How to Design and Sell Clothing

Competition in the world of fashion design is tough. Designers need creativity, determination, and persistence to remain relevant. They often try to get people to notice their work through high-end fashion magazines or by getting their designs worn by celebrities for publicity, which increases sales. Designing and selling clothing on a global scale takes awhile, as you first have to create your clothing line and find the right marketing and distribution channels, such as boutiques and online fashion stores.

Things You'll Need

• Fashion books and magazines
• Scrapbook
• Pencil
• Fabric, zippers, and buttons
• Sewing machine (optional)
• Sewing kit (optional)

Instructions

1. Read literature on fashion and design to know about historical and current fashion trends in the market as well as fabrics and their prices. Take keen interest in successful designers' works and understand the types of clothes in demand across the fashion industry. Use the information to choose the type of clothing you want to make. For example, you could produce denim outfits, children's clothing, dresses and formal wear, or sports apparel.

2. Select a theme for your designs and think of different ideas. Sketch the ideas down in your scrapbook. Note the colors and accessories for each design and consider the types of fabrics to work with. Create an idea and build upon it to come up with different outfits. This helps you create several pieces from a single basic idea.

3. Purchase your fabrics and materials such as threads, zippers and buttons. Carry your scrapbook to the fashion accessory store to ensure that you get the right fabrics for your designs.

4. Put together your design by hand or use a sewing machine to save time and enhance your productivity. Take sewing lessons from sites such as LovetoSew.com and Craft and Fabric Links (craftandfabriclink.com), or attend a local sewing school in your area if certain stitches are giving you a problem. You can also learn from friends or family members who know how to sew and ask for their assistance. Alternatively, place an order with clothing manufacturers, many of whom you can find on sites such as ClothingRegister.com or Apparel Search (apparelsearch.com) and let them put the design together for a fee.

5. Create a name for your clothing line and promote your clothing on social networking sites. Ask your friends to recommend your clothes to family and friends online and by word of mouth.

6. Set up a fashion show in your garage and invite your friends, family, and neighbors. Arrange two groups of chairs leaving a space in the middle that serves as your "runway." Ask about a half dozen friends to model your fashion creations.

7. Take your fashion creations to local boutiques that sell your type of clothing and talk to them about stocking and putting your designs on display.

8. Set up an interactive website to enable you make online sales and get feedback from online customers. Make the site interesting by offering tips and tutorials on fashion design and cosmetics.

9. Join sites that display and sell clothing from different designers such as Pistol Clothing (pistolclothing.com) and Epic Brand Clothing (epicbrandclothing.com) to reach even more people.

References

• LovetoSew.com; Sewing, Making, and Designing Your Own Clothes; Lessons in Sewing Clothes
• Pistol Clothing: Start Making Money by Selling Your Clothing Designs
• Mashable: Three Ways to Design Your Own Clothes Online; Dave Sloan; Jan. 16, 2011
• U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics; Fashion Designers; Dec. 17, 2009

Resources

• ClothingRegister.com; Manufacturers Listing: USA
• Apparel Search: USA Clothing and Textile Factories
• Epic Brand Clothing
• Craft and Fabric Links; Free Sewing Book, Sewing Lessons for Beginners; Christina Sherrod; May 30, 2009