How to Start a Designer Clothing Business

Starting a designer clothing business is a timely process. The fashion business has tight deadlines for buying and delivering goods. Collections are bought six months prior to the delivery date. After orders are placed, it is your responsibility to have the collection manufactured and delivered to the buyer in a timely manner. During the process of manufacturing the collection, you will need to have the next season designed. It is important to have a team of reliable trustworthy professionals to work with.

Things You'll Need

• Fashion designer
• Cutter
• Sewing contractor
• Sample maker
• Pattern maker
• Sales representative
• Public relations person

Instructions

1. Gather inspiration for your collection from books, magazines and personal photographs. Create a storyboard by piecing the images together in a collage. There should be an overall theme for the collection and grouping of colors.

2. Work with your fashion designer. Show her the storyboard you have created. Talk about the designs you are imagining for your collection. Have her draw up images for the collection based on your conversation and the storyboard.

3. Edit the designer's drawings to your favorite seven pieces. If there are changes you want made to the collection, have her draw new images based on the changes. Find fabrics to make the clothing from. Make sure you will be able to buy more fabric after you sell your clothing for production.

4. Give your fabric and the drawing to the sample maker to make two samples of each garment. Have her make one sample from muslin fabric first. Try the muslin sample on a model to ensure proper fit. Have her make any necessary changes.

5. Call fashion sales representatives to set up appointments to show your collection. When you are visiting sales representatives look at the other collections they represent to see if your line will be cohesive with the others.

6. Create line sheets with line drawings of each style and a description of the garment. Take pictures of models wearing the samples. Use the pictures to make books called look books. Make copies of the look books for your sales representative. Buyers will take these books to use as a reference for buying. Also have hang tags made for your clothing.

7. Give your sales representative line sheets, look books and samples for sales. Make sure other materials are not needed. Each sales representative varies slightly.

8. Find a sewing contractor to sew your line. Make sure the sewing contractor sews for other lines similar to yours. Ask to see samples of garments the sewing contractor has sewn. Get references from other customers who have used the sewing contractor. Make sure to sign a contract with the sewing contractor.

9. After the orders are complete, give the pattern maker the samples to make patterns and grade the sizes. Have her create a marker for cutting, based on the number of orders received.

10. Order the fabric. Give the fabric and markers to the cutter to cut the pieces. Give the cut garments to the sewing contractor with the samples to sew. Check the first garment sewn before they begin sewing the entire order. Check in periodically to make sure there are no mistakes during production.

11. Put tags on the garments and deliver the orders. Continue designing your next collection.

Tips & Warnings

• Some sales representatives will need more than one sample of each style. Adjust the number of samples you have made depending on the requirements.

• A standard sample size for women's clothing is size six. You can have your own standard size but each sample should be in the same size.

• Find out the terms of your sewing contractor. Ask who is responsible for the cost if there are damaged pieces or late goods.

References

• Fashion Business Information