For example, if you’re a horseback rider and you can’t find riding pants that are both comfortable and stylish, you can use your unique perspective to design pants that address those needs. If you’re a yoga instructor, use your experience and perspective to create apparel that will appeal to other yoga enthusiasts.
For example, maybe you want to design apparel for women who play roller derby. You can check out roller-girl fashion blogs and look into what’s being worn by famous women and tastemakers in the industry. Look into the practical side of things, as well. If there’s a demand for stylish knee pads, research sturdy designs and breathable materials.
For example, if your target customers are teenage girls who are into pastel goth fashions, use a color palette that resonates with them, such as pink, purple, and aqua. Create standout characteristics, like pink stitching, for your entire line. The tone of your marketing content should also feel youthful and alternative to match the subculture of your customers.
For example, if your clothing line is bold streetwear or grunge throwback apparel, you wouldn’t want to use a rounded font. Choose a font with hard edges and sharp lines, and use all capital letters. If you don’t feel comfortable designing your own logo, consider collaborating with an artistic friend or hiring a graphic designer.
For example, maybe you’re designing stylish sports bras for plus-sized women and your competitors are only addressing fit, not aesthetics. Your brand can offer the same (or better) fit in a wide variety of trendy colors and patterns.
For example, narrow down a roller derby apparel line to include shorts, tank tops, and knee socks. Once your brand takes off, consider expanding to include accessories like knee pads and helmets.
Use your mood board as a source of inspiration as you’re designing your pieces and reference it frequently to help you maintain consistency. Keep collecting material and expanding your mood board as your designs and products expand.
Or, if you wanted a grittier feel, you could go with dark red, black, and gray to appeal to strong, competitive personalities. You can also work an accent color into the main theme. For example, you could add an accent color like neon yellow for small details like buttons and stitching.
You can also look into video tutorials, software, and design apps for help with technical pattern-making.
Keep in mind that it’s better to create a very limited line of clothes made with quality materials rather than a vast line made with poor materials.
You can hire a professional to help you create a Tech Pack, which usually costs between $70 and $400.
Make sure the factory is fine with creating small batches, since you’ll probably want to start out with a small amount of inventory and work up from there. It’s not uncommon for young brands to try a few different manufacturers until they find the perfect fit.
