Define your brand vision, target customer, and price positioning
Research competitors and identify gaps in style, quality, fit, or pricing
Choose a niche (e.g., streetwear, basics, athleisure, workwear, sustainable)
Create brand identity (name, logo, color palette, typography, tone of voice)
Develop product line plan (capsule collection, seasonal drops, core items)
Select materials and construction standards (fabric weights, trims, stitching, care)
Create tech packs (measurements, construction details, bill of materials)
Source manufacturers or cut-and-sew partners (request samples, confirm MOQ and lead times)
Order fabric swatches and test quality (shrinkage, colorfastness, durability)
Build a sample run and iterate on fit, feel, and finish
Establish sizing charts and fit models/measurements
Determine pricing (cost breakdown, overhead, margins, discounts, shipping/returns)
Choose sales channels (shopify, marketplace, wholesale, pop-ups, consignment)
Set up e-commerce infrastructure (domain, hosting, product pages, payments, shipping settings)
Create a brand website with clear product, sizing, shipping, and returns policies
Plan inventory strategy (small initial runs, pre-orders, or made-to-order)
Create product photography and lifestyle visuals (shoot sample garments, model releases)
Write product descriptions (materials, fit, benefits, care instructions)
Set up branding assets (packaging, hang tags, labels, size stickers)
Establish legal setup (business registration, trademarks, sales tax setup)
Create compliance essentials (labeling requirements, country-of-origin, care labels)
Build a pre-launch content plan (collection teasers, behind-the-scenes, styling)
Launch marketing channels (Instagram, TikTok, email list, SEO, paid ads if needed)
Collaborate with influencers, stylists, and creators aligned with your niche
Set up email marketing (welcome flow, launch announcements, abandoned cart)
Prepare customer service workflows (order status, exchanges, returns, sizing support)
Create a wholesale/retail outreach plan (line sheets, wholesale pricing, terms)
Develop relationships with stockists and buyers (trade shows, local boutiques)
Establish production and quality control checkpoints (pre-ship inspection, defect thresholds)
Track metrics (conversion rate, CAC, AOV, return rate, sell-through, inventory turns)
Implement a repeatable workflow for new drops (design → sampling → production → launch)
Maintain supply chain reliability (backup fabrics, alternate vendors, buffer stock)
Use customer feedback to refine fit, fabrics, and future collections