New Clothing Line - HELP!

[JRandall]

Hey everyone!
I'm new to this site, so forgive me if I'm asking for help in the wrong forum.

I currently have my own online retail store (selling other company's products), but I am trying to start my own clothing line - particularly going to start with ladies' sweat/track suits. If anyone can help me with the following questions, I'd be very grateful

1. I have a thousand design ideas in my head, but how do I get them in a format that could be used in manufacturing it?

2. Where do I find a reputable, local manufacturer? (I am in southern CA)

3. How many designs are suggested to start with?

4. How do you find somebody to hire to help with the designs?

I truly appreciate any advice given to me in this matter... I'm very ambitious and driven, but I don't know where to start!

Thanks!

Jill

[SlvrBulletV6]

Welcome Jill. It is good to hear you're from So. Cal, just curious, where in So. Cal. are you from?

To answer SOME of your questions.
1) Get patterns made.
2) Networking with textile industries and associations in your area, especially if you're in LA. (I have specific contacts but they belong to the company for clients only, sorry!)
3) Depends on the designer and your line, could be as low as a few to as much as 15-20, find a medium for your line for your season.
4) Same answer as #2. But this time you're looking for a fashion designer. LA has a lot of creative people and talent. FIDM is a great fashion school in LA. I am sure there are a lot of eager students and recent graduates who would want to work with you.

If you're in LA, and really passionate about your goal, private message me (please forgive me if I don't respond quickly enough, Feb. is a hectic month for me.)

[MASapparel]

Hey,
It really depends on what you want to do. If you are just trying to mainly do shirts,hoodies, upper body stuff skip the manufactures unless you have an awesome start up.
There are plenty of awesome blank brand manufactures and I have contacts for all the best.
I run a design/print studio where we specialize in helping start up lines. I have done one about to begin my second and it is an awesome industry to be part of.
Im out of town for a screenprinters convention/expo right now but I will be bacl at the beggining of the week so if you send me an email I can show you some work done by my design team (which is awesome awesome stuff) and some of the stuff we are doing.

I will work closely with you and your budget and go through every aspect of the industry and help you get started.

[DCswimwear.com]

check out the fashion district (downtown L.A.) you'll need patterns, and pattern makers will need some sketches of your designs. there are a ton of private label manufactures in LA that can do short run production, it's just a matter of calling around. Check out the phone book for "Sewing Contractors" I might even be able to help, as my company does some contracted production, short runs, samples, etc...

Best wishes on the venture.. contact me if i can be of help!

Larry Garman
Dangerous Curves Swimwear
Sexy Thong Bikinis, G Strings, Micro, String Bikinis, Bikini Contests

PS. check out americanapparel.com for a good variety of blanks...

[shawn0001]

How To Start A Clothing Line From Scratch Everything on Fashion Industry Design Daily Definitions & Industry News

[AmbitiousClothing]

I believe I can help you alot

[ZetaBot]

I'm selling clothes online too.
I use cafepress and zazzle.
I often worry about creating a design that has already been made though...

[MASapparel]

There are tons of better options then cafepress and zazzle. People do not even consider those real store fronts for the industry.

There is lots to learn.

[RLorenzen]

What are some of the options other than cafe press?

[Inglesa]

Hi Jill,

It's so great to see someone with so much bounce and go get ready to launch into the entrepreneurial arena. Your enthusiasm shines off the page!

Here are some resources and ideas for you. Note that I have no affiliation with any of these sites.

Threadless T-Shirts - Submit a design, earn $2,500 !!

This website has a very interesting sales model - they invite the public to send in designs and pay prize money to those they choose to market. I'm not suggesting you give away all your hard-worked ideas; merely that you have a look around for ideas.

Jasmine's Web Links - Art Links - Alternatives to CafePress

This site has a comprehensive list of useful resources and alternatives to cafepress (which I've also listed below for you - RLorenzen - to have a look at.

POD (CafePress-Like Companies)
99Dogs - Similar to CafePress, not as many one-off products, interface is not as intuitive, but more colors for shirts, screen printing is available, and they have a large wholesale "imprinting" program with 3,000 products.
ImageKind - Giclee Prints, Prints on Canvas.
Love That Smile Images
Pixel-Ts
Printfection
Print Mojo
Shutterfly - Cards and Mugs. Photobooks. Expensive, and primarily aimed at "print for yourself", rather than sellers of art.
Zazzle.com


Good luck!

[MASapparel]

The quality is really laking with sites like cafepress, one major reason is that it is not screen printed it is heatpress.

I would basically just get a few designs and save a little cash to get small runs made. I work with people all the time and do smaller print runs for them.

That is mainly what my studio does is help start up clothing lines.

[hugh009]

Are you a designer yourself? If so, then you are at least one step ahead of the game that is BRUTAL!

If not, who is going to design the clothes for you?

After you get the design job do you think that you can compete with the prices out of the Orient? You will unfortunately NOT find people who can make the apparel as cheap as China!

HOWEVER have you thought of starting a Social Enterprise where you find the local people who need a job and you train them in sewing and cutting patterns. You can get grants for this type of operation.

Hugh

[TheCompany]

I have a wonderful and reliable resource in the LA area. However, their minimums are not small in the slightest. Furthermore, because they produce in the United States their prices will be much higher than a company lets say from China. Ultimately their quality of service speaks for itself. If you would like the contact please feel free to PM me. Hope this helps!

[babyjoy214]

Hello!

If you're not yet sure on things and as to what I have read you're kinda starting big. Why not try sell your own things and start with small? sell first your own designs and find out out what the consumers think before you proceed to big things.. there's a lot of things at stake.. better be careful then sorry!! Goodluck!

[TheCompany]

I think that is a great idea Babyjoy, very insightful. Sell your designs first and go from there depending upon popularity. Let us know!