You're here for a reason: you're ready to start your own clothing brand. You're probably overflowing with excitement, brimming with ideas, and eager to have your samples ready tomorrow. But take a step back… it’s not going to be as easy as it sounds. There’s a lot to think about before you dive into this process. My name is Brittany Zhang, and I've spent the last 10 years in the apparel and manufacturing industry. I built a clothing brand from the ground up, growing it from $0 to over $15 million in sales in just a decade. After transitioning our brand into a full manufacturing company, I've had the chance to work with over 100 clothing brand owners, ranging from those making $100K to $1 million in revenue, including well-known brands like SKIMS, ALO, and CSB. They all start with the same thing… an idea. In this post, I want to give you an overview of the process and highlight what you should start thinking about. We'll have a series of follow-up posts that dive deeper into each part of the journey with more details and examples. My goal is for you to learn at least one key takeaway from each post. The best part? They’ll be FREE and authentic. I’ll share real-life stories and give you straightforward advice, without the generic, cookie-cutter answers you often see online.
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By 2020, it seemed like everyone was thinking about starting a clothing brand. It could have been a result of the pandemic or simply because more people were exploring the idea of launching online businesses. I totally agree—this is an amazing space to get started. So, how do we actually begin creating a clothing brand? The first thing we need is a name. This is probably going to be the hardest part of the entire process. Without a strong name, it will be very difficult to create a standout brand. As we’ve discussed, the industry is becoming more saturated, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible—so don't stop reading here. It just means you need to put extra time into developing a memorable name. My BIGGEST piece of advice is to do your homework on the name. I strongly suggest picking a name with no prior associations. Think of names like “Nike” or “Adidas”—these weren’t even in the dictionary before they became brands. I can speak from personal experience here. I founded my own brand, ZIYANG, in 2013, the same year my child was born. I named the company after my child’s Chinese name in pinyin. I put a lot of effort into building the brand, working 8 to 10 hours a day. I did extensive research and found almost no existing brand information on that name. This is as real as it gets. The takeaway here is: choose a name that doesn’t pop up on Google. Create a new word, combine a few words, or reinvent something to make it truly unique.
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Once you’ve finalized your brand name, it’s time to start working on your logos. I highly recommend finding a graphic designer to assist with this. Here's a great tip: check out Fiverr.com and thank me later. You can get professional logos for as little as $10-20. It always makes me laugh when people think they need $10,000 to start a clothing brand. I've seen business owners spend $800-1000 on a logo, and it always makes me wonder what else they’re overpaying for. Always look for ways to reduce costs in the early stages. You’d be better off investing that $800-1000 into your actual products. Logos are crucial for branding. When you receive your logo, I recommend asking for it in various colors, backgrounds, and formats (.png, .jpg, .ai, etc.).
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After finalizing your name and logo, the next step is to consider forming an LLC. The reasoning here is straightforward. You want to keep your personal assets and liabilities separate from your business's. This is also beneficial come tax time. By having an LLC, you’ll be able to write off business expenses and keep track of your business activities with an EIN number. However, always consult with your accountant or financial professional before proceeding. Everything I share is simply my opinion and should be reviewed by a professional before taking action. You may need a Federal EIN number before you can apply for your LLC. Additionally, some states or municipalities might require a DBA (Doing Business As) if you plan to operate pop-up shops or sell in specific areas. Each state has different LLC regulations, so you can find the necessary information through a simple Google search. Keep in mind, you don’t need to be an expert in every area. This entire process is a trial and error journey, and failure is part of the process that will help you grow as a business owner. I also recommend opening a separate business bank account. This will not only help you track your progress, but it’s also a good practice to keep your personal and business finances separate. It will also be useful when setting up your website or payment gateways.
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The final step in this blog is securing your channels. Before diving too deep, make sure you can secure your brand name on social media platforms, website domains, etc. I suggest using the same @handle across all platforms. This consistency will help customers recognize your brand and avoid confusion. I recommend using Shopify as your website platform. They offer a free trial to help you familiarize yourself with the platform. I recommend Shopify because of its excellent inventory management, ease of use for e-commerce beginners, and the free analytics provided to track growth. There are other platforms like Wix, Weebly, and WordPress, but after experimenting with all of them, I always return to Shopify for its efficiency. Your next step is to start thinking about a theme for your brand. Every business has a distinct color scheme, environment, and aesthetic. Try to keep your branding consistent across all channels; this will benefit your long-term branding.
I hope this quick blog has given you a clearer understanding of the steps to get started. The next phase is when you begin the creative process of developing your products and ordering your first batch of clothing to sell.
P.S. If you are interested in custom cut & sew clothing, please reach out to us! Thanks so much! GET STARTED
Post time: Jan-25-2025