When it comes to starting a clothing business, the first step is identifying which type of clothing you want to produce either casual or formal dresses. There are many types of clothing out there, and knowing what you want to focus on will help narrow down your options and make things much easier moving forward.
If you’re not sure what you want to produce as part of your clothing business, take a look at some of these common options to give you some inspiration and ideas. Each one is different in its own way, but they all have something in common: they’re all profitable clothing businesses that can be started with little upfront cost. Let’s take a closer look at the various types of clothing.
Basics of Starting a Clothing Business
There are tons of different types of clothing you can produce, but before you get into specifics, you first need to decide what type of clothing business you want to start. There are three main options here: Wholesale, Retail, and online only
Wholesale: This type of clothing business is great if you want to create products and sell them to other retailers. This means you won’t be selling your products directly to the public, but rather to the people who sell the products to their customers. This is a great option if you’re still trying to figure out what type of products you want to sell, and it’s also a good option if you’re looking to start a clothing business on a budget as you don’t have to buy as much upfront.
Retail: This type of business is simple: you sell your products directly to your customers. With this business model, you’ll be responsible for all aspects of running your store, including things like hiring staff, managing inventory, and more. This is great if you want to sell your products directly to the public, and it’s also the best way to go if you have deep pockets as you’ll have to spend a good amount of money up front to purchase the inventory you need.
Online only: This is, unsurprisingly, the type of business where you sell your products solely online. You won’t have an actual storefront where you sell your products, but rather you’ll sell them online through a platform like Shopify. This is a great option if you want to focus solely on online sales, and it’s also a great option if you want to start a clothing business with little to no upfront cost.
T-Shirts
What’s the most popular type of clothing in the world? A t-shirt. With so many different types and styles to choose from, you can’t go wrong with this one. As a clothing business focused solely on t-shirts, you have lots of options.
You can create plain t-shirts with various designs, you can produce t-shirts with high-quality fabrics, or you can try combining t-shirts with other items to increase your sales. A basic t-shirt that’s been pre-shrunk, is 100% cotton, and has been preshrunk will sell for roughly $8 to $12, meaning it’s an ideal option if you’re just getting started.
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How To Get Started With A Clothing Business
Jeans
This is another one of the most popular types of clothing items on the market, and it’s a good one to start with if you’re looking to start a clothing business with high-end products. Denim jeans are also relatively easy to make, which is great if you’re starting a clothing business on a budget and you don’t have a lot of experience in this field.
Jeans can either be pre-washed or you can wash them yourself during the production process. Pre-washing the jeans makes them shrink, which is ideal if you want to produce jeans with a more standard fit. Pre-washing also ensures that the jeans are softer, which can be a nice feature to have if you’re planning on producing high-end jeans.
If you want to produce raw jeans, you have to wash and tumble dry them yourself during the production process. This will result in denim jeans that are a little stiffer, but they’re also much cheaper to produce.
Jumpers/Cardigans
If you want to produce clothing items that aren’t jeans or t-shirts, jumpers and cardigans are a good option to consider. These items are very casual, but they can also be made with high-quality fabrics and used for more formal occasions. You can design these items in a variety of ways, from classic to modern and everything in between. Plus, jumpers and cardigans are very versatile and easy to mix and match with other pieces. A good portion of your jumpers and cardigans will be made from wool and acrylic, which are natural fabrics that are easy to work with.
You can also use cotton for these items, which gives you an additional option to play with. A jumper or cardigan made from wool, acrylic, or cotton will cost roughly $10 to $30, depending on the kind of fabric(s) you use.
Sportswear/Sport Outfits
If you want to make a name for yourself in the sports apparel industry, sportswear and sport outfits are a great option to consider. Sportswear and sport outfits are designed to be worn during athletic activities. This means you can produce a wide variety of clothing items, ranging from t-shirts and tracksuits to shorts, pants, and swimsuits.
Depending on the sportswear item you’re producing, the fabrics you choose will vary. You can use polyester, nylon, spandex, and more, which gives you a lot of options. A polyester tracksuit will cost roughly $8, while a nylon swimsuit will cost roughly $10, meaning they’re great options if you’re just starting out and trying to keep costs down.
Dresses and Skirts
Dresses and skirts are definitely a more formal type of clothing, but they’re still a popular item and great for starting a clothing business. Pret dresses and skirts can be made from a variety of fabrics, ranging from polyester to cotton and more. You can also add designs or patterns to them, which will make them more unique.
You can choose to make your dresses and skirts plain or design them with specific fabrics and patterns in mind. Depending on the fabrics you choose, a dress or skirt will cost roughly $10 to $30, making it a slightly more expensive option for clothing.
Blouses and Tunics
Blouses and tunics are similar to dresses and skirts, but they’re designed to be more casual. Blouses and tunics can be made from a variety of different fabrics, ranging from polyester and cotton to spandex and more. Depending on the fabrics you choose, a blouse or tunic will cost roughly $10 to $30, making it an affordable option for clothing.
Wrapping up
Clothing is a very common type of product that people purchase on a regular basis, so it’s a great option if you want to start a clothing business. What type of clothing you produce will depend on your preferences and personality, but there are lots of options to choose from. What’s important is that you choose something that you’re passionate and knowledgeable about so that you can produce high-quality products that your customers love.
