Everything You Need to Know About Clothing Manufacturing for Your Startup From Development to Production
February 7, 2025
The fashion industry is one of the most competitive (and crowded) sectors in the world. Embarking on a journey to establish a clothing startup will be filled with challenges, which means you may only get one chance to break into your target niche.
The success of your endeavor will hinge on choosing the right clothing manufacturers for startups to bring your vision to life.
Top clothing manufacturers for startups offer scalable services designed to accommodate the specific needs of new fashion brands. They will assist with everything from pattern making to fabric sourcing, all while keeping your project cost-effective.
Partnering with a full-service fashion house can be particularly advantageous for beginners, as they will support your entire journey.
How do you know when you’ve found the right team to help you break into the clothing business? Here’s everything you need to know when looking for startup clothing manufacturers, including what questions to ask and how to make your final decision.
The Importance of Selecting the Right Clothing Manufacturer for Your Startup
There are plenty of options when it comes to clothing manufacturers for startups. However, not every one of them will be a good fit for your brand. In fact, most of the startups you encounter probably won’t be the right match for your niche.
Choosing the right manufacturing partner is crucial for minimizing risks associated with quality control, production delays, and compliance or sourcing issues. Long lead times can crush your momentum and erode the loyalty of new customers as your brand works to establish its presence.
On the other hand, a full-service manufacturing company has the experience, infrastructure, and skills necessary to streamline clothing production and support your small business on this challenging journey. Choosing the right garment manufacturing partner comes down to identifying your brand’s needs and asking the right questions.
The Key Factors You Should Consider When Developing a Startup Clothing Line
Here’s how to find a manufacturer for clothes as a startup.
Step 1: Budget
As a new clothing brand, you are going to be working on a tight budget and need to keep as much cash on hand as possible. Remember, the manufacturing process is just one step on your path to market. You’ll still need the financial latitude for advertising, order fulfillment, and other downstream sales tasks.
How much money will you actually need to cover apparel production costs? While that figure will vary depending on the complexity of your clothing line, The Evans Group (TEG) typically recommends budgeting between $20,000 and $50,000 for startup production.
If you are working with a full-service fashion house like TEG, that fee will include all services from development to production.
Questions to Ask Your Manufacturing Prospect
Here are a few budget-related questions you should ask prospective manufacturing partners.
Are Your Services Scalable Based on My Budget?
The estimated budget above includes a relatively broad range for a startup. If you are working with a smaller budget that is closer to the $20,000 end of the spectrum, it’s important to find a manufacturing partner that can help you scale the scope of your project accordingly.
Let’s say you have a vision for a huge product lineup that includes hoodies, activewear, T-shirts, and sportswear bottoms (i.e., shorts and joggers). An experienced partner can help you tweak your product lineup according to your budget and scale up after you’ve started generating revenue.
For instance, if it’s the middle of summer, they may recommend focusing on short-sleeve activewear and expanding your product line when the weather gets cooler.
What Are the Average Startup Costs for the First Production Run?
Ask about your average startup costs. TEG typically recommends a budget in the $20,000 to $50,000 range and can help unpack what is included in those costs.
As a full-service fashion house, The Evans Group helps keep your costs down by handling the entire design and manufacturing process internally. By limiting outsourcing, TEG expedites product development and offers unmatched quality assurance.
With a clear budget in mind, you are now ready to define your brand identity and plan your product line.
Step 2: Defining Your Brand Identity and Product Line
Next, you’ll need to define what you want your brand to look like. Fashion startups need to capture consumers’ attention by reflecting their values and showing audiences something different. This may mean mimicking the roadmap of other brands while adding your own flair and vision.
Defining your brand identity and product line is tough because you shouldn’t try to completely reinvent the wheel, but you also need fresh and captivating products. These challenges make choosing the right production company even more important.
When vetting potential manufacturers, find out what sort of assistance they offer when creating your product lineup. The best clothing manufacturers for startups will actually build out your brand book for you. This means all you have to do is put together mood boards for inspiration.
Questions to Ask Your Manufacturing Prospect
Here are a few things aspiring fashion entrepreneurs like you should ask potential manufacturers.
Do You Offer Branding and Marketing Services to Help Me Launch My Line?
A full-service fashion house like The Evans Group offers in-house marketing and branding services. Our team can help you build a brand book that fits your budget and resonates with your target audience. These services are meant to expedite your time to market while giving you the best opportunity for success.
Do You Offer [Insert Apparel Category] Production?
While you may not have your entire brand book complete when you start searching for a manufacturing partner, you should know what types of clothing you want to make. Do you want to create high-end apparel for a niche market of consumers? Or are you more interested in sweatshirts, casual wear, and comfortable clothing?
Make sure the manufacturer you are considering offers the type of apparel production you need.
How Many Different Styles Can I Produce at Once?
Clothing suppliers have varying production capabilities. If you want to launch a clothing line with lots of different styles, it’s important to verify that your partner has the production capacity to accommodate your needs.
Experienced manufacturers know exactly what their capabilities are and can also discuss their ability to scale production as your brand grows.
How Many Color Variations Can I Use?
Discuss color variations so you can set realistic goals when creating your brand book. While you don’t want to inundate potential customers with every color you can dream up, you should give them enough options to appeal to a wide range of tastes.
Step 3: Estimate the Volume of Production
Since you are just starting out, it’s a good idea to partner with a manufacturer that specializes in small-batch manufacturing. The Evans Group produces high-quality clothing in small batches, which enables designers to craft limited runs of garments and cut down on initial expenses.
The small-batch method also reduces your risk of carrying surplus inventory, which can be a huge burden for startup fashion brands.
The Evans Group offers batches as small as 50 pieces per style. Our experts have found that this strategy works extremely well for startup clothing lines.
Questions to Ask Your Manufacturing Prospect
Here are a few things you need to know about a prospective partner’s manufacturing services.
What Is Your Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)?
The minimum order quantity is the minimum amount of products a manufacturer will produce in a single order. MOQs in the fashion industry can be applied in a few different ways, so it’s important to ask for specifics before partnering with a fashion house.
Let’s say your MOQ for each style is 500. Does that mean you can order 500 shirts in all sizes and colors, or is it 500 black shirts in small sizes only? That could make a huge difference in your project costs. Make sure you know what your MOQ is and how the manufacturer calculates order quantity.
What Are the Average Prices? Do You Have Credit Terms?
While price will vary depending on the complexity of your designs, an experienced manufacturer can provide some averages for each type of clothing (i.e., T-shirts, sweaters). Does the average price match your needs? If so, that fashion house may be a good fit.
You should also ask if the manufacturer offers credit terms and what those terms are. Just because you have the capital to pay for your production run in cash doesn’t necessarily mean you should. It’s always a good idea to keep some cash on hand to cover any surprises that arise while launching your business.
Step 4: Ensure Your Manufacturing Partner Meets the Common Criteria You’re Looking For
You’ll need to determine whether the manufacturer is a good fit for your brand in terms of the following:
- Quality
- Ethical production
- Sustainability
- Location
You’ll also need to consider factors like upfront costs, turnaround time, and how you will build a supply chain to support your high-quality product line.
Questions to Ask Your Manufacturing Prospect
You should discuss the following with a prospective manufacturer.
Where Do You Manufacture?
Location matters. You want a fashion house located in the USA and, ideally, somewhere reasonably close to your base of operations. It’s easier to adhere to quality control standards when working with a domestic production team.
Can I Tour the Facility?
Ask the manufacturer if you can take a tour. The best manufacturing companies will be proud of what they’ve built and will be more than happy to schedule a tour.
What Are Your Organization’s Core Values?
The manufacturing company’s values don’t have to be a perfect recreation of your brand’s values and mission. However, there should be some overlap. For instance, if sustainability is one of your brand’s core values, you want to partner with an eco-conscious manufacturer.
Step 5: What Other Services Do They Offer to Help Launch Your Brand?
Does the manufacturer help you beyond the production process? Do they offer mentorship and guidance? For example, The Evans Group is a true full-service fashion house that assists with everything from design and marketing to mentorship.
These are invaluable services that can jumpstart your path to success and help you break into your target market.
Questions to Ask Your Manufacturing Prospect
Focus your questions on the services that you are looking for. You should ask things such as the following.
Do You Assist With Marketing?
A fashion house that assists with marketing and branding can be invaluable during your startup journey. They can use their experience and industry insights to identify underserved markets and support your design processes.
Can I See Samples of My Designs?
Practically every clothing manufacturing company creates design samples. What you are looking for here is a partner that offers a collaborative sampling process. You want them to make the samples and also offer relevant feedback to help maintain quality, promote craftsmanship, and keep your costs down.
Do You Offer Mentorship Services?
If you are new to the fashion industry, mentorship services can be an absolute game-changer. With over 20 years of experience, TEG Founder and CEO Jennifer Evans offers fashion mentorship services for startups. She will be your trusted advisor and expert as you embark on this exciting journey.
Partner With The Evans Group — The Premier Custom Clothing Manufacturers
As a true full-service fashion house, The Evans Group provides the following services to support your new venture:
The Evans Group is one of the premier clothing manufacturers for startups. From development to production, TEG will work to streamline the apparel manufacturing journey while producing high-quality products you can be proud to put your label on.
Book your free 15-minute call with The Evans Group today to discover all the benefits for your startup.
