Create a brand plan

Starting a new fashion brand is an exciting adventure whether you’re a beginner or an established business looking to expand into new areas. One of the first things to think about is setting goals and a well-defined plan.

Some of the best ideas never make it to the prototype level, so it’s important to make sure you have everything you need before you start the production process.

Establishing the business plan and brand is the first step in turning dreams into reality, so asking yourself some important questions will ensure that you set short and long term goals for your new business.

Define the reasons for creating a clothing brand

The fashion industry is competitive but with the range of resources available it is becoming accessible to people who really have passion. Thinking about why to create a new clothing line can help identify the target audience and define the market niche.

Defining the market target

Many companies fail because they do not identify the public they are talking to. For small fashion companies, this is even more important

Think big (or small)

One of the main reasons why people enter the fashion industry is to aspire to become a big fashion house and have their clothes worn by celebrities. This entrepreneurial spirit helps to create a vision for the future and allows innovative entrepreneurs to plan ahead. Creating a vision involves big projects, but they can actually start small. In apparel manufacturing, designing and producing short runs can often lead to collections being exclusive and sought after, so defining the long-term vision should be suited to your brand and your target audience.

Set a timeline

Time is important in every sector. Creating a calendar for clothing production can be a difficult task and there are several factors to consider when setting dates for your overall goals.

Being able to provide a timeline will also give apparel manufacturers a better understanding of the goals. It is also important to be realistic. Although some manufacturers will be able to adapt to fast turns, this may cause errors in the process, which in turn may slow down or stop the project.

budgeting

Whether you’re creating a small clothing collection or a new chain store, it’s essential to establish a realistic budget for the brand. There are several steps in the apparel manufacturing process and accounting for every aspect will ensure that cash flow can keep pace with plans.

A good way to keep track of everything is to create a cost guide, which shows the costs associated with each item you intend to sell. This guideline will also help you determine the final price of the products and give you an idea of the type of profit.