This is one of the most common inquiries we get is from entrepreneurs who are thinking about starting their own clothing line, this inspired us to write this blog entry to try and give you the most valuable tips and advice we possibly can.

With many years in the garment industry we have seen many local clothing brands come and go and others that started off small and are now a huge success. One of the first questions you need to ask yourself is who is your target market? This is one of the main things you need to figure out early in the game, if for instance you are targeting skateboarders it would be a good idea to approach some of the local skate parks and see if you can sponsor some of their events in order to get your name out, most times the sponsorship can be attained by giving them clothes in exchange for your logo to be on all promotional items such as flyers, posters, website etc. this is an easy way to get promo while keeping costs low. Another good way would be to find out who is the most well know skateboarder in your area and offer to sponsor him or her directly. You could have them wearing your clothing for all appearances and could also customize it with their name/logo etc. Once you have sponsorships in place make sure to take as many pictures as possible at the event and make sure to get pictures of the skater you sponsored. These pictures can be used for promo on various social media sites as well as your own website… You do have a website right?

That brings us to our next topic, your website.

In order to be able to sell garments online and for potential clients to see your collection a website is a must. The first thing you will need is a hosting account, this allows your website to be seen online and prices can vary but are usually between $50-$100 a year. You can get a website made for as little as a few hundred dollars right up to thousands of dollars and generally the more you spend the better your site will be in terms of functionality and design. If you plan on selling online you will need a website that will allow you to take payments, have a shopping cart function and a checkout page. All of this can be linked directly to your bank account and you can receive payments almost instantly. You will want to have a gallery so clients can see your clothing designs, pricing breakdowns, size breakdowns and garment colors available as well as a link to all your social media sites so clients can follow you.

How many shirts should I print to start?

This is another questions asked a lot and really depends on where you are in the development stage. If you have 50 designs it may not be in your budget to produce 100 shirts of each design, it may be easier to print 5 shirts of each design and that way you can split up the colors of the shirts/designs. By doing this it will allow you to give clients a chance to see the quality of the prints, what colors work well together and it will also give you the opportunity to take  pictures of each shirt that you can later use for a catalog or for your website. Also, keep in mind that the more you order, the cheaper it will be, so if it is in your budget you will save a lot in the long run.

Which printing method should I use?

The best garment printing method for you is based on a few key elements, mainly how many shirts are you printing, how many colors are in your design and if you are printing just on the front of the shirt, front and back or if you are printing on other areas such as the sleeves, tag etc. For more information on how to determine the right method for you, please visit our garment printing options page for more details.

Can I customize my t shirt or garment?

There are many different ways you can stand out from the competition just by adding a few things that most start up clothing companies will not. The first one is adding your own custom tag to the inside of the t shirt, this can be done in a few different ways. The first way would be to have the tags removed from the shirt or buy tagless shirts and then have  your tag screen printed on the inside of the garment. The second way would be to get your own custom tags made and have them sewn into the shirts. Both ways are a great option, it really comes down to personal preference and how you want your brand to be portrayed. Another way to standout would be to have custom hang tags made that you can attach to the garment itself. You can add your company logo, website, phone number and any other information you want. They can be printed in full color on both sides and can have many different finishes such as a gloss or matte. You can get a tagging gun for around $10 and it will give your line a professionally finished look. The biggest way to set your company apart from others is to have the actual garment made specifically for your company. This will not be an option for every company out there, but for those that it is this can be a game changer. You can customize the whole shirt from sleeves, neck line, sizing, colors, fabrics and more. Go here to learn more about custom t-shirt manufacturing.

What sizes should I order?

This is another question that can be answered by knowing your target market, if you market isn’t clear and could be just about anyone, please read our How to choose sizes blog post for more information.

How can I promote my clothing line or brand?

One of the easiest ways to let people know about your brand is to sponsor local events, most event coordinators or promoters love to have free things to giveaway and clothing is a definite favorite. While at the events make sure to have business cards and flyers on hand to give out to potential clients. Flyers should contain your website, phone number, social media links and any sale or promotion you are running. Another great way would be to have shirt giveaways on a weekly basis and promote it through your website/social media sites and have them signup through your website in order to be entered into the contest, this way they will be able to see your website and designs or you could have them “like” your page or “follow” you in order to be entered into the t-shirt giveaway.

How can i get my clothing into stores?

You will first have to build up a reputation as a brand within your local community, to do so follow some of the advice above and it shouldn’t be too hard. You will need to create a catalog or look book so vendors can see your different print designs and garment choices. If your brand is relatively new a lot of vendors will not want to purchase the garments  outright, but may offer you a consignment deal whereas you leave them a certain amount of shirts and if they sell they will give you a percentage of the sale price. This is another way to get you clothing line recognized by many and to start building relationships with local clothing store owners.

These are just a few tips to help you start your own clothing line successfully, if you have any questions or need some help feel free to call us at (647)855-1881