Starting an apparel line, especially a custom clothing brand needs a lot of research and study. Every fashion startup coming up with custom apparel has to do a lot of research and planning when it comes to collection planning and collection development. As a layman, you can gather style ideas and sort them out based on your budget and production feasibility. But going forward you need a team. You need a team of tech pack designer, product developers, and pattern masters. Also, you need a clothing manufacturer who is capable and able to convert your style ideas into practical products.
Points to Consider Before Starting Apparel Line
The starting point of an apparel line is quite confusing as the brand owner has no idea how to start. A lot of people come to me with a wide variety of styles from different segments and categories. As a fashion design consultant, I suggest sticking to one category and similar styles. You can give meaning to your collection if you do so. A well-planned collection should be made before you start the design and production process. If you want to know how to do your collection planning correctly please refer to “How to Give your Style Idea a Shape”. Based on the instructions on the post you can start making your first collection idea. Once you are done with your style idea you can source a freelance fashion designer or fashion design agency to prepare tech packs and spec sheets.
The whole process is quite confusing and you need to ask yourself a few questions before you start your fashion brand opening plan. This will give the initial clarity for the success of your fashion startup. I will mention those questions and also add my point of view to them. You can consider this as a guideline on what it takes to start an apparel line.
How Many Styles Would You Like to Start with?
This explains the size of your collection. This is an important question and should be addressed before everything else. Decide your collection size based on your budget not just for design but also for production. This also includes the color options you want to go with for each style. Collection design, production, marketing, and inventory management are costly services. So, have funds allocated for those as well. Without this, you may have to compromise on quality or miss a deadline. Focus on the market with a statement without confusing the target audience. My suggestion would be to test the market with a very limited number of styles in your first collection. This will help you manage your funds, and inventory and help you prevent draining resources. In short, you can minimize risk and focus on your marketing campaign.
Have you thought about your clothing line name and tagline?
The name of your brand and the tagline are important. If you want to start a brand this should be the first thing you should be thinking about. You must give a name or identification to your brand to make it visible. For that giving a name and tagline is an important step. This acts as the cornerstone of its identity and creates a memorable first impression on its potential customers. It becomes the synonym of the brand identity and identifies the brand instantly. Also, It creates a lasting impression on the mind of the audience. It is also designed to convey directly to its potential customers in the market with lots of brands and competition.
Have you furnished all Legal Formalities Before Starting the Apparel Line?
For starting an apparel line you must furnish some legal formalities. Choose your business structure. The business structure could be sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC (Limited Liability Company), or corporation. This helps understand your tax structure, liability, and mode of operation. Once you decide you should check if the name you have decided is available. If it is available then register your business name with the state secretariat of your state. You should also get the Employer Identification Number (EIN). This is needed to open a bank account in your business name. You should also do trademark registration of your logo or designs for legal protection. Depending on your location and business activities, you may need additional permits or licenses. Those are a complex and complicated process. So it is always good to consult a lawyer or accountant who has expertise in corporate law and business registration.
What Inspire You to Build an Apparel Brand?
People want to start their fashion line for one of the five reasons or a combination of those. Creative Expression, vision, passion for fashion, build a community. As per me, people with unique and innovative design ideas have a chance. Those who find a gap in the market and try to fill that with their product or solution find it easier to get success. Because their focus is more customer-centric. Also, people who deliver a strong message on social or environmental awareness. They resonate with a passionate customer base. Finally, those who have a deep industry knowledge and they know the trends. In short, you should choose an inspiration and take it further. Address specific needs and create a product that your customers can relate to. This combination can be the foundation for a successful apparel brand.
Are You Ready to Bear The Cost of Starting Apparel Line?
A fashion brand is a business and it needs to fund. You need to bear the cost of design, cost of production, shipping and logistics, marketing, and so on. Doing inquiry with designers and clothing manufacturers without adequate funds in hand does more harm than benefit. In this situation consider you lost those resources. You should be ready with your resources and funds so that if you find a good tech pack designer or a clothing manufacturer you should be able to proceed with them. I am not saying you should not do research but you should be clear on your intention when you speak to a vendor and keep it clean from the beginning. Factories and designers will help even if they know you are just inquiring.
Do You Have a Specific Target Timeline Or Deadline?
When you plan a brand you must set a timeline to launch the brand. A plan without a timeline means nothing. And those who are potentially planning to collaborate would need the specific time of launch is one of them. Serious people make plans with proper time and deadlines.
Have you Researched the Quantity you Want to Produce for Each Style?
This is a strategic and financial decision and should be taken with proper financial research. You must access the cost of production for each style. This is possible if you have the bills of material ready with the tech packs you have created. Make an informed decision about the quantity you want to produce and stick to it.
You should be able to answer these questions to yourself before you should talk to any vendor. If you are prepared with those queries, there is a very low chance that you can fail. As a fashion design agency and clothing manufacturer, I have seen a lot of brands growing from the bottom line. Working with those brands gives me a lot of pleasure and accomplishment. Those who are starting or planning to start should follow those pointers. We support brands with technical fashion design, pattern-making, and production consultation. For those brands who want to start immediately and want tech packs, you can visit our online tech pack template store. Check out a wide range of styles, and make your collection.