How to Start Your Own Retail Clothing Line

Most famous names in fashion all started the same way: with a sketchbook and a sewing machine. Although this may not seem glamorous, it is the most basic way to get a retail clothing line off of the ground. You can do the same with a bit of work and ingenuity.

1. Prepare two or three pieces that you are especially proud of. These will be the basis of your sales pitch later on. Although drawings in a sketchbook are great, they will not help you to make a sale. A fashion store buyer will want to see the product up close. This will allow them to inspect the material and the quality of the design. If you cannot sew the pieces yourself, hire an expert seamstress to sew from your patterns. 


2. Make an appointment to meet with a clothing store buyer. Although you can start with retail chains, it makes more sense to start your journey by pitching your line to smaller boutiques. Often, the buyers for these stores are the owners and their will be less red tape than their would be at a national chain.


3. Show off your creations on the day of your appointment. Don’t just sell the clothing; sell your passion for the line that you have created. By showing excitement, you will have a much better chance at landing the sale. 


4. Create an invoice once the sale has been made. Be sure that you are realistic with your first few sales as you start out. You will probably not have the ability to make 5,000 pieces in two weeks. Start small and manageable and then you can you’re your volume later.