How to Start a Little Clothing Line for a Department Store
Starting a clothing line for a department store is a very time-consuming career choice. If you have a passion for fashion and the design, detail, methods, production and marketing that goes into launching your own line, it can be a very rewarding choice.
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Instructions
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Think of a name. The name of your line should define who you are as a designer, what your clothing is like and where you want to be in the future. Your name should be unique and reflect what makes your line different from any other line, but it should also be easy for people to remember. This is the name that will someday make you and your clothing a legacy.
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Get your funding together. Start-up costs are different for every person embarking on a business. You will need to make note of everything you need to start your line, such as whether you will need a large manufacturer, where you will get your supplies, who you will need to pay and where the clothes will be produced. A lot goes into getting a line of clothing manufactured. If you are borrowing from a bank, you will need to have everything in order for them to lend you money.
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Narrow down what it is you are selling. Do research on the market in your area and the areas you would like to propose your line to. Make sure that the market can bear what you can produce. The first thing to consider while starting a business is turning a profit, and you cannot turn a profit unless the market will pay for your product.
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Once you have decided what you are going to produce, draw up the designs. This is important, because the designs you have in your head need to be transferred to paper--which is then transferred to three-dimensional clothing that has to be worn--and fit correctly. Drawing a design takes a lot of knowledge and education in the field of design. Consider teaming up with a designer.
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Choose your manufacturer. Choosing the correct manufacturer is an important step. Do your research on what makes a good manufacturer, and use your best judgment. The price should be right, which means it should be in the middle. Get estimates and go shopping. Look at some of the work done by that manufacturer.
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Give your pitch to the department store. Show what you have to offer. Remember that the buyers are taking a risk in selling your line, so it must be up to their standards. Be prepared to go back to the drawing board. Launching your own clothing line can include a huge learning curve, and things will not be perfect the first time around.
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References
- Photo Credit Clothes Line image by KateC from Fotolia.com
