Have you ever wanted to start your own boutique clothing line? Getting your gear manufactured is the easy part, but building a successful brand requires careful research and planning. Before you start mulling the differences between dye sublimation and screen printing, make sure you start off with a solid foundation.

Step 1: Pick a Target Market

 Who do you imagine wearing your apparel? Do they prioritize style or comfort? Most importantly, what are their spending habits? The answers to these questions will drive every decision you make regarding designs, marketing, fabric choices, and printing techniques. While you may wish to appeal to a wide audience, identifying a niche is a better strategy for building brand loyalty.

Step 2: Conduct Market Research

 If you don’t have the budget to hire a marketing research firm, create a pre-launch campaign to generate hype and collect information about your potential audience. For example, you can conduct A/B testing or run ads on social media platforms, and then perform target demographic analysis with Google Analytics. Look to big brands with a similar target clientele for inspiration, and don’t be afraid to solicit insight from other small retailers.

Step 3: Make Your Designs

Create a technical sketch by hand, or use design software such as Adobe Illustrator. Don’t worry about shading or colors just yet. Instead, focus on how the drawing should look while laying flat, then add solid or dashed lines to represent seams and stitching. It’s OK if you’re not a professional artist. In fact, you should keep the designs simple at this point since your fabric and printing choices will ultimately determine how the final product turns out.

Step 4: Produce a Prototype

Next, you can consult a professional patternmaker to create a sample, or you can outsource prototyping to a manufacturer. Either way, be sure to provide a detailed list of specifications for your product including preferred fabrics and colors. If you're unsure which materials are best suited for your designs, a good manufacturer can assist you with those decisions.

Step 5: Talk to Manufacturers

Finding the right manufacturer can require some shopping around, so order samples from a few different companies. Assess not only the quality of the product, but also consider the speed and professionalism of the service. Ask questions about pricing and production timelines to make sure they fit with your needs. Establishing a positive working relationship with your manufacturer is pivotal to your company's success, so don't just pick the least expensive option.

Jump Start Your Clothing Line With Portland Ink

Portland Ink partners with retailers of all sizes thanks to our quick turnaround time and highly customized service. In addition to a wide variety of fabrics and colors, we also offer different choices in printing techniques including screen printing and dye sublimation printing. Bring us your ideas, and our in-house art design team will bring your vision to life.