breathe a sigh of relief!

There are plenty of fashion designers out there that are willing to work with a new business to help them build their brand name step by step. If this is your first time building a business plan for a new fashion brand, then getting help is always a good idea. The clothing industry is a rough place to compete in, whether youโ€™re selling t-shirts or swimwear in your ecommerce line. If you donโ€™t have the right support, youโ€™re likely to struggle.

how to start a clothing line - fashion

Where Do I Find This Kind of Help?

Start by researching potential clothing manufacturers.

Some manufacturers offer a handy product development service. Not only is this useful, but sometimes they won't work with you unless you've used their specific process.

However, not all manufacturers offer this, but they usually have a list of preferred partners, so be sure to make some inquiries.

What's the Product Line Development Process?

Here's a quick rundown of the product development process from start to finish.

#1. Design

To kick things off, you'll need an initial design crafted using software likeย Illustrator.

Top Tip:ย As you sketch your first ideas on paper, start annotating your unique features.

#2. Tech Pack

A tech pack is a fancy term for your product's blueprint. This gives your manufacturer all the technical specifications of your product. Be sure to include:

  • Your design and artwork
  • Measurements
  • Choice of fabric
  • Information about accessories
  • Trim
  • Stitching
  • Info for your labels and tags
  • Packaging Instructions

#3. Pattern Making

This is the stage where you transform your technical drawings into patterns for production.

This also includes grading, where you take a standard design and use it as a template for different sizes.

#4. Choosing a Manufacturer

This involves finding, researching and sampling multiple manufacturers.

Get a small batch of samples from each potential manufacturer to identify which provides the best product. It'll also highlight any potential issues with your line; win-win!

There are a few things you'll need to know about a potential manufacturer:

  • Their location (this is important for effective communication, if your manufacturer is the other side of the world, you'll need to bear that in mind when you're emailing and budgeting your shipping timeframe).
  • Their reputation
  • What other companies they've worked with
  • What they're capable of producing

Top Tip: Not all manufacturers offer the same services or have the same values. Do your due diligence and thoroughly research each potential manufacturer. It's the only way you'll source the best regarding both quality, ethics, and practicality.

how to start a clothing line - clothing factory

Any Advice for Contacting Manufacturers?

By this stage, you should have a shorter list of potential manufacturers. Before pingING off an email, there are a few things to bear in mind:

ALWAYS show a serious interest in their services. Otherwise, they probably won't get back to you. After all, time is money; they only want to work with people who're serious about using them. In your email, be clear about what you need by informing them about the services you require, and the timeframe you have in mind.


ALWAYS be courteous. If you decide to go with them, you'll want to establish a long-lasting business relationship. Be respectful in your email, and familiarize yourself with their processes. This will help you manage your expectations realistically.

Be prepared to follow up. If after a week or so, you don't hear back from them, follow up your initial email. In this industry, there's nothing wrong with demonstrating how serious you are about your venture.

DONโ€™Tย give too much away. Always introduce your brand, as well as the kinds of products you want to produce, but don't fall into the trap of overcomplicating your inquiry.

Remember, being a successful business owner doesnโ€™t have to mean doing everything yourself. Running a successful clothing line or new business can be much simpler when you reduce your hard work by getting the right help.

#5. A Full Product Run

Last but not least, your product will be ready for mass production. This usually involves the creation of hundreds, if not thousands of pieces.

Once you feel that youโ€™ve got the right support for your clothing company, and you know how to reach your target market with a line that theyโ€™re going to fall in love with, itโ€™s time to go all in.

Even if youโ€™ve taken the time to find the right manufacturer, credit card processing tools, and marketing plan, this is still going to be a nerve-wracking process. If itโ€™s your first time launching your own clothing store, be prepared for some nerves. However, as a business owner, you need to be strong and make sure that you donโ€™t let your cold feet get the best of you.

Jump into your new business with the reassuring thought that youโ€™ve done the right research to get you started on the right track.

how to start a clothing line - the product line

Why Do So Many Clothing Lines Fail?

That last section can seem a little daunting.ย After all, thereโ€™s a lot of risk involved in starting your own fashion brand from scratch. However, the same could be said for any business idea.

Yes, setting up a clothing line takes a lot of time, and potentially money (depending on your chosen business model). So, naturally, you don't want your venture to fall flat on its face.

Sometimes, the best way to prepare for running your own clothing company, is to make sure that you do your research into previous companies.

As cynical as it sounds, we can learn a lot from why previous clothing lines have failed:

#1. Failing to Test Your Design

Before you start printing, always get feedback on your designs; and no, family and friends don't count. Their opinion will naturally be biased.

Instead, if you have a social media following or an email list, why don't you ask for their views? You could offer them a freebie to incentivize people to provide their thoughts.

#2. Attempting to Crack Traditional Retail Storesย 

This may seem like the aim, but trust us, it's not the most profitable way of running a clothing line.

Usually, the majority of profits go into slashing your prices to offer retailers a wholesale price. So, although you'll shift a higher number of units, you won't make anywhere near as much as selling your products yourself.

#3. Failing to Listen to the Facts

It's not enough to go with you ‘think' is right.ย You have to know.

You need to do plenty of market research before launching your line. It's the only way to know what people will spend their hard earned cash on.

#4. Failing to Prioritize Quality

Although you'll acquire a higher profit by opting for lower quality blanks and cheap screen printing, your final product will suffer.

When you compromise on quality,ย  you'll give your customers a miserable experience, which will affect your sales in the long-run.

high quality clothes - how to start a Clothing Line

Step 7. Package Your Clothes Like a Pro

Packaging is something we often forget about, but it's a vital component for reinforcing your brand in the minds of your customers.

You want your clothing items to make more of an impact than any other fashion business. That means that you need to get every aspect of your new business perfect, from production through to packaging. Even the smallest things can make a huge difference to a successful clothing line.

When done well, your packaging can add to the perceived value of your product; so it's essential you get this right.

What Are My Options?

You have a few choices:

Boxes: These are a great option because they're robust, which makes them ideal if you need to transport either bulky apparel or delicate goods that need extra protection.

Although they add to the weight and size of your package, which increases the price of shipping, it'sย usually worth it. This generally reduces the likelihood of customer returns and a bad experience.

Top Tip: you can create customized boxes to reflect your brand and to produce a more professional aesthetic.

how to start a clothing line - shipping

Poly Mailers:ย AKA shipping bags. These are fabulous because they hardly add any weight to your package. Therefore, they're a more cost-effective option than boxes. However, they're not as sturdy, so they're only useful for clothing that isn't prone to damage.

Just like shipping boxes, you can customize poly mailers to make them look appealing.

Bubble Mailers:ย If you're looking for something between a poly mailer and a shipping box, bubble mailers are a perfect choice. They're very similar to poly mailers, but they boast an extra layer of bubble wrap inside the envelope. This provides additional protection to whatever you're shipping.

Tissue Paper: This is wonderful if you're looking for something that'llย enhance your customer's overall experience. It adds perceived value to your product; making it feel more like a present than a delivery.ย  Prospects love this! You can even personalize tissue paper with your logo and brand colors.

Packaging Tape:ย If it complements your brand, opt for a tape that reflects your brand's color palette, or has your logo printed on it. This is a fabulous way of decorating your package while adding a further layer of security.

Stickers: These are ideal if you don't require robust packaging tape. You can use labels to seal your mailers closed while promoting your brand with your logo and tagline. They're incredibly versatile, making them the perfect accessory for improving your customer's unboxing experience.

Our recommendation- check out this round up of independent fashion stores, and get a feel for what they're doing right! However, DON'T copy them. Merely, allow their work to inspire you.

Bonus Section: How to Start Your Clothing Line With 6 Digital Marketing Tips

#1. Use Shopify

Like we've already said, Shopify (read our Shopify review) is a fantastic platform for launching your online store.

With just a click of a button, you can insert all your brand visuals. This works wonders for strengthening your brand.

You can also craft an engaging ‘About Page,' this is a fantastic place for communicating to shoppers who you are, and what your company stands for. Be completely transparent with your story; this is a really effective way of building trust with potential customers.

Last but not least, you can also SEO optimize your store to rank higher on Google. Do some keyword research and fix your store, so prospects find you while they're surfing the web.

#2. Connect With Influencers

If you want an online following and fast, connecting with influencers, who're already established in the fashion industry is an absolute must.

All you need to do is to reach out to these authorities and see whether they'd post about your product in exchange for a fee.

Depending on their level of influence, just one post could send an influx of traffic to your site. This is amazing for boosting your following.

Homework: Make a list of potential influencers you'd like to collaborate with and drop them a friendly yet professional email. Always offer to send them a sample of your product for free, this usually sweetens the deal!

#3. Take to Instagram

If you're new to the digital marketing sphere, Instagram is one of the most accessible platforms, to begin with.

Typically, Instagram users are more engaged with brands, and therefore more responsive to what you post. Plus, you can insert a โ€˜buy-nowโ€™ button on your posts, which is ideal for promoting your clothing line.

Publish high-quality images of your apparel, and interact with both your following and other people in the fashion industry. This is a winning combination for generating an audience on Instagram.

#4. Prioritize Email Marketing

When done right, email marketing is incredibly useful. This is a fabulous method for gaining repeat custom. The people on your list are some of your most dedicated customers, so they're way more likely to purchase from you again.

Homework:ย Register with a marketing platform like Mailchimp to enable you to start collecting the names and email addresses of customers when they buy something. You can also insert a signup form on your site to capture the details of those who might be interested in purchasing at a later date.

mailchimp email marketing

#5. Content is King

Start a blog in conjunction with your online store. This is amazing for engaging and building a rapport with new customers by providing them valuable information.

For example; fashion advice, fashion hacks, top trends, etc. You get the idea!

Homework:ย start writing a weekly blog. Product reviews and listicles are both popular and easy to consume, so try drafting these kinds of articles. See how your audience responds to them and continue to tweak and improve your content marketing strategy.

#6 Launch a Facebook Ad

Other than influencer marketing, all of the above methods take a while to take off.

However, with Facebook ads, you can see results in a matter of days, and in some cases, hours. Facebook's algorithm allows you to target niche audiences (which is one of the reasons why picking a unique selling point is so important).

You can target people based on their:

  • Location
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Interests

start a clothing line - facebook business

This is honestly one of the most powerfulย ways of finding your ideal audience and marketing directly to them.

However, be savvy, and only invest a small amount of money, to begin with. Test different ads and compare to see which converts the best. Once you've got a winning ad, you'll then be in a safer position to increase your budget.

Still Thinking of Starting a Clothing Line?

If this blog post's given you the nudge you need to begin starting a clothing line, then we're over the moon to hear that! Contact us today and see how we can help you make the most of this venture.

We know that parts of the step-by-step process for launching your fashion brand can seem overwhelming. Getting ahead in the clothing industry is hard work. Like launching any new business, you need to think about your business name, your angel investors, crowdfunding, production costs, and more. On top of that, youโ€™ve got to figure out what kind of clothing items youโ€™re going to sell, and how youโ€™re going to create them.

However, despite all the challenges, launching a successful clothing line can deliver a lot of amazing rewards too. All you need to do is follow the strategy above.

P.S. you may also find this guide to running a successful online business helpful. Enjoy!

Rosie Greaves

Rosie Greaves is a professional content strategist who specializes in all things digital marketing, B2B, and lifestyle. She has over three years of experience crafting high-quality content. Check out her website Blog with Rosie for more information.

Comments 12 Responses

  1. Andreina says:

    Thank you very much for your advice, I want to start my clothing line, I am not a fashion designer or anything, I studied advertising and marketing, but I have always been passionate about fashion and I think it is a good complement to my career, so what I have The fact is to have some interviews with seamstresses to see how their work is going, and I finally decided on one that is going to make my clothes.

    I wanted to start with flannel prints (I don’t even rule it out) since it is also a way to personalize with a message or drawing, the shirts of my future clients (and that is something that the audience loves), the customizations will never leave bad , but of course, I did not want 100% of my business to be that, since what I want is to offer casual clothes such as blouses, dresses even swimsuits (later) to my clients, so for now, I will start my business of that way.

    Without a doubt, packaging is essential, I recently bought a swimsuit precisely and the packaging gave me more emotion than the piece itself hahaha and there I understood that, for this, I have to give great importance to getting bags with beautiful designs, to That the deliveries are totally impeccable, besides that there, the affection and attention to the client is shown and even for the same garments that are made, because just seeing how well folded the clothes are in the bag, makes you see how delicate are those who sell them with their work.

    1. Bogdan Rancea says:

      Thanks for Sharing Andreina! Good luck with your business.

  2. michael mรธrck says:

    Very nice article, thank you very much for that.
    I wonder why you say that Shopify is the right platform?
    I know that WordPress have the same opportunities for selling clothes through woocommerce, so why do you specifik say Shopify. Just curious ๐Ÿ™‚
    Kind regards / Michael

  3. Conchi says:

    Muchas gracias. Es รบtil

    1. Bogdan Rancea says:

      ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘

  4. chant rout says:

    wow, this article is really good. thank you

    1. Bogdan Rancea says:

      Glad you liked it Chant!

  5. luis chavez says:

    grazie per l’aiuto…..siete fantastici

    1. Bogdan Rancea says:

      You’re welcome Luis!

  6. ltzi says:

    Esto me ayudo bastante,muchas gracias !!

    1. Bogdan Rancea says:

      Youโ€™re welcome!

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