Start Here! The very first steps to take.
So you’ve decided that you want to start your own fashion line? That is so exciting because creating and launching a fashion line is a fun and exciting process! Whether your line or design is just an idea right now, or you’ve started taking steps to make it happen, this is a great place to be because these are some steps you don’t want to miss.
First, I’m excited that you’re here, because I have been where you are, and thinking about and being in the process of launching a fashion line can feel overwhelming. But it should be a fun process to create a business around a design you’re passionate about. When I was working on launching my fashion line, information felt inaccessible and protected. The steps I needed to take also felt unclear and confusing (even for someone with a BFA in fashion design and who had worked as a fashion designer!) So I am here to share with you the steps that I took, and that I wish I had taken, when launching my line, to help you launch a profitable fashion line, just like I did!
1. The Concept
Your idea or concept for your fashion line or product is an important part of the development and launching process because it can help guide all of the steps in the process. By concept, I mean the general idea that describes your line. Here are some examples:
High-quality luxury, sustainable, women’s clothing. A women’s dress that can be worn in 10 different ways. Clothing that can transition from the office to a workout.
Some people decide they want to launch a fashion line knowing the specific product or design they want to make, and others just know they want to launch a line. Both of these are great starting points.
A strong idea, is one that you’re excited about.
Your idea will develop and grow over time, but to start strengthening your concept, write down and clarify the important aspects of it.
Here are some tips on clarifying and strengthening your fashion line concept.
Know you want to start a fashion line but not sure what direction you want to go in? Check out our list of 50 fashion line concept ideas.
2. Start Growing Your Audience
It is never too early to start building an audience for your line. Building an audience means connecting with your future customers and getting them excited about your launch and your product.
This is so important to do before you launch so that when you launch, you already have people who are ready and excited to buy your products!
Building and growing your audience can be done by helping potential future customers find out about your brand. You can do this in many ways, including through social media and by collecting email addresses on your website. For your fashion line’s social media pages and website, you’ll want to have a name picked out (which is one of many reasons why clarifying your idea is important – your idea and concept can help you decide on a brand name). Growing your audience on the platforms you choose to use is something you will continue to do even after you launch, but it is never too early to start.
How to grow your audience on social media before you launch.
Collecting email addresses is one of the most effective ways to turn a potential customer into a customer for your fashion line. This is because you can communicate directly with them about your exciting upcoming launch and because they have shown you they are already interested by subscribing.
Once you get email subscribers, you will email them updates about your launch to keep them as excited as you are and email them the exciting news they have been waiting for, when your fashion line is available for them to purchase!
The first step in collecting email addresses for potential customers is to create a simple website where they can enter their email address.
There are a few website hosting platforms you can choose from. I have used both WordPress and Shopify before. I recommend starting with WordPress because it is more affordable and to me, it is easier to customize.
To use WordPress and fully own your content and site, you will need a web hosting platform. I use and recommend Bluehost because they have a $2.95 per month hosting plan, include a free domain name with your plan, have customizable and free themes that are great for selling products, and have responsive and helpful customer service.
To get Bluehost’s $2.95 per month plan to create a website on WordPress, click here.
3. Begin Development
understand the process