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How to Start Any Type of Clothing Line You Want

Article By Michael H. of www.startingaclothingline.com

How can I start my own clothing line is question asked a lot these days? The general process is the same for starting any of type of clothing line whether it is an urban clothing line, couture clothing line, sportswear clothing line, plus size clothing line, all kind of clothing lines, streetwear clothing line, hip hop clothing line, juniors clothing line, kid’s or children’s clothing line, infant clothing line, skateboard clothing line, designer clothing line, denim clothing line, Jean clothing line, T-shirt clothing line, women’s or men’s clothing line. Despite what some may have people to believe, starting a clothing line is a special business model and the best way to learn how to do it from sources that have actually did it on a grand scale. While there are plenty of articles on the web on this subject, most of the writers out there have never really started their own clothing and therefore can’t offer you a true picture of what to really expect. Sure the normal business model of registering your business as a D.B.A. or LLC apply and opening a bank account apply but there is so much more to the formula. In this article, I will go over some of the important points for you to consider.

The name of your clothing line is everything. Choose a name that best represents you now and where you would like to go in the future with your clothing line. Also consider in your name the type of clothing line you are starting. If you are started an urban clothing line for example, you will want to consider a cool name for your market. The next thing or even the first thing you should do at this exact moment is get your web site name for your clothing line. Web sites names are going super fast so get your today’s for as little as $10. We recommend the service below because they are one of the cheapest on the internet when it comes to getting a domain name. Use the link below to see if your name is available. If it is, Register it now!

• Next, do a search trademark search for your name. If it is available - register it with the United States Trademark Office (about $325).
• Go to your city clerk office and register your business and then open a bank account in your business name.
• Now you should be thinking about what type of clothes you want to make first. Do you want to start with T-shirts, jeans etc. Keep your scope limited at first until you build a name for yourself.
• Buy a fashion design program like Digital Fashion Pro to lay out your fashion designs with (www.DigitalFashionPro.com). (Read article on fashion design software and the fashion design process) Get all of your fashion sketches together and figure out which ones you want to produce first. Show them to friends and family and see which ones people like the most. Next you can use your professional sketches to give to a seamstress, clothing manufacturer, or screen printer who can make your designs for you. Digital Fashion Pro is great because even if you can’t draw, you will still be able to create your own professional fashion sketches.
• Next decide how you want to get your clothing made. Do you want to mass produce or just produce a few to see how things go. Producing locally or within the US. is your best bet for small production runs. Use the internet to find contractors or by contractors listing to help you.
• How much money does it cost to start a clothing line? The answer to this question is different for everyone. First you should make your business plan and determine how much money you need to get your line off the ground. To do this, you should find out how much a production run will cost, advertising etc. Coming up with the capital to launch your clothing line can be tricky depending on your situation. Keep this in mind; banks traditionally don't give loans for clothing lines because it is an intangible business. Banks will loan you money if you have collateral such as a house to put up. The Official Guide Book offers creative ways to finance your clothing line plus a better understanding of exactly what it will cost you to get started. Another great resource is The Fashion Business Center CD from Harper Arrington. It is a financial program specifically made for the apparel industry that can help you pin point how much money you need to start a clothing line when used in conjunction with the 3 book how to start a clothing line course.
• Now that your clothing is being made it very important that your contractor / clothing manufacturer delivers you quality goods and on time.
• Branding. As a clothing line owner, you have to think about new ways to brand your line everyday. It is important that you give consumers and store owners a reason why they should choose to support your line. Make sure you stand out. Being different and unique is a good thing in the fashion industry.
• Now that you have goods on the way. Begin taking orders for these items if you haven't already. When my partner and I started our line, we would go to summer festivals, church festivals etc. and rent booths to sell our line. One summer we made over $15,000 selling T-shirts. T-shirts are actually an excellent way to market your line. Sell your items to any and everyone you know. People will see them wearing it and ask how they can order. Make sure you offer deals if people buy more than one. This is called building a local selling network. Once you have a network that loves your clothes you can always sell them your new releases. Make sure you maintain a contact list of all of your customers. This is good for cash flow.
• How to get your clothing line in stores? First think about putting your line in local stores. Make appointments with them to go in and show the buyer your line. After getting your line in stores locally and learning how things work you can then move on to thinking about national distribution.
• How to Market a Clothing Line? Marketing is an essential step in the success of your clothing line. People must know you exist. Make sure you have a professional looking web site first and foremost. Make sure you put out a press release about your line. You can also advertise your line online and in magazines etc. One thing you must have is post cards. Make sure you blanket your city with post cards that advertise your clothing line. The important thing is to build buzz and momentum surrounding your clothing line. Contact your local radio stations and see if you can get them to interview you. You can also think about attending local and national clothing trade shows like Magic International (www.magiconline.com). Attending clothing trade shows that will put you right in front of clothing buyers is the way to go to distribute your line nationally.
• Management. Manage your money, your orders, production, delivery and everything else about your line to perfection. Believe it or not, this is where most new clothing lines falter. Resources like www.startingaclothingline.com was created to help fashion entrepreneurs develop solid strategies to advance their fashion lines and ideas.
• The thing about starting a clothing line is that you must have the passion for it. Sleep, eat and breathe it. Nothing feels better than seeing others wearing your creations. Making money off those creations feels even better. Make sure you have adequate price points on your merchandise that will allow you to make money via wholesale and direct to consumer. 

In close, when you want to start a clothing line you need a solid strategy. Reading web articles alone will not get you prepared. Do you think Donald Trump could have become the great business man he is if he simply tried to get by with only reading articles that people have posted on blogs and web sites? Absolutely not. The real question is do you believe enough in yourself and your fashion vision to invest in making it a success. The first thing about starting any education is getting a hold of the crucial resources you will need to enter the playing field. Being educated, having passion and ready to do the work is the best formula for success no matter what type of clothing line you are trying to start. Also see this article on how to keep your clothing line going after you have started it. Good Luck!

About the author: Michael J. Harper is the co-author of The Official Step by Step Guide to Starting a Clothing Line and co-founder of www.startingaclothingline.com – a web site specializing in resources that help ordinary people start their own fashion lines successfully. 

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