How Do You Manufacture Your First Clothing Collection as a Startup?
A practical path from idea to first delivery for new clothing brands: what to prepare, how small you can start and where the money goes.
Start small and specific: one to three designs, 30 pieces per design with sizes mixed, and a sample before bulk. Send a sketch or reference photo, approve a mockup within 24 hours, sample in 8–10 days, then bulk in 10–12 days. Plan your budget for samples, the first run, labels and packaging, and shipping.
Step 1: Decide what you are launching
Pick a small range you can sell through, such as one hoodie and one tee, or one fight short and one rash guard. A tight first drop is easier to sample, cheaper to stock and quicker to reorder when it sells.
Step 2: Choose how much to customise
- Cut and sew if fit and fabric are your selling point.
- Private label if you want to launch quickly on a proven style with your own labels and packaging.
- Blank customisation if you are selling merch and the design matters more than the garment.
Step 3: Prepare your brief
- Sketch, reference photo or tech pack
- Logo files and placement sizes
- Fabric preference, or the feel you want
- Quantity per design and size split
- Label, hang tag and packaging needs
- Delivery country
Step 4: Sample, then approve
The sample is where you fix fit and details cheaply. Review it carefully with our sample approval checklist.
Step 5: Plan the budget
| Cost | What drives it |
|---|---|
| Samples | Number of styles and revisions |
| Production | Fabric, construction, decoration and quantity |
| Branding | Woven labels, hang tags, polybags and boxes |
| Shipping | Weight, destination and DDP or not |
To set your retail price, read how to price your clothing brand.
Step 6: Delivery and restock
We deliver duties paid (DDP) to the USA, UK, Ireland and EU, and door to door to Australia and New Zealand. Keep your approved sample and size split on file, so the reorder matches the first run.
Frequently asked questions
What is the smallest order I can start with?
30 pieces per design, with sizes mixed.
Do I need a tech pack to start?
No. A sketch or reference photo is enough for a quote and sample.
How long from idea to delivery?
Mockup within 24 hours, sample in 8–10 days, bulk in 10–12 days after approval, plus shipping time.
Can you add my own labels and packaging?
Yes. Woven labels, hang tags, polybags and boxes can all carry your brand.
Related answers and guides
Launching your first collection?
Tell us what you want to make. We will reply with a free quote and a sampling plan.