13 questions
Starting a clothing brand
A first collection works best when it is small and focused: a clear customer, few styles, a sample approved before production and a budget built from real units. Add colours before styles and reorder what sells.
How do I start a women’s clothing brand with a manufacturer?
Define your customer and price point, choose a small collection, prepare references or a tech pack, sample and approve, place a small first order, sell, then reorder what works. Choose a manufacturer that takes private label and small starting runs.
How much money do I need to start a clothing line?
It depends on the number of styles, quantities and your channels. Build the budget from the bottom up: samples, minimum orders, labels and packaging, freight, duties, photography, a website and marketing, and keep a reserve for reorders.
How many styles should my first collection have?
Many new brands begin with a small, focused collection, for example six to twelve styles, and add colours before adding more styles, so fabric minimums stay manageable.
What MOQ should I plan for a first order?
Ask each manufacturer for the minimum per style and colour, then plan fewer styles and shared fabrics to stay inside your budget. Made-to-order production in small quantities lets you test before committing to stock.
How do I price my collection?
Start from your landed cost, apply a markup that covers taxes, returns, marketing and margin, and check the result against the prices of comparable brands. Retail price and cost must work together.
Where do I sell: my own website, marketplaces or wholesale?
Pick the channel where your customer already shops and start with one. Your own site gives margin and data, marketplaces give reach and wholesale gives volume but lower margin per piece.
How do I find reliable manufacturers?
Ask for references, a video call or a visit, a sample before an order, and verifiable company details and certificates. Start with a small first order and judge communication as well as the garment.
What mistakes do new brands make with manufacturers?
Too many styles at once, no tech pack or measurements, skipping sample approval, ignoring lead times and shipping, comparing quotes on different bases and forgetting duties and taxes in the budget.
Do I need a company and tax registration to import?
Importing commercially usually requires a registered business and a customs or tax identifier, for example an EORI number in the EU or UK. Rules differ by country, so confirm with a customs broker or adviser.
How do I validate demand before a big order?
Test with a small run or a pre-order, show samples to customers, and read early sell-through before you commit to larger quantities.
What is a line sheet and how do I prepare one?
A line sheet is a one-page-per-style overview for retail buyers: photo, style code, fabric, sizes, colours, wholesale price, minimum order and delivery window. Keep it consistent and up to date.
How do I manage seasonality and reorders?
Plan collections ahead of selling windows, keep a core of proven styles and reorder best sellers early, ideally through a stock programme so repeat orders do not wait for a new production run.
Which documents do I need to start importing clothes?
Business registration, a customs or tax identifier, the commercial invoice, packing list, transport document, proof of origin where preferential duty applies, and the label and product information your market requires. A broker can guide you through them.
General information, not legal or customs advice. Rules change and differ by country: confirm the details that apply to your shipment with your customs broker or importer.