Iconic fashion labels that dominate the field all have a unique backstory. Even the biggest names in the industry stemmed from just one idea, and it should give you the confidence, and inspiration that starting a business in the fashion industry is absolutely possible!
But how do you go about it? Check out our top tips on how to start to help turn your fashion label into a reality.
How to start a fashion brand in five steps
Step 1: Identify the market need
Before springing into action, you need to think carefully about the need for your business. What niche are you planning to fill? Is there a gap in the market for your products? Consider how you can bring unique designs that will serve a current consumer need, as this is a key starting point for starting a fashion brand.
Step 2: Work on a business plan
While you might be creative at heart, you need to get your ideas down in front of you in a plan or strategy. A business plan should encompass everything from products and costings to inventory management. Not only is a business plan important for you, but it helps to bring other people into your startup and will help you acquire funding and support for your venture.
Step 3: Start designing
Your initial designs will make or break your fledgling business, so you need to get them right. When designing your first product, you need to think about raw materials and purchasing to ensure that you can feasibly create your designs. Of course, you don’t need to create a complete collection at this stage, but you do need to create some key pieces that will form the foundation and identity of your new venture.
Step 4: Look for a manufacturer to partner with
The chances are that you’re not planning to bring all of your designs to life yourself. Therefore, you need to find a manufacturer to produce your products and future collections. Many fashion designers look to cheaper markets for partnerships, but you need to make sure that your supply chain is ethical and sustainable before agreeing to a partnership.
Step 5: Work on your identity
You’re now ready to plan your public profile. Think carefully about the name that you want to present to the world – what is your brands USP? What makes you stand out and what resonates with customers? What message are you trying to convey? Remember, customers want to buy from names with a compelling backstory, so it’s vital that you communicate your USP when putting your brand identity together.
When you have a brand identity, you can think about where to position your brand and where to sell your products, perhaps via a Digital Showroom or through a Sales App. You can also consider a fashion show, an ideal way to highlight your products. E-commerce is also a great way to sell directly to consumers.
Ready to launch your fashion brand?
These five simple steps will help you as you begin your initial journey toward launching your own brand. At Zedonk, we help thousands of fashion businesses and showrooms streamline their processes and take care of everything from sales order management to production tracking. Zedonk helps you to centralise the internal processes of your business, streamlining your business operations and ensuring that your business can run efficiently.
