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Step 1
Get a clear idea of what type of clothing you want to design and sell. As a small clothing business, it is not realistic to start off with the idea that you are going to sell everything to everyone. Choose a specific group of people you want to target---babies, toddlers, teens, girls, boys, women, men, mothers to be, the elderly---and focus on designing and finding clothing for them. Do market research in your area (or online) to determine how you can gain an advantage over your competition when selling to your chosen segment.
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Step 2
Physically bring your sketches to clothing manufacturers so that you can discuss their process for turning your vision into an actual piece of clothing that someone can wear. Examine their most recent made clothing samples before making a final decision, and get a written agreement about their work including the materials to be used, the cost, sizes to be produces, terms and their recourse in the case that you do not like the final product. Have them deliver you samples to start off so that you can look at the quality. Then when the clothing is approved by you, have them deliver the various pieces to you in sizes to fit all of your customers.
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Step 3
Sign an agreement with a local or national clothes distributor to provide you with the latest clothing pieces they have available. You can also find wholesalers online, including Fashion Wholesale and J&R Wholesale; both companies provide clothing retailers with up-to-date clothes at very low prices (see Resources below).
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Step 4
Subscribe to all of the major fashion magazines, including "Elle," "Essence," "GQ," "Glamour," "Vogue" and "Vanity Fair." You want to have a very diverse selection of styles to browse on a monthly basis. Monitor the latest fashions and trends for each season, and base your clothing picks and sketches on these new looks.
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Step 5
Decide where you want to sell your clothing. Stay away from locations that are saturated with stores that sell clothes that are similar to yours. You can either sell the clothes online by setting up an ecommerce website, on the street with a vendor table or by opening a store. If you want to open a store, hire a realtor to guide you towards the best retail locations in your area that have small spaces for rent.
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Step 6
Be sure to place ample ads throughout to advertise your best pieces. If you are selling based on your low prices (as in the case of Steve & Barry's Sarah Jessica Parker "Bitten" Line) be sure to advertise the prices front and center.
