Common Mistakes Startup Fashion Brands Make and How to Avoid Them
Starting any business or brand can be a risky endeavor, but it can pay
off big time if you plan carefully, work with the right people, and have
a little bit of luck (or positive press) on your side. The thing is,
far too often people jump in feet first and make common mistakes that
can cost them time, money, or even prevent their brand from launching.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common mistakes startup fashion brands make, why they can hurt your brand, and how to avoid them.
Relying Solely on Overseas Suppliers and Manufacturers
Many big brands work with companies overseas to produce their goods. The thing is, it takes a lot of time, years even, to create strong relationships with reliable suppliers and to negotiate price points down—which typically involves mass orders of thousands of units. In addition to this, overseas manufacturers don’t have to adhere to the stricter labor and environmental standards that US clothing manufacturers do. And while you might benefit from cheaper labor costs, manufacturing in countries without the human and environmental regulations like found in the US then puts your company in a bit of a moral dilemma. Not to mention that overseas manufacturers often require large minimum orders and high tariffs, and many typically won’t give you your patterns or sourcing mill details. So if you ever have to move manufacturers you’ll be back to square one.
Fortunately, it is entirely possible to work with US clothing manufacturers as a startup clothing brand. Indie Source, for example,offers full-service manufacturing and consultancy services for both new and established brands. You can leverage their network of suppliers and manufacturers based on your budget without dealing with the hurdles or headaches of going overseas.
Not Investing in Promotion
Branding and promotion are perhaps just as important as the quality of your products. Although consumers want to feel your products, as clothing is essentially a commodity for many, it’s the brand that will engage them the most. Consumers have thousands of options on the market for everything from T-shirts to pants—why should they choose yours?
Make sure that you have all of your fashion promotional materials including lookbooks, model shots, and standalone images, and that you’ve identified the correct channels to distribute them for your demographic. To help with this, you should consult with a team of fashion experts that know how to build and market your brand to the customers you are trying to reach.
Underestimating the Process
Thanks to the internet and its endless amount of information, it may seem like anyone can launch or figure out anything nowadays. With that in mind, there isn’t a 10-step guide online that will cover all of the tiny details that can determine the success or failure of a startup clothing brand. Much of this understanding comes from experience. So if you’re choosing to go at it alone, thinking that you can launch a brand as a side hustle, you're setting yourself up for a rude awakening—especially if you’re new to the industry.
From mapping a budget and negotiating with clothing manufacturers to testing materials, creating lookbooks, and shipping your products to retailers, there are a lot of steps and variables in the clothing design, manufacturing, and marketing processes.
To overcome this, you can hire a team of employees or freelancers with experience in the fashion world. But unless you have unlimited capital and support from investors, paying salaries for a team or hefty freelance fees might not be an option (you’ll also have to find said experts first).
A wise alternative is to opt for a full package, domestic clothing manufacturer that has a team already in place with fashion experience and knowledge you can utilize to help drive your fashion startup forward. The best clothing manufacturers will help you with every step along the way from design and manufacturing to marketing sales.
About Indie Source
Indie Source is one of the top full-service clothing manufacturers in the USA as well as a fashion consultancy for new and established brands. Whether you have experience in the fashion world or have an idea to create your own label but are unsure how to start, they’re here to help. Indie Source has a dedicated team to help you develop your brand, manufacturing partners to produce high-quality products, and a marketing team that will help you create a strategy to promote your new line. Based in the Los Angeles fashion district, you can trust their experience and in-house team to bring your vision to life.
To learn more about Indie Source, visit Indiesource.com
Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common mistakes startup fashion brands make, why they can hurt your brand, and how to avoid them.
Relying Solely on Overseas Suppliers and Manufacturers
Many big brands work with companies overseas to produce their goods. The thing is, it takes a lot of time, years even, to create strong relationships with reliable suppliers and to negotiate price points down—which typically involves mass orders of thousands of units. In addition to this, overseas manufacturers don’t have to adhere to the stricter labor and environmental standards that US clothing manufacturers do. And while you might benefit from cheaper labor costs, manufacturing in countries without the human and environmental regulations like found in the US then puts your company in a bit of a moral dilemma. Not to mention that overseas manufacturers often require large minimum orders and high tariffs, and many typically won’t give you your patterns or sourcing mill details. So if you ever have to move manufacturers you’ll be back to square one.
Fortunately, it is entirely possible to work with US clothing manufacturers as a startup clothing brand. Indie Source, for example,offers full-service manufacturing and consultancy services for both new and established brands. You can leverage their network of suppliers and manufacturers based on your budget without dealing with the hurdles or headaches of going overseas.
Not Investing in Promotion
Branding and promotion are perhaps just as important as the quality of your products. Although consumers want to feel your products, as clothing is essentially a commodity for many, it’s the brand that will engage them the most. Consumers have thousands of options on the market for everything from T-shirts to pants—why should they choose yours?
Make sure that you have all of your fashion promotional materials including lookbooks, model shots, and standalone images, and that you’ve identified the correct channels to distribute them for your demographic. To help with this, you should consult with a team of fashion experts that know how to build and market your brand to the customers you are trying to reach.
Underestimating the Process
Thanks to the internet and its endless amount of information, it may seem like anyone can launch or figure out anything nowadays. With that in mind, there isn’t a 10-step guide online that will cover all of the tiny details that can determine the success or failure of a startup clothing brand. Much of this understanding comes from experience. So if you’re choosing to go at it alone, thinking that you can launch a brand as a side hustle, you're setting yourself up for a rude awakening—especially if you’re new to the industry.
From mapping a budget and negotiating with clothing manufacturers to testing materials, creating lookbooks, and shipping your products to retailers, there are a lot of steps and variables in the clothing design, manufacturing, and marketing processes.
To overcome this, you can hire a team of employees or freelancers with experience in the fashion world. But unless you have unlimited capital and support from investors, paying salaries for a team or hefty freelance fees might not be an option (you’ll also have to find said experts first).
A wise alternative is to opt for a full package, domestic clothing manufacturer that has a team already in place with fashion experience and knowledge you can utilize to help drive your fashion startup forward. The best clothing manufacturers will help you with every step along the way from design and manufacturing to marketing sales.
About Indie Source
Indie Source is one of the top full-service clothing manufacturers in the USA as well as a fashion consultancy for new and established brands. Whether you have experience in the fashion world or have an idea to create your own label but are unsure how to start, they’re here to help. Indie Source has a dedicated team to help you develop your brand, manufacturing partners to produce high-quality products, and a marketing team that will help you create a strategy to promote your new line. Based in the Los Angeles fashion district, you can trust their experience and in-house team to bring your vision to life.
To learn more about Indie Source, visit Indiesource.com
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