How to start your clothing brand, step by step.

From idea to first sale

1. //01

   The idea and who it's for

   Before drawing anything, be clear about what you'll sell, to whom, and why someone would buy from you rather than another brand.

   Ask yourself

   • Who is your customer: age, style, where they shop?
   • What do you have that other brands don't?
   • What price range do you want to be in?

   Common mistake

   Making clothes for everyone. If you don't choose who you're talking to, nobody listens.

2. //02

   The numbers, before the design

   Decide how much you can invest and what price you'll sell at. That tells you how much each garment can cost: in fashion, the selling price is usually 3 to 4 times the cost.

   Ask yourself

   • How much money can I put into the first collection?
   • What price will I sell each piece at?
   • At that price, how much can it cost me to make?

   Common mistake

   Setting the price at the end. If the garment is expensive to make, there's no margin left to save.

3. //03

   A small collection

   To start, few pieces done well. Many small brands launch in drops: small groups of pieces every few weeks, which need less money and teach you what works.

   Ask yourself

   • Which 3–5 pieces tell your brand best?
   • How many units of each can I really sell?
   • In how many colours and sizes?

   Common mistake

   Launching 30 designs at once. Money sits still in pieces that don't sell.

4. //04

   Design and tech pack

   The tech pack is the document that tells the factory exactly what your garment is: fabric, composition, weight, measurements per size, seams, colours, labels and packaging. Without it, the factory makes what it interprets.

   Ask yourself

   • What fabric and weight do I want?
   • Do I have a size chart?
   • Which labels does it carry and what does the care label say?

   Common mistake

   Sending just an inspiration photo and expecting the same result.

5. //05

   Finding the factory

   Each country and factory has its speciality and its minimum order (MOQ): from 30–100 units per style in Iberian workshops to 500–2,000 in volume factories in Asia.

   Ask yourself

   • How many units per style can I order?
   • What matters most: price, quality or speed?
   • Do I need a certification such as OEKO-TEX or GOTS?

   Common mistake

   Choosing on unit price alone, ignoring minimums, lead times and quality.

6. //06

   Samples

   Before production come samples: a first one to see the shape, another to fix measurements and the pre-production one, which is the final reference. Composition, colour, measurements, seams and finishes are checked.

   Ask yourself

   • Have I tried it on a real body, in several sizes?
   • Is the colour the one I asked for?
   • Is everything I corrected in the last sample fixed?

   Common mistake

   Skipping the pre-production sample to save time. Then production doesn't match what you approved.

7. //07

   The order, in writing

   With the sample approved, the purchase order is closed: price, units per size and colour, delivery date, payment terms and who pays for shipping. Production usually takes 3 to 10 weeks.

   Ask yourself

   • Is everything written down and signed?
   • When and how do I pay?
   • What happens if it's late or faulty?

   Common mistake

   Closing the order over loose messages. If something goes wrong, there's nothing to hold on to.

8. //08

   Quality control

   Before the goods leave the factory, someone checks part of the order: measurements, seams, stains, labels. Your team, an inspection agency or a trusted factory with photos and video can do it.

   Ask yourself

   • Who checks production before shipping?
   • Which defects do I accept and which not?
   • What do I do if something goes wrong?

   Common mistake

   Finding the faults when the clothes are already in your warehouse.

9. //09

   Shipping and customs

   On top of the factory price come freight, insurance and duties: usually 10% to 20% more. The incoterm is the rule that says up to where the factory pays and from where you pay.

   Ask yourself

   • Is it coming by sea, air, rail or road?
   • Who handles customs?
   • What does each piece really cost me in my warehouse?

   Common mistake

   Forgetting freight and duties when working out the cost.

10. //10

    Warehouse and sales

    The clothes arrive, get checked, stored and prepared to sell: on your website, marketplaces or in stores. Think about shipping, returns and restocking the sizes that sell out.

    Ask yourself

    • Where is it stored and who packs the orders?
    • How do I handle returns?
    • Which sizes sell most?

    Common mistake

    Buying the same units in every size. The M sells out and the XS is left over.