Designing private label t-shirts and starting your own private label clothing company used to be a business venture that was limited only to those people with a hefty budget. However, things have changed, and right now garment manufacturing is possible for small scale business owners and start-ups – without having to worry about production complexity. You just need an idea and some basic knowledge about how to design your own clothes!
Small startup brands have benefited most from this current trend. There are a lot of small-batch clothing brands out here that have thrived and taken their businesses vision a notch higher.
Here are some basic tips to help you start your own private label.
Learn drawing skills
Clothing designs begin as ideas, but no one will understand them until there are some visual manifestations of these ideas. At this point, your illustration skills come into play and play their part in designing your own clothes. You don’t have to be a drawing expert or even especially talented, but at least you should be good enough to draw your designs as a basis for a tech pack that you can use for potential manufacturers of private labels.
Get acquainted with sewing
As a new private label entrepreneur, you need to understand that sewing is the medium of your t-shirt designs. Even if your interest doesn’t lean towards this craft and is based on designs alone, you should understand this is a valuable tool when starting a clothing line for your private label. You don’t have to know how to sew, since you can partner with the right private label t-shirts manufacturers. However, it is important to have a basic understanding of sewing patterns, fabrics, etc.
Understand design theory
Basic and simple designs attract customers, but as an owner of a clothing line, you would not want to settle on creating only basic designs for your operations. You want to innovate, and the key to proper design innovation is to understand the principles of design theory that allow you to look at things from a different perspective and develop your creativity.
Have an interest in fashion
This should go without saying! We have no written rules on how you can design your clothes. However, you should keep in mind you are selling clothing here and you aren’t only entering this business to practice your art. This is why it is important to be in touch with fashion and know what is trending so that you can apply it to your clothing design. You should look for what other design firms are doing and try to find a unique angle – this is how your label will stand out from theirs.
Be resourceful
Before you start manufacturing your private label t-shirts, there are a lot of things you need to learn – and you might, at times, feel like there is too much work involved in getting started with your clothing line. The main point here is to be as resourceful as possible and take advantage of whatever tools you have to fulfil your goals. The right private label manufacturer is a great partner in this endeavour!
Written by Guest Lifestyle Contributor Larissa Atalay
