Is it your dream to start a clothing brand in Los Angeles? Starting an original clothing line is not for the faint of heart. In a saturated area like Los Angeles, starting a business takes a lot of hard work and determination to succeed.
Even though starting a clothing line is challenging, it is not impossible. Determination and passion are the first steps to creating a brand. Do you want to know what the next steps are? Keep reading to find out!
Define Your Niche
The first step to starting a Los Angeles clothing brand is to decide exactly what type of clothing you want to produce. Do you want to sell formal wear, swimwear, or casual clothes?
The best way to decide on your niche is to identify a need within the fashion market. Ask yourself, what is something that doesn’t exist yet that should? Perhaps it is inclusive sizing or creative clothing for children.
Create a Business Plan
Once you know what niche you want to occupy in the Los Angeles fashion market, you need to come up with a brand name. You can design a logo and create custom t-shirts for your team with a screen printing service.
One of the most important things you can do is create a budget. Keep things simple for the first few months and test things out with one design that you love.
Budget for materials and manufacturing costs. Leave yourself room to be flexible. Start small until you get an idea of how your clothing brand is received. Outline your financial position and seek investors.
Some of the most successful Los Angeles fashion startups work because they know how to market to their target audience. Get to know your target audience and any competitors. Gather hard data, not just your opinion.
Design the Clothing
The most fun part of creating your brand is designing the products. Start sketching design concepts early on. Software like Adobe Illustrator makes designing easy.
After sketching, note essential information about the clothing to give to a manufacturer. This information should include product details such as measurements, materials, and accessories.
Manufacture Your Line
Selecting a manufacturer is what brings your designs to life. Gather a list of reliable Los Angeles clothing manufacturers. Speak to each company and narrow down your favorite.
Once you’ve selected a manufacturer, have them run a small sample batch of designs. If money allows, you can select multiple manufacturers to make samples. You can choose your favorite once you’ve compared the products.
Test and Market Your Brand
Use the sample products from the manufacturer and test them on the market. Try online platforms, farmer’s markets, or school fairs. Ask your customers for feedback and take notes.
After testing your clothing, prepare for a full product run. Decide if you want to sell your clothing in retail stores or purely online. Selling retail will require more product pitches and partnerships, but it allows for more visibility.
Finalize the price of your clothing, packaging and shipping details, and return policies. Refine the details of your business plan before launching full-scale production.
Start a Clothing Brand in Los Angeles
If you think you have what it takes to start a clothing brand in Los Angeles, you should get started today. Find your target audience, create a business plan, and start making connections.
For all your custom design needs, contact us at The Discovertee today!
