Como iniciar uma linha de roupas: seu guia completo para design, amostragem, produção e embalagem

Começar uma linha de roupas pode ser uma experiência muito gratificante para um empreendedor criativo com uma visão. Se você está procurando criar uma linha simples de roupas estampadas ou se deseja criar uma coleção inteira de corte e costura com várias peças e adições sazonais, este post mostrará como iniciar uma linha de roupas.

Dependendo do tipo de linha de roupas que você deseja criar, provavelmente haverá muitas etapas diferentes envolvidas no processo. Quanto mais envolvido você quiser na obtenção e produção de sua linha, mais tempo, esforço e dinheiro terá para investir. Se você está interessado apenas em começar algo rápido e fácil, também há opções para isso. Neste post, vamos mostrar passo a passo como você pode começar sua própria linha de roupas, quer tenha um orçamento de $ 100 ou se você tiver mais de $ 10.000 para investir.

Se você já pensou em abrir uma marca de roupas, não procure mais. Este post já está sendo elaborado há quase um ano e, ao longo do caminho, incluímos o conhecimento e a experiência de dezenas de empresários e empresas do setor de vestuário. Este conhecimento da indústria varia de:

• Uma pequena marca que conseguiu lançar uma campanha de crowdfunding bem-sucedida que arrecadou US $ 300.000, que investiu na fabricação de sua linha de roupas de lã merino de alta qualidade
• Um atacadista de marca própria de roupas em branco que tem como alvo o mercado B2B
• Um criador de padrões e designer de pacotes de tecnologia que trabalha com aspirantes a criadores de linhas de roupas para ajudar a dar vida a suas visões
• E, finalmente, fomos direto à fonte para obter uma visão de uma fábrica que tinge fios e tece têxteis

Há muita coisa envolvida quando se trata de iniciar sua própria linha de roupas, então vamos começar.

Decidindo sobre os produtos de vestuário que você deseja vender

Você tem muitas opções quando se trata de criar produtos de vestuário e moda.

Se você sempre quis abrir uma linha de roupas, provavelmente já tem uma boa ideia dos produtos específicos que deseja criar e vender. Para outros, criar uma marca de roupas pode representar uma oportunidade única e interessante de criar um produto que represente seu estilo pessoal - mas você pode não ter certeza de quais produtos vender.

Independentemente da categoria em que você se enquadra, é importante considerar cuidadosamente todas as roupas e opções de vestuário antes de decidir seguir em frente com uma delas.

Algumas roupas e produtos de vestuário que você pode considerar para sua marca são:

• Camisas de manga curta
• Camisas de manga comprida
• Hoodies
• Calças / Leggings
• Vestidos
• Lingerie / roupa interior / meias

Cada um desses produtos de vestuário apresenta suas próprias oportunidades e desafios quando se trata de construir uma marca de roupas em torno deles, por isso é importante considerá-los com cuidado. Lembre-se disso ao continuar neste artigo.

A seguir, examinaremos alguns dos modelos de negócios mais comuns da linha de roupas para ter uma ideia melhor do trabalho, do tempo e do investimento monetário necessários para cada um.

Escolha de um modelo de negócios para a linha de roupas

Se você estiver pronto para iniciar sua marca de roupas, terá algumas escolhas importantes a fazer neste momento.

Existem várias direções que você pode seguir para criar sua própria marca, todas muito diferentes umas das outras. E o mais importante, a dificuldade, os custos e a entrada de tempo variam drasticamente entre cada opção.

Vamos dar uma olhada nas opções mais comuns:

• Impressão sob demanda
• Linha de roupas de marca própria
• Linha de roupas de costura e corte personalizado

Vamos examinar as vantagens e desvantagens de cada um a seguir.

Opção nº 1: Linha de roupas sob demanda

A primeira e mais fácil opção para iniciar sua própria linha de roupas envolve a impressão de seus designs ou logotipo em roupas padrão em branco.

Esta é uma opção atraente para pessoas com um orçamento baixo (menos de US $ 1.000) e aqueles que desejam se beneficiar da possibilidade de abrir um negócio quase totalmente automatizado. A maior desvantagem desse tipo de modelo de negócios são as margens de lucro mais baixas e a falta de capacidade de diferenciar seu produto em coisas como material, costura e ajuste, já que você está usando roupas padrão no atacado.

O processo de impressão sob demanda ou direto na roupa usa uma impressora a jato de tinta digital especial para imprimir a tinta diretamente em roupas e vestuários. Essas impressoras digitais são capazes de produzir imagens coloridas em peças de roupa com extrema precisão.

A impressão sob demanda produz vestuário impresso de alta qualidade com rapidez e eficiência. Por causa disso, não há custos de instalação, ao contrário da impressão da tela. Isso significa que é fácil e econômico imprimir pedidos pequenos (incluindo apenas 1 unidade).

Prós

• Sem custos de configuração
• Impressões de alta qualidade
• Opções de cores ilimitadas
• Perfeito para pequenas quantidades de pedidos ou itens únicos
• Muitas opções de roupas (camisas, leggings, meias, vestidos, etc.)

Contras

• Não é econômico para grandes tiragens de produção
• Geralmente sem descontos por volume
• Seleção limitada de produtos de impressão
• Opções de acabamento limitadas (etiquetas, rótulos, etc)

Opção nº 2: linha de roupas de marca própria / atacado

Ao adquirir produtos de vestuário por meio de fornecedores de atacado ou de marca própria, você está essencialmente comprando produtos de roupas de outras marcas e, em seguida, vendendo-os aos clientes de sua própria loja. Ao adquirir produtos de vestuário dessa forma, você comprará peças a granel de um fornecedor a um preço com desconto e, em seguida, venderá os itens a seus clientes com uma margem de lucro.

Com esta opção, você não fabricará suas próprias peças de roupa do zero, mas fará a curadoria de uma seleção de peças que atendem ao gosto de seus clientes. Você não será capaz de personalizar cada peça de roupa como faria se estivesse fabricando peças de roupa, mas também não precisa passar pelo longo e caro processo de ter suas próprias peças de roupa fabricadas. A principal desvantagem dessa opção, entretanto, é que você precisa comprar muitas unidades de estoque (SKUs) de itens de vestuário a granel e antecipadamente, o que significa que você precisará de fluxo de caixa.

Prós

• Não precisa fabricar seus próprios itens
• Pode acompanhar as tendências em mudança com mais facilidade
• Faça a curadoria de sua própria linha de produtos
• Descontos por volume
• Potencial para boas margens de lucro
• Você pode marcar itens com suas próprias etiquetas, embalagens, etc.
• Ao trabalhar com um fornecedor de private label, você será capaz de personalizar as etiquetas de roupas com seu próprio nome da marca

Contras

• Ao trabalhar com um atacadista, você não poderá personalizar as etiquetas de roupas com o nome de sua marca
• Normalmente, as quantidades mínimas de pedido começam em ( pelo menos) 10 unidades por cor / tamanho, se não 100 ou 1.000 unidades
• Você terá que gerenciar o estoque e enviar você mesmo
• Você precisará de fluxo de caixa para comprar muitos produtos com antecedência

Opção nº 3: Linha de roupas de costura e corte personalizado

Cortar e costurar roupas personalizadas significa que você está fazendo tudo. Estamos falando sobre projetar esboços, transformá-los em padrões, obter tecidos e fabricantes e pagar por uma produção completa (que pode ser de milhares de unidades).

Fazer suas próprias roupas não é para os fracos de coração. Pode ser um processo intensivo que pode levar meses (no mínimo) para começar a funcionar. Você precisará encontrar um fabricante, trabalhar com um modelista, criar pacotes de tachas, fornecer e testar o tecido, e provavelmente também terá que criar e testar muitas amostras antes mesmo de você chegar perto de um produto acabado.

Dependendo dos itens de roupas exatos que você deseja produzir, apenas para obter algumas amostras, pois os produtos acabados podem custar milhares.

Assim que tiver um produto acabado, você também precisará produzir uma tiragem completa com o fabricante, estocar seu estoque e até mesmo desenvolver uma estratégia de remessa para levar suas roupas aos clientes.

Prós

• Você obterá um produto 100% personalizado
• Potencial para aumentar o valor percebido dos clientes
• Potencial para margens maiores
• Você terá 100% de controle da marca

Contras

• Custos de inicialização muito altos
• É um processo complexo que envolve várias partes móveis
• Pode levar meses ou mais para lançar

Os elementos de uma marca de roupas de sucesso

Grandes marcas de roupas são ótimas por um motivo. Normalmente, eles fazem uma coisa muito bem e, às vezes, fazem várias coisas muito bem. Antes de iniciar sua própria linha de roupas, existem quatro fatores importantes para uma marca de sucesso que você deve considerar:

• Nicho
• Projeto
• Qualidade
• Marca

Vamos mergulhar em cada um desses elementos um pouco mais a seguir:

Selecionando um nicho de marca de roupas

A seleção de um nicho específico é importante - e muitas vezes vital - para o sucesso na indústria de roupas e confecções. Tentar atingir cegamente grandes grupos de pessoas deixará você com uma marca que não fala com ninguém.

Focar em um grupo específico de pessoas tem vários benefícios importantes:

• É mais fácil de comercializar (já que você pode aprimorar seu mercado-alvo mais especificamente)
• Pode ser mais acessível (já que você não está direcionando o público errado)
• Há potencial para menos competição (quanto mais você se posiciona, menor fica seu pool competitivo)
• Você pode atrair maior lealdade do cliente (porque seu público sabe que você está focado neles)

Por exemplo: “Roupas com slogans engraçados” ou “moletons para homens” são ambos muito amplos para atacar, uma vez que os mercados são muito desenvolvidos. A redução o ajudará a direcionar melhor o seu mercado, permitirá que você os alcance mais facilmente e será capaz de criar mais valor para eles. Portanto, em vez de "roupas com slogans engraçados", você pode atender a um mercado específico e apaixonado, como "roupas com slogans para enfermeiras ou bombeiros". Ou, em vez de "moletons para homens", você pode se concentrar na fabricação de moletons ultra grossos / quentes para pessoas em climas frios.

Desenhos de roupas

Seus designs - sejam eles impressos, bordados ou o design da roupa em si - são essenciais. Não apenas suas peças de roupa precisam ter uma boa aparência, mas também precisam ter uma ótima aparência, especificamente aos olhos do seu mercado-alvo.

No final das contas, você será aquele que perderá se os designs de suas roupas não forem esteticamente agradáveis ​​e atraentes para seus compradores. Seus designs não precisam ser necessariamente complexos - na verdade, muitos dos designs de roupas mais vendidos são muito simples - no entanto, eles precisam se conectar com seu público / nicho específico.

Qualidade de roupas

Você pode enganar alguém uma vez, mas não pode enganá-lo duas vezes. Um padrão que desbota e racha com o tempo ou uma peça que se desfaz nas costuras após uma lavagem não criará leques delirantes que voltarão e serão comprados novamente.

Nem todas as roupas são iguais, pode haver grandes variações na qualidade dos itens de vestuário. A qualidade e a composição dos materiais escolhidos afetarão a forma como a roupa se veste, como lava, como desbota, encolhe e, finalmente, quanto tempo dura. Como mencionamos acima, a qualidade é fundamental para sua marca e seu sucesso, por isso é importante educar-se e escolher seus materiais com cuidado.

Sempre será tentador sacrificar a qualidade por margens de lucro mais altas, mas você precisa considerar como a qualidade afetará as decisões do cliente de compartilhar sua marca com outras pessoas e recomprar no longo prazo.

Marca de roupa

Muitas empresas de roupas baseiam-se em uma marca forte. Além das roupas em si, uma marca forte incentiva e reforça seu mercado-alvo a comprar, representar, compartilhar e recomprar suas peças de roupa. Sua marca vai muito além do produto em si e abrange o que a marca representa e o estilo de vida a ela associado.

Diferenciando sua linha de roupas

As indústrias de design de roupas e vestuário são algumas das indústrias mais saturadas para se estar. Para competir com eficácia, você precisará ter um ponto de diferenciação que o destaque no mercado de todos os demais.

Trabalhar em uma fábrica também me deu uma visão inicial de quantas pessoas entram neste setor sem absolutamente nenhuma ideia do que é necessário para construir uma marca que seja remotamente bem-sucedida. Culpar a ignorância não é inteiramente justo ... Nós também não tínhamos ideia de como seria difícil. No entanto, começamos o Estoque com um motivo claro do que nos diferenciava, por que as pessoas estariam interessadas em comprar nossas coisas e como procederíamos para vendê-las. Esta é uma etapa que vejo muitos aspirantes a fabricante pularem. - Jim Snediker | Stock Mfg. Co.

A boa notícia é que existem várias maneiras de se destacar na multidão ...

Projeto

Se você planeja ter gráficos ou imagens em suas peças de roupa, os designs (o estilo dos designs e a qualidade dos designs) podem ajudar a diferenciá-lo dos outros.

Exemplo: Blackmilk Clothing tornou seu nome conhecido e se tornou um dos maiores comerciantes do Shopify ao criar leggings com design exclusivo, ao mesmo tempo em que fez parceria com grandes marcas, no caso abaixo, Dr. Who:

Ajuste / Estilo

Se você planeja criar suas próprias roupas do zero, o caimento e o estilo reais das roupas podem ser um importante ponto de diferenciação.

Exemplo: a Sharp Casualwear oferece roupas de luxo para homens de 5'8 ”ou menos que buscam roupas elegantes que se encaixam bem. Talvez a marca online original que se tornou famosa e conhecida por se encaixar melhor seja a Bonobos. Os bonobos decidiram que queriam criar calças masculinas mais ajustadas. Seu melhor ajuste ajudou a estabelecê-los desde o início e transformou sua marca em uma empresa de 100 milhões de dólares.

Marca

Com tudo o mais igual, as pessoas têm maior probabilidade de comprar de uma marca com a qual mais se identificam. Além disso, apenas uma marca forte que se conecta com os consumidores pode permitir que você exija um preço mais alto, mesmo que a qualidade seja relativamente a mesma de outras marcas comuns ou menos caras.

Exemplo: Billionaire Boys Club no início dos anos 2000 vendeu camisetas por quase US $ 100 que simplesmente diziam "Billionaire Boys Club". Embora, sem dúvida, suas camisetas fossem da mesma qualidade de centenas de outras no mercado, os consumidores compraram a marca jovem e urbana e sua história.

Nicho

O nicho que você escolhe para operar e seu mercado-alvo (se bem definido e insuficientemente atendido) podem ser, por si só, um ponto de diferenciação.

Exemplo: See Ya Never tem como alvo nômades digitais que trabalham remotamente e viajam pelo mundo. Mesmo com milhares de marcas de roupas no mercado, há muito poucas, se houver, direcionadas a esse grupo específico de pessoas.

80s Tees vende designs exclusivos de filmes e programas de TV dos anos 80. Não apenas os designs são atraentes e nostálgicos, mas muitos dos designs são licenciados, o que os torna exclusivos e quase impossíveis de encontrar em outro lugar.

Finalmente, Canada Threads se concentra em roupas e acessórios que ressoam exclusivamente com os canadenses, incluindo designs relacionados ao amado Canadian House Hippo.

Desempenho / Material / Qualidade

O tipo de material desempenha um papel importante na diferenciação de suas peças de roupa das demais. Como eles funcionam para o usuário (são confortáveis, coçam, restringem, aquecem, leves, arejados, enrugam facilmente etc.) e sua qualidade geral (incluindo costuras, botões, peso do tecido, etc.) todos desempenham um papel na satisfação do seu cliente.

Exemplo: Unbound Merino realizou uma campanha de crowdfunding bem-sucedida arrecadando $ 300.000 e está construindo sua marca com base no desempenho de suas roupas: roupa casual feita de lã merino 100% supermacia, que tem respirabilidade superior e capacidade de bloqueio de odores, permitindo esta linha de viagem roupas para serem usadas muitas vezes sem lavar.

Desenvolvendo um plano de negócios para sua linha de roupas

Com alguns dos princípios básicos resolvidos, a próxima etapa é desenvolver um plano de negócios básico (mas crítico) para mapear suas decisões e a direção de sua empresa de roupas.

Alguns dos principais elementos que você deve considerar ao montar seu plano de negócios de comércio eletrônico são:

• Seu modelo de negócios
• Personas do cliente
• Pontos fortes e fracos do concorrente
• Custos e Margens

Bônus: Recomendamos nosso exclusivo plano de negócios de comércio eletrônico de uma página para ajudá-lo a construir seu plano de negócios e estratégia para sua linha de roupas. Incluindo uma planilha de página inteira e um ebook de 40 páginas, o Plano de negócios de comércio eletrônico de uma página foi formulado para guiá-lo pelas 12 áreas principais da fundação de seu negócio, para que você não perca nenhuma etapa importante ou ignore números importantes.

Elaborando uma marca para sua linha de roupas

O próximo passo é desenvolver uma marca para sua nova empresa de roupas.

Criar uma marca para sua nova empresa de roupas é fundamental. Com tantas empresas e marcas de roupas por aí, você precisará se diferenciar. Sua marca será uma grande parte disso.

Em última análise, cada empresa tem uma marca e cada nova empresa terá uma marca. Elaborar sua marca com antecedência oferece a oportunidade de definir e comunicar melhor sua mensagem e história.

Se você está planejando criar uma linha de roupas de corte e costura personalizada, convém considerar a contratação de uma agência de branding dedicada para ajudá-lo a criar sua marca. Se você está planejando uma impressão sob demanda ou uma marca própria onde seu investimento e orçamento são muito menores, desenvolver sua própria marca pode ser uma opção vantajosa e de baixo custo.

Nesta fase, você precisa identificar:

• Quem é o seu mercado
• Qual marca falaria melhor com este mercado

A seguir, apresentaremos rapidamente vários elementos-chave para o desenvolvimento da marca de sua empresa de roupas, no entanto, para uma análise completa de todos os elementos da marca, bem como o guia e as planilhas para definir todos os elementos de sua marca, confira nosso guia de branding, A Melhor marca.

Definindo Seu Mercado

Definir o seu mercado é importante para qualquer marca, mas principalmente para marcas do mercado de roupas e confecções porque é extremamente saturado. Ao visar amplamente a grandes grupos de pessoas, você está se preparando para o fracasso desde o início. O que você quer fazer é criar um nicho e criar segmentos.

Algumas perguntas críticas a se fazer nesta fase são:

• Que tipo de roupa e produtos de vestuário desejo fazer?
• Quem vai comprar meus produtos?
• Que valor específico meu produto ou marca trará a essas pessoas?
• O que será único em meu produto?
• Quem é meu concorrente?

Criando os pilares da sua marca

Os pilares da marca são algumas palavras-chave ou atributos (geralmente 3-4) que incorporam o que é sua marca e servem como um ponto de partida para o desenvolvimento de sua personalidade de marca. Mais tarde, essas palavras são usadas como um ponto de verificação contra a maioria das atividades da marca. Por exemplo, ao criar seu site, um anúncio ou até mesmo uma conversa com seu cliente, você deve compará-lo aos pilares de sua marca. Pergunte a si mesmo: meu design / site / anúncio / conversa representa a essência por trás das palavras do pilar da minha marca?

Os pilares de sua marca atuam como uma ferramenta simples para mantê-la consistente em todas as suas atividades e servem como a base para sua marca.

Desenvolva os visuais de sua marca

Os visuais da sua marca são os elementos comuns da marca em que muitas pessoas pensam imediatamente quando pensam em uma determinada marca. Isso inclui o logotipo da sua empresa, as cores da marca e as fontes, bem como o design geral e a estética fotográfica.

• Crie um quadro de humor : um quadro de humor é uma maneira perfeita de começar a reunir o estilo visual que você procura. Essencialmente, um painel de humor é uma coleção de imagens, fotos, designs, cores e quaisquer outros trechos de multimídia que você encontrar na web que sirvam de inspiração para sua marca. Embora existam muitas ferramentas disponíveis online para ajudá-lo a coletar esses elementos, a maneira mais fácil tende a ser usando o Pinterest ou Instagram.
• Selecione uma paleta de cores: sua próxima etapa no processo de branding é restringir a paleta de cores a ser usada. Selecionar uma paleta de cores desde o início ajudará a manter sua marca com uma aparência consistente em todos os canais. Você vai querer começar prestando atenção especial às cores dominantes usadas em seu quadro de humor, uma vez que essas são provavelmente as cores que imediatamente chamaram sua atenção. A partir daí, também sugerimos que você use uma ferramenta como Adobe Color para revisar outras paletas de cores inspiradas na comunidade e votadas para obter algumas idéias adicionais. Por fim, a Adobe também oferece uma ferramenta para ajudar a escolher e refinar sua paleta de cores, confira aqui.
• Elabore um logotipo: quando se trata de criar um logotipo para o seu negócio, você vai querer um logotipo que não apenas represente bem sua marca, mas que também fale com o seu público-alvo. Embora sempre recomendemos trabalhar com um designer de logotipo respeitado para criar o logotipo perfeito para sua marca, aqueles com um orçamento menor podem começar por quase nada com uma ferramenta como a Looka.

Bônus: confira nosso Guia de branding de comércio eletrônico para ajudá-lo a desenvolver todos os componentes críticos de sua marca, incluindo sua personalidade de marca, bem como todos os visuais de sua marca, como seu moodboard, paleta de cores, logotipo e estilo de fotografia. Este guia inclui um e-book em PDF, bem como planilhas para ajudá-lo a criar a marca perfeita para sua linha de roupas.

O processo de desenvolvimento de produtos para sua linha de roupas

Para quem é totalmente novo no negócio da moda, é importante saber que esta é uma etapa extremamente importante no processo de criação e gestão de uma linha de roupas de corte e costura. Neste ponto, sugerimos fortemente que você considere uma parceria com um profissional que sabe o que está fazendo e como fazer de maneira adequada.

Profissionais como modelistas, criadores de pacotes de tecnologia, parceiros de design, parceiros de materiais e parceiros de produção são altamente experientes em seus respectivos campos e é seu trabalho tornar sua linha de roupas uma realidade da maneira mais eficiente possível. Sem a ajuda de profissionais, coisas como modelagem e pacotes de tecnologia podem ser um pesadelo não apenas para você, mas para o futuro fabricante com o qual você planeja trabalhar.

É aqui que pesquisar o fabricante com antecedência compensa para você, no entanto. Alguns fabricantes oferecem serviços profissionais de desenvolvimento de produtos, alguns só fabricarão para você se eles próprios tiverem feito o desenvolvimento do produto e outros não fornecem esses serviços, mas têm parceiros com quem preferem trabalhar. Todas essas informações serão descritas no site do fabricante ou contatando-o diretamente.

Quando se trata do desenvolvimento de produtos de sua linha de roupas, geralmente haverá um caminho comum a ser seguido com alguma terminologia comum, independentemente dos tipos de produtos de roupas que você está desenvolvendo. First, we will look at what the general process of clothing product development looks like, then we will discuss the process in more detail.

• Designs: This generally refers to the initial design concept and is usually represented as sketches either on paper or digitally. While your patterns might start out as concept sketches, eventually you'll likely turn them into digital sketches using a program like Illustrator.
• Tech Pack: A tech pack is essentially a blueprint for your apparel product, providing a manufacturer with all the details and technical specifications for production. This includes the designs, measurements, materials, and any accessories (zipper, buttons, etc.).
• Pattern Making & Grading: Pattern making is the process of turning your technical drawings into patterns that can be used for production. Grading is the process of taking a single pattern and grading the pattern up or down to create the additional patterns for all the other sizes in your apparel line.
• Sourcing: Sourcing involves finding, communicating, vetting, and working with multiple manufacturers to determine which one is best suited for the full production of your particular products.
• Samples: This involves manufacturers producing a one-off or small batch of samples to provide you with a proof of concept, as well as for you to identify potential issues or improvements prior to a full production run.
• Production: A full product run is the mass production of your apparel products. Depending on the products and the manufacturer, this can be hundreds of units, thousands of units, or even hundreds of thousands of units.

Below, we will go into greater detail about each of these steps in the process and provide you with more content and resources to get you started. However, it's important to note that there are other resources available that will guide you through the full process, helping you at each step of the way.

Some of the most popular ones are:

• Maker's Row
• Sqetch
• FactoryFinder
• Sewport
• CALA

Step 1: Design Your Clothing Line Concepts

Your clothing line will begin as sketches—most likely simple sketches in a notebook. This is usually the best route to get the ideas out of your head. As you begin sketching your clothing pieces, also think about adding any specific notes or unique ideas you have, as well as any special features or functionality. These notes will likely be part of tech packs later.

The initial goal is just to start developing your ideas and bring them to life.

Furthermore, the benefit of sketching out your ideas is that they can be shared. This is important because unless you're a professional clothing designer, you're going to likely need to enlist the help of a fashion designer or illustrator to help you pull together and refine your sketches into something more realistic and thought out.

Step 2: Create Patterns & Develop Tech Packs

You will need to enlist the help of a qualified pattern maker to take your idea and turn it into an actual pattern that can then be turned into an actual piece of clothing. A pattern can then be used to help create a tech pack.

A tech pack is essentially a blueprint for each garment. Your tech pack tells your manufacturer all the information required to transform your design into a final product. A proper and complete tech pack will reduce errors in production, save you money, prevent miscommunication, and ultimately, bring your product to life exactly how you envisioned it.

Your tech pack should include all possible details about your product, including (but not limited to) the:

• Projeto
• Tecidos
• Medidas
• Aparar
• Stitching
• Artwork
• Label & Tag Information
• Packaging Instructions

Here's an example of a tech pack for a better understanding:

(Source: Michael Smith Design)

Here are some pattern makers and technical designers who have been vetted and provided by Maker's Row, to get you started:

• The Pattern Makers
• JLD Studios
• Nicole Melendez
• Clothier Design Source

Additional places to hire freelancers to help produce your tech packs:

• Pessoas por hora - pacotes de tecnologia
• Upwork - Freelancers de Tech Pack

Step 3: Research Clothing Manufacturers

The next step in this process is to research potential clothing manufacturers.

Find out things like their location, capabilities, heritage, reputation, and what other brands they've worked with to get an idea of what they can offer you. It's important at this stage to really be thorough as small things such as location can have a massive impact on communication, turnaround time, and shipping when it actually comes to working with a manufacturer.

Not every manufacturer provides the same services so it's important to know the pros and cons of as many manufacturers as possible so you can find the services you're looking for without compromising on your brand values.

• Maker's Row : Maker's Row has nearly 10,000 factories to explore, including over 3,000 in apparel, all based in the USA.
• Sourcify: Sourcify has relationships with hundreds of Chinese manufacturers and will work with you to find and vet the right one for you.
• Sqetch: Sqetch is similar to Maker's Row but focuses on connecting you with European manufacturers.
• FactoryFinder : FactoryFinder can help with material selection, samples, and production by connecting you with the right clothing manufacturer.

Step 4: Determine Your Budget

Budgeting out product development and production costs is something you need to determine prior to selecting a factory to work with. You need to understand your budget availability and limits so you can map out all aspects of production, such as what fabric you'll be able to use and whether producing overseas or in your home country is your best option.

Costs to consider in your budget include:

• The price of professional product development services such as pattern making, tech packs, design development, etc.
• The cost of making samples (bearing in mind that more than one sample is usually made)
• The cost of materials such as fabric, buttons, zippers, hardware, and any other pieces used in the construction of your garments
• The cost of transportation between you and the factory for meetings/visiting the factory
• The cost of labor (determine the difference in labor cost between your home country and overseas labor cost requirements)
• The cost of shipping between you and the factory and the cost of shipping the necessary materials to the factory
• The cost of production and actually creating the clothing items themselves

After considering these factors, you'll be able to communicate your budget to your future manufacturer and find one that fits your requirements.

Pricing out all of these costs is also helpful in determining whether or not producing in an overseas factory is more realistic for your business—bearing in mind that while the cost of labor may be cheaper, the cost of shipping between you and the factory will increase; as will turn around time. Nonetheless, understanding the cost of product development and production helps you and your future manufacturer make the best choices for your business.

Step 5: Select Clothing Manufacturers

Once you've researched a bunch of different manufacturers and have an idea of what's out there, make a shortlist of manufacturers who seem like they'll be a good fit for your clothing brand.

Maybe there are some manufacturers who specialize in the kinds of clothing products you want to produce, maybe some operate out of your local area, maybe some have raving reviews from past or current clients, or maybe some fit into your budget range better than others. Whatever is important to you in a manufacturer, narrow down your shortlist to ones who seem like they check off some of your most important boxes.

Step 6: Contact Clothing Manufacturers

By now you should have been able to narrow down a long list of potential clothing manufacturers into a shorter list of manufacturers who meet your needs when it comes down to what you require in terms of professional services, which manufacturers are actually able to create your future garments, manufactures in an accessible location, or ones who meet your budget requirements.

Now is the time to contact your potential manufacturers, but that may be easier said than done. Response rates for manufacturers differ, but producing a well-thought-out initial email can increase your chances of actually receiving a response back from potential manufactures.

Here are some general DOs and DON'Ts when it comes to contacting a manufacturer:

• DON'T come across as a “tire-kicker.” If your interest in manufacturing doesn't seem to be serious or genuine you may not get a response. Manufacturers don't want to waste their own time working with people who aren't serious when they could be working with people who actually want to build and grow their business.
• DO be polite. You and your manufacturer will be working together in this process—they don't solely work for you—so treat them with respect and be mindful of their requirements, services, and processes.
• DO be clear. In the best interest of yourself and your future manufacturer, it's best practice to be clear about what you're looking for, the services you require, your timeline, etc. Be upfront about what you need and don't leave any room for ambiguities in the event that it will create more confusion down the road.
• DO follow up. It's okay to follow up after your initial email to ensure the factory received and read the message, so be prepared to send up to three follow-up emails spaced apart by a week or so to prompt a response from a factory. This will make you seem eager and serious to the factory which, if you're new to this process, is what you want.
• DON'T give them too much information. Introduce your company, the products that you're looking to create with them, what services you're looking for, and ask what further information they need from you. Give them enough information to know your intentions and that you're serious about the inquiry, but don't overload them with your brand goals, material choices, and timelines yet.

Click here to learn more about how to construct the perfect initial contact email.

Step 7: Screen Potential Factories

If you're lucky, by this step you'll have received responses from some of the factories you've contacted and now it's time to narrow down your search.

Even if you only received a response from one factory, it is still important to make sure it's the right fit for you. At this step, you should communicate further with the factories and learn more about how they conduct business and the quality of their products. You should be looking to evaluate whether or not you will get along with them personally and professionally in order to gauge your potential for success as colleagues.

These are things to look out for:

• How they prefer to communicate with their clients (by email, phone, or personal visits)
• Ask for references from other clients (to get a first-hand evaluation of what they are like to work with)
• Ask for samples of products they've made (to judge if the quality of their products is at the level you're looking for)
• Understand how they charge for samples, services, and what constitutes extra charges
• Get a feel for their timeline and availability

Now is the time to learn more about the factory, see their workspace in action, and communicate further with the manufacturer. This stage will give you an initial glimpse of what it will be like to work with this factory in the long run so it's important to identify your respective strengths and weaknesses now so you can reduce the possibility of headaches and potential miscommunications in the future.

This is also now the right time to let the manufacturer in on your brand goals, where you see your brand starting off, what you see your brand scaling to, and let them know how you want them involved in that process. All the time you spent defining your brand in the first step should be communicated to the manufacturer to see if they understand where your brand is going and if they can get excited for your brand, too.

Step 8: Get Samples Made

Now that you can see yourself manufacturing your clothing line with a factory or two, it's time to get some samples made so you can truly experience what your potential product will be like.

No matter how well-designed your patterns and tech packs have been, there are always opportunities for adjustments and corrections so it's strongly encouraged that the sampling step is never skipped. It can be easy to want to jump straight into production—especially when time and money are on the line—but in the end, a whole line of garments that don't fit properly will cost you more than just having a few samples done right from the start.

At this stage, it is appropriate to have more than one factory make samples of your garments. Feel free to shop around so you're absolutely sure the factory you pick will be producing the garments you want at the quality level you want!

Step 9: Start Full-Scale Production

The final step of the manufacturing process is really just the first step of building your own clothing brand.

This is the time to work with your manufacturer and get your garments produced! At this stage, it's important to stay five steps ahead of everything:

• Make sure deadlines are adhered to
• Be available to answer any questions your manufacturer may have for you
• Be diligent with quality control

Once production for one season of garments starts, the planning for the next season begins—this is only just the beginning! But now that you have the right manufacturer for your business, let their skills and services help you build your clothing brand to where you want it to be.

Step 10: Brand Your Clothing & Packaging

The branding of your clothing line has everything to do with how you'll be perceived by your customers. Branding tells the story of your company and your packaging is one of the few parts of your brand—besides your clothing items themselves—that your customers will actually be able to touch, feel, and see. It engages your customers, it can make them feel valued, and it can even increase the perceived level of quality your customers associate with your brand and your clothing items.

This is why it's important to seriously consider how you package and present your clothing items, no matter what items you're selling.

There are plenty of different ways to enhance your brand's packaging and presentation and to make it unique and true to your brand.

Let's learn more…

Step 11: Branded Packaging Options

There are two different types of options when it comes to branding your packaging: The actual elements that you use for the packaging itself, and the additional extras you can include with the package to elevate the unboxing experience.

The package elements are the more functional items that are required to actually ship your clothing pieces, whereas the added extras enhance the experience and help to make your customers feel valued.

Elements of a Branded Package

These are the functional parts of a shipping package that you'll need in order to ship your items from you to your customers. You won't need every single one of these items, but they're all options that you can use depending on what you want your packaging to achieve.

Caixas de remessa

Depending on the clothing items you sell, you may have to ship them to your customers in a shipping box. Shipping boxes are sturdy and are a good option for shipping heavy or bulky items (such as coats) or delicate items that need to be protected throughout the shipping process (such as beaded clothing pieces, or items with 3D applique).

Shipping boxes, however, can add weight and size to your package making it more expensive to ship, but if it will protect your clothing items while they're on their way to your customers, it's a small price to pay upfront that should decrease the potential of damaged items and returned products in the future.

Keep in mind that your shipping boxes don't have to be boring cardboard boxes. There are plenty of services available to entrepreneurs and small businesses that can create custom boxes for your products at competitive prices, whether you're looking for something sleek, simple, and plain or something colorful, bold, patterned, and vibrant.

You can also use these services to get your brand name printed onto the box itself for a more professional unboxing experience.

Where to Source Shipping Boxes:

• Refinar Embalagem
• Pakible
• Packwire
• Lumi
• Wolfpack Packaging Inc.
• Arka
• Box Geek
• Custom Boxes & Packaging
• Custom Boxes Now
• eSupplyStore
• Fast Pack: Boxes
• Instabox (Canada)
• PakFactory
• Papermart
• ValueMailers

Poly Mailers

Another great alternative for shipping clothing items is shipping bags—otherwise referred to in the industry as poly mailers.

These are an ideal option because unlike shipping boxes, they don't add much weight or bulk to your package, so you won't be adding extra shipping costs to your package. They are less sturdy than a box though, so they're a good option if you're shipping clothing pieces that aren't easily damaged and can be bent and folded throughout the shipping process. They do come in plenty of sizes too, so whether you're shipping one item or a few at a time, you should be able to source a selection of different sized poly mailers to meet your customer's needs. Plenty of brands ship clothing items to their customers in poly mailers, so it is an appropriate method for the industry.

There are plenty of places online where you can get custom poly mailers made for your business so you're able to add your logo, brand colors, or fun patterns to make it more exciting for your customers.

Where to Source Poly Mailers:

• Mula autocolante
• Pakible
• Lumi
• Uline: Poly Mailers
• eSupplyStore: Poly Mailers

Bubble Mailers

If your clothing items need a bit more protection but you don't want to completely upgrade from a poly mailer to a full-on shipping box, you have another option: Bubble mailers. As the name would suggest, they're like poly mailers but they have a layer of bubble wrap included on the inside of the mailer which helps protect whatever's inside.

They don't offer the same sturdiness that shipping boxes do, but they help to cushion the contents of the mailer throughout the process and are less bulky than shipping boxes.

Where to Source Bubble Mailers:

• Pakible
• Uline: Bubble Mailers
• eSupplyStore: Bubble Mailers
• Fast Pack: Bubble Mailers

Tissue Paper

If using packing peanuts and crinkle paper isn't your style, or if your products don't need additional protection, or even if you're using a poly mailer, tissue paper may be an ideal option to enhance the unboxing experience for your customers.

Tissue paper makes the unboxing experience feel more like a gift, which can make your package seem thoughtful and your customers feel valued.

Tissue paper is also an easy way to add to your packaging without adding any extra bulk or weight, and you can have it printed with your logo or choose colored or patterned paper to add some extra flair to the package. Use an everchanging assortment of patterns, colors, and styles to keep repeat customers interested.

Where to Source Tissue Paper:

• Uline: Retail Cushioning
• Uline: Industrial Tissue Paper
• JAM Paper: Tissue Paper
• eSupplyStore: Tissue Paper
• Fast Pack: Tissue Paper
• Papermart: Tissue Paper

Packing Tape

Depending on your brand's style, using packing tape that's colorful, patterned, or printed with your logo may be an interesting way to decorate your shipping box or package. Not only is it decorative, but packing tape is functional and adds another layer of security to keep box openings sealed throughout the shipping process.

Where to Source Packing Tape:

• Selva de fitas
• Uline: Tape
• JAM Paper: Packaging Tape
• eSupplyStore: Packing Tape

Stickers

If you don't need something as heavy-duty as packing tape to seal your boxes or mailers shut, stickers can be an alternative option that can also add to the branded packaging experience. Get your logo printed on them, your brand's tagline, mission statement, fun facts about your brand, or any other piece of info you want to share with your customers for an added layer of personalization. Alternatively, use stickers to brand plain shipping boxes or mailers, or include them inside your package for customers to use or share as they please.

Stickers are super versatile, so think about how you can use stickers to enhance your unboxing experience!

Where to Source Stickers:

• Adesivo Gigante
• Mula autocolante
• Etiqueta você
• Moo

Include Extra Branded Material

These aren't necessary to include, but if you're interested in elevating your unboxing experience, making it memorable for your customers, and making them feel valued, then including one or two of the following options can help you to start out in a positive way.

Promotions, Discounts & Deals

Including packing inserts that notify your customer of an upcoming promotion, or share a discount code or deal they can use for themselves or share with a friend is a pleasant surprise your customers will likely appreciate when opening their package. It shows thought and care from your end, and it's also likely to encourage them to purchase from you again, which is advantageous for you.

Business Cards

If you want your customers to remember you, refer you to a friend, or send you feedback about their experience with your business or your products, consider including your business card so they can hold onto it or pass it on to others. It's a small token, but it shows that you value their input and experience.

Custom Notes/Personalized Messages

This is the ultimate way to make your customers feel valued and shows an immense amount of consideration and thoughtfulness.

Custom, handwritten notes with personalized messages are a great way to connect with your customers and make them feel appreciated. While it likely won't be possible to include a handwritten note for all of your customers, consider including them for your very first customers, your most frequent purchasers, for customers who leave glowing reviews on your website, or ones who have taken the time to send you valuable feedback. Your customers will likely feel very touched by your effort and will likely also share their experience with their peers or on their social platforms, which is positive exposure for your brand.

Gifts or Samples

Who doesn't love to receive a gift?! Using gifts as a way to thank your customers for their purchase is a surefire way to capture their attention and make them feel valued. It doesn't have to be anything big (some companies include candy bars to treat their customers) as you just want it to be an addition to the package, but something small can be just as appreciated by your customers.

If you don't want to gift an item from another company, consider including a sample of one of your own products. Again, it doesn't have to be anything big, but something that complements their purchase could be appreciated.

Step 12: Brand Your Clothing Items

Beyond the packaging of your clothing items, you can also add additional touches of branding to your clothing items themselves to ensure they're as seemingly high-quality as possible and are presented in the most thought out way possible. The best way to do this is by adding custom labels and tags.

Clothing Labels & Tags

Clothing labels are a piece of fabric that's attached to the inside of clothing items that typically include the brand's logo. While it's required in most countries for clothing items to have care and size labels, brand labels aren't necessary but they add a thoughtful touch to the clothing piece. They also often help customers to remember where the clothing item is from once they've integrated it into their wardrobe, and they can add to the overall feel of the clothing piece.

Some labels can be scratchy and uncomfortable for the wearer, which can make the garment seem cheap, while others can be well sewn into the garment and made of a cloth material that's much more high quality. Think about how you want your brand to be perceived and choose a type of label that fits accordingly.

Clothing Label Material Options:

• Damask Woven Labels
• Satin Woven Labels
• Taffeta Woven Labels
• Woven Patches
• Cotten Twill Labels
• Canvas Printed Labels
• Nylon Printed Labels
• Satin Printed Labels
• Silicon Clothing Labels
• Leather Labels
• And much more

It's also important to consider which label types exist and where they can be located on the garment.

If you want to increase your brand's awareness, you may want to consider placing brand labels on the outside of your clothing items such as on hems or cuffs, but if you want to maintain relatively inconspicuous brand placement, you may just want to include the labels on the inside of your garments.

The types of clothing labels you can include on your garments include:

• Manhattan Fold Labels: These are quite similar to Center Fold Labels in their appearance, except that the top of the label is folded over to give a more finished and high-quality look. This type of label is typically sewn into the collar of a garment.
• The End Fold Labels: These have more of a finished and high-quality look to them because the edges are tucked in at the sides. These types of labels are typically printed with brand logos and they're quite small.
• Straight Cut Labels: These have no folds at all, which means they're typically sewn on flat—straight onto the garment. They're commonly also placed on the outside of a garment as a decorative patch, usually with a brand logo printed on them.
• Center Fold Labels: These are the most common type of apparel labels. They're usually made of woven materials and commonly attached to the inside of garment collars.
• The Mitre Fold Label: These are similar to the End Fold Label as they're quite small, shaped like a thin rectangle, and are typically printed just with a brand logo. This type of label, however, hangs down a bit farther than the End Fold Label instead of going straight across.
• Loop Fold Labels: These labels are commonly sewn on the inside of garments, typically close to the hemline in shirts or the waistband in some trousers. This type of label is usually reserved for care and size information, not brand logos.

Clothing Tags

Where to Source Clothing Labels and Tags:

• Custom Labels 4 U
• Uline: Hanging Tags

Step 13: Create Your Online Clothing Store

If you're serious about building a brand or learning more about digital marketing, search engine optimization, and conversion rate strategies, you need to build your clothing store on a customizable ecommerce platform. We can't recommend Shopify enough. Not only is Shopify one of the easiest platforms to get started with, but its app store is the most robust and has a host of print-on-demand clothing printers and dropshippers if you choose to go that route (read our Shopify Review to learn more about why we recommend it so highly).

Shopify enables you to build your own online clothing store wherever you are, with the ability to sell to customers all over the world. Setting up your store with Shopify is easy, and you don't have to worry about your website's security so you can be sure that you and your customers' sensitive information is protected when shopping on your site.

Overall, Shopify is the most recommended ecommerce platform out there, and it's your best option when it comes to starting your own clothing store online.

When setting up your clothing store on Shopify you'll want to take your brand into consideration and make use of all your brand visuals. Implement your color palette, use your logo, take effective product and lifestyle photos of your garments, and create a glowing “About Page” so your customers can learn more about who your brand is and what you stand for.

These are the types of things that will make your clothing store stand out to your customers, so they'll be more trusting when it comes time for them to make a purchase. You want your website to install confidence in your customers, so take that into consideration when setting up your online clothing store.

Bonus: Still not sure about which ecommerce platform to choose? Check out our exclusive Ecommerce Platform Recommendation Tool. This tool will ask you a series of questions to help you narrow down and choose the best ecommerce platform for your specific needs.

Your Store's Theme

Another aspect of your online clothing/apparel store to take into serious consideration is your store's theme. Themes are the general outward look and feel of your website, and depending on the products you sell, some themes may display your products better than others.

Since you'll be starting a clothing/apparel store, you'll want a theme that shows off your garments to their full potential so choose a theme that enables you to post lots of images.

Shopify offers plenty of free and premium themes to choose from (see them all in action on the Shopify Theme Store) but if you're looking for more theme options, Out Of The Sandbox creates premium Shopify themes and they are one of the best, if not the best, place to get them.

Step 14: Create a Shipping Strategy for Your Clothing Company

Figuring out how to ship your products to your customers can be a confusing and daunting process if you've never done it before as there's a lot to take into consideration.

What should you charge for shipping? How much does shipping cost? What about returns? What shipping carrier should you use? Should you start off with a shipping and fulfillment warehouse? Will your customers get charged duty and customs fees? What about shipping labels? What about tracking and insuring your packages?

All these questions, and more, are valid questions to be asking yourself—and we'll dive into them now:

How to Charge Your Customer for Shipping

Estas são as suas opções:

• Charge Your Customers the Exact Shipping Fee: This means that your customers will be made aware of the shipping costs while they're checking out and they'll have to pay the exact amount it costs to get their order shipped to them.
• Charge Your Customers a Flat Shipping Fee: This means that you can instate a flat shipping fee such as $6 for domestic orders and $12 for international orders, no matter how many items each customer orders and no matter where they're located domestically or internationally. Some orders will cost you more to ship and some will cost you less, but if you budget it correctly it should even out.
• Offer Your Customers Free Shipping Over a Certain Threshold: For example, you could offer all customers free shipping if they spend over $100. This encourages customers to purchase enough products to meet that amount so they don't have to pay for shipping. By making sure they spend a certain monetary amount, it makes it more worthwhile for you to ship their package for “free” because the cost of shipping is absorbed into your profit margin on the order. Check out our article on How to Offer Free Shipping & Calculating Your Free Shipping Threshold for more information.
• Offer Your Customers Free Shipping Based on their Location: In this case, you could offer free shipping for all domestic destinations and any international locations will have to pay a calculated rate or a flat fee. This encourages your local customers to purchase from you without having to pay any shipping fees and depending on your domestic shipping rates you should be able to absorb the cost in your profit margin, assuming you price your items accordingly. For international customers, however, you'll be able to fund the shipping cost fully or in part by their calculated or flat rate fee.
• Offer Your Customers Free Shipping on Any Order: Some businesses choose to offer free shipping to all customers because it's easier for them to calculate, more attractive to customers, and results in fewer cart abandonments. The cost of shipping will be absorbed by your profit margin, so take that into consideration when pricing your items.

Shipping is never free. No matter what it says on any website, “free shipping” is not free for the business—the cost is just being absorbed in some other way. It's also no secret that shipping costs are one of the most likely reasons for shopping cart abandonments, so in order to combat that, many ecommerce stores offer free shipping to decrease shipping cart abandonments.

Take both of these things into consideration when pricing your products so you can gauge whether you'll need to charge higher prices for your items so you can afford to offer free shipping, or at least a subsidized shipping rate.

Calculating Shipping Costs

The cost of shipping depends on your carrier, where you're shipping to, and where you're shipping from. There are also other variables involved like the weight and size of the package as well, so your best bet is to use a shipping calculator to determine how much it would cost you to ship your packages. Many carriers have shipping calculators available on their websites so you can price out the cost of your packages on there.

• USPS Postage Price Calculator
• UPS Shipping Calculator
• DHL Shipping Calculator
• FedEx Shipping Calculator
• Canada Post Shipping Calculator
• UK Royal Mail Shipping Calculator
• Australia Post Shipping Calculator

How to Handle Returns

You basically have two options when it comes to handling returns for your customers: You can provide your customers with pre-paid postage in case they need to return an item, or you don't provide your customers with pre-paid postage and they will have to assume the responsibility to pay for postage in the event that they need to return an item to you.

Providing pre-paid postage for customers offers them a seamless shopping experience with your company, however not offering free returns can actually affect customer's decision to purchase from you at all.

Check out this blogpost from Shopify that discusses shipping returns in more detail to learn more about it and how it affects your business.

Which Shipping Carrier to Use

Most popular shipping carriers offer a business account program so businesses can get perks such as better order management, discounts on shipping, and/or free shipping supplies. Basically, it makes it a little bit easier and less expensive for you than just shipping packages without a business account.

Check out these popular shipping carrier's business accounts:

• USPS Customer Gateway
• UPS Business Solutions
• DHL Business Account
• FedEx Business Center
• Canada Post Business Account
• Conta comercial online do Royal Mail no Reino Unido
• Conta de crédito comercial da Australia Post

Using a Shipping & Fulfillment Warehouse

Shipping and fulfillment warehouses can be a tricky service to use for clothing stores as there are usually many different SKUs (stock-keeping units) such as different sizes and colors for each item of clothing. Although shipping and fulfillment warehouses may be convenient services to use since they handle the entire picking, packing, and shipping service for you, there can be some drawbacks, including:

• Inability to Use Your Own Branded Packaging: Some warehouses require that you use their own shipping packaging, so you won't be able to use any boxes, poly mailers, tissue paper, stickers, etc. that have your own branding on them. It can also be difficult to add other extras such as promotional inserts, custom notes, samples, etc.
• Cost: Shipping and fulfillment warehouses can take the shipping process off your hands but at what cost? It costs you to store your SKUs on your warehouse's shelf space so depending on how quickly your product ships out to customers and how much product you're selling, it may or may not be a worthwhile cost for you.
• Handling Returns: Since your business is just one of many at a shipping and fulfillment warehouse, returned items may be handled in an inefficient manner, depending on the warehouse. Make sure you look into each warehouse's return policy before you work with them.

However, there are also advantages to using shipping and fulfillment warehouses:

• Shipping Costs: Shipping and fulfillment warehouses generally have to pay less to ship packages, so you'll likely pay less too.
• Simplified Process: No need to wait in line at the post office or deal with couriers to get your packages shipped.
• Saves You Time: All the time that it takes you to pick, package, and send packages can be put to other uses such as managing customer inquires, advertising, or just growing your business in general.

Generally speaking, if you're just starting your online clothing store: Handle the shipping and fulfillment process yourself, initially.

This gives you the chance to learn the best practices for shipping your own products, you can put your own personal touch on each package and you can use your own branded packaging materials. If you're just sending out a few parcels a day, it won't take up too much of your time to send them through post offices or couriers.

If you anticipate having a large customer base to start off with and predict that you may not be able to keep up with packing and shipping orders yourself, have a look into shipping and fulfillment warehouses to see what your options are.

Shipping & Fulfillment Warehouses:

These are some shipping and fulfillment options to consider, however, we encourage you to do your own research and due diligence:

• Armazenamento e preenchimento de impressão
• Shopify Fulfillment Network
• Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA)
• Fulfillrite
• Fulfillment.com
• Cumprimento do veado vermelho
• ThinkLogistics
• ShipFusion
• WSI Supply Chain Solutions

To learn more about why third-party logistics providers are advantageous for your business, check out our Ultimate Guide to Utilizing a 3PL Provider for Ecommerce Fulfillment article.

Duty & Customs Fees

It's important to be aware that you as a business are not in control of the duties and customs fees your international customers may be charged on their orders. Customs and duties fees are managed and imposed on your customers by their country itself, you don't have the power to prevent them or influence their cost.

You do, however, have the ability to warn your customers about potential customs and duties fees they may face so that they're not unpleasantly surprised when their order arrives.

On your shipping information page, include a section about customs and duties fees and let your customers know that they may be charged these fees by their county and that your business has no control over that.

For more information about customs and duties declaration, required forms, and policies, check out these pages:

• USPS Postal Exporter
• UPS Import/Export Regulations
• DHL Customs and Duties
• FedEx Guide to Customs Forms
• Canada Post Customs Requirements
• UK Royal Mail Customs and Duties
• Australia Post Customs Forms & Regulations

Shipping Tracking & Insurance

Many customers now expect to have their packages tracked and expect to receive email updates on the whereabouts of the packages. If you're interested in giving your customers a streamlined and professional shopping experience, look into what tracking options your shipping carrier has available. It almost always costs extra or will mean that you'll have to upgrade to a more expensive service, but it could be very worthwhile for both you and your customers.

Most shipping carriers offer some kind of insurance, but it may not cover the entire cost of your orders—depending on the price of your items. If you sell high-priced items or just want the peace of mind that you're insured for any lost parcels, it may be worth looking into a third-party shipping insurance provider such as Shipsurance or InsureShip.

It's important to be aware that the shipping process can be complex, and it can take a while to set up and get used to all the different steps, systems, and processes. It'll probably be a learning curve at the start, especially if you've never shipped a large number of orders before or if you're launching to an eager audience, so give yourself time to set up your shipping systems properly so it doesn't affect your business too much. Once you get a system going though you'll likely get the hang of it and be able to make small improvements or scale your processes as needed.

Conclusão

We hope this post has provided you with very clear insight into the steps, systems, and processes it takes to start a clothing line. It may seem overwhelming at first if this is all new to you, however, just focus on one step at a time and grow from there. No matter what kind of clothing line you want to create—whether it's just your own line of t-shirts or an entire collection of cut and sew garments—the information, tools, resources, and experiences provided in this guide should help you get where you want to go.

Before you launch your clothing brand, don't forget to run through our Launch Checklist to make sure you don't miss anything important, and once you've launched, use our 52 Week Marketing Plan to drive traffic to your store.