Starting a clothing brand in India can be super fun, but it’s important to plan things out properly. 

While the journey will be full of ups and downs, with a well-thought-out plan and a passion for fashion, you can certainly make your mark in the vibrant world of Indian clothing brands.

So let’s get started:

Consider the following before Starting a Clothing Brand in India

• It requires a good amount of investment and a lot of time and effort.
• If you don’t have any degree or experience in fashion then, I would suggest gaining some experience, this will make your entrepreneurship journey smooth.
• There is immense competition in clothing lines in India, which is why it is important to have a strong USP. For e.g., You can offer personalized and customized options, or you can design sexy clothes that look good for plus-size women, or you can offer high-quality, premium clothing at relatively affordable prices, which can appeal to Gen Z and Millenials.

Steps to Start a Clothing Brand in India

The goal of these steps is to find what the people in India need, then find out what is the market gap, and based on this start your brand and design clothes with your unique style.

1. Do Your Research

While researching it is important to know your target audience. To do this the best way is to approach tailors, fabric sellers, salesmen for big brands, and shopkeepers. You can begin by asking them the following questions:

Tailors

1. What are the most popular clothing styles that customers request?
2. What do they complain about the most?
3. Which age groups ask for what kind of styles?

Shopkeepers

1. What types of clothing sell the most in your store?
2. Do customers prefer affordable clothing or are they willing to spend more for quality?
3. Which clothing brands do customers ask for the most?
4. Are there any particular fashion trends that customers are currently interested in?
5. What factors influence customers’ decisions to make a purchase?
6. What colors do the customers prefer more?
7. What sizes sell the most?

Fabric Sellers

1. What are the most popular fabrics among customers?
2. Are there any specific fabrics that are preferred for different occasions?
3. How do customers decide between synthetic and natural fabrics?
4. Do customers ask for any specific fabric patterns or designs?
5. What factors do customers consider when choosing fabrics for specific purposes?

Salespersons for Big Brands

1. What are the best-selling clothing items from your brand?
2. Are there any specific features or designs that customers often inquire about?
3. How do customers respond to new collections or limited edition items?
4. What are the most common customer questions or concerns related to your brand’s clothing?

Combine all this research and come up with what needs of people are not met and how you can fulfill them.

Once you figure out the pain points of the customers, this will be your USP. Which means Unique Selling Preposition. 

E.g., Alia Bhatt figured out that there was no eco-friendly brand for kids in the Indian market, so she started her brand Ed-a-Mamma, which uses sustainable practices and does not use any plastic in buttons or even packaging. 

2. Choose Your Brand Name

Your brand name should be aligned with your target customers.

E.g., if your brand is kids’ wear, your brand name has to be relatable for kids, because your customers will be the parents of kids. Like Tiny Trendsetters, Mini Muse Apparel, or KidKraft Fashion.

Or if you are targeting Gen Z then the name could be GenZ Garb, Trend Tribe Threads, or something along those lines.

3. Finalize Your Designs

Analyze the information that you collected from your research, what things people usually ask for, and use it to come up with creative designs. 

If you have design skills and you know how to stitch, then stitch a few samples. If you are satisfied with your samples, then give those samples to a tailor, this will give them a better idea of what you want them to make, rather than explaining them through sketches. Ask them to make more pieces just like the sample you provided.

In case, you don’t have any knowledge of manufacturing or designing clothes, you will have to outsource this step or collaborate with someone. 

Depending upon your budget there are 2 ways to collaborate.

1. Work with Agencies that can help you design your clothes, if you have a big budget.
2. If your budget is less, then you can work with Interns, who have a fashion designing background, just sit with them and give them a brief about what you have in mind. 

Quick Tip

Watch the episodes of Project Runway, it’s a US-based reality TV show for fashion designers. This will give you great ideas for designs.

You will find our blog on Akshay Kumar’s clothing brand quite helpful.

4. Find A Supplier

You can find suppliers for your fabrics, or even get your clothes stitched in bulk from small factories from online markets like Facebook groups or Indiamart. 

While hunting for the perfect supplier that meets your needs, it is important to check whether the supplier is reliable or not. 

This checklist can help determine if you should work with a particular supplier.

• Conduct background research on their history, reputation, and customer feedback.

• Verify their physical address and contact details. 

• Ask for fabric samples to assess their quality, texture, durability, and color consistency. 

• Additionally, evaluate their communication style and responsiveness to ensure they promptly address your inquiries and provide transparent information about their products and services.

5. Get Your Pricing Right

1. Analyze all costs, including production, labor, and shipping.
2. Conduct market research to understand competitors’ pricing.
3. Consider your target audience’s purchasing power and preferences.
4. Determine a reasonable profit margin for sustainability.
5. Assess the unique value your brand offers to justify pricing.
6. Plan promotions and discounts to attract customers.

Consider all the above factors to fix the right price for your clothes.

6. Market Your Business On Social Media

If you have the budget then you can consider hiring a digital marketing agency.

If you lack funds, you can put your time and effort into coming up with creative social media marketing ideas. 

Push out content on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube shorts so that your brand name and awareness in the market increase. 

You can also approach small influencers to promote your clothes on their channel.

Note– A very important thing many people think is that to start a clothing brand you will have to start a website from day 1. 

This is not needed, just with a good Instagram marketing strategy, a WhatsApp number, and Instagram direct messages you can connect with the customers and reach out to them. 

For an Initial 100 or 200 orders, you can fulfill them by direct messages on Instagram, WhatsApp, or Facebook. Have one-to-one conversions with customers, coordinate, get orders, and deliver them.

After your first 100 to 200 orders, you can Formalize your business. 

For more clarity check out our blog on How To Start A Clothing Brand With No Experience

7. Formalizing Business

There are 3 different types of businesses.

1. private limited companies, 
2. partnership companies, 
3. Proprietorship companies

If you are starting an individual business then going with proprietorship is the best option, Don’t go with pvt. Ltd. or partnership companies. Because there are a lot of steps involved in this compliance. 

When your business becomes big and when you want to take funding, or you want to sell your shares, or give your shares to your team members, then you will need pvt. Ltd. company, but for an initial 1 year, you should be fine with a proprietorship company.

8. Set Up Your Store

Decide whether to sell your clothing online or offline or you can also put up your stall in exhibitions and trade fairs (this is the best way to increase your brand awareness)

If you don’t have much time and budget you can start selling online. Just create your website on Shopify and start your e-commerce store. 

If you have the budget and time, you can start selling offline or participate in exhibitions. 

You can register yourself with event management companies and they will update you about the new exhibitions coming up. You can choose which one you want to participate in.

If you want to start your offline store, then find a suitable location.

You can consider the following checklist for choosing your ideal location.

• Look for areas with high foot traffic and easy accessibility.
• Analyze the locations of your competitors.
• Familiarize yourself with local regulations and zoning laws.
• Evaluate the infrastructure and facilities available in the area.
• Analyze rental costs and negotiate favorable lease terms.
• Research any upcoming development plans in the area.
• Ensure your brand identity aligns with the local community.

9. Time To Go Big With Marketing

When Your Product is Market Fit. This means customers can find you, you can sell to your customers, and your sales are increasing gradually, At this stage, you can start Performance Marketing Ads.

This is a fancy term for paid Instagram, Facebook, Google, and YouTube ads. 

Now it’s time to start spending on these ads. Once you reach this stage just teach yourself the basics. Watch 10 or 20 videos on how people do it, or you can even hire an intern to do this. 

You can Spend 1K to 2K or 10K initially for a few months for paid ads.

Once you start running performance marketing ads, you could go from earning thousands to lakhs or even crores.

You might also be interested in reading our blog on How to Earn in Dollars from India.

10. Provide Excellent Customer Service

Keeping these points in mind will help you provide excellent customer service.

• Offer personalized assistance and recommendations based on customer preferences.
• Ensure quick and responsive communication through various channels.
• Simplify the process for returns and exchanges to make it customer-friendly.
• Provide in-depth product knowledge to help customers make informed decisions.
• Follow up with customers after their purchase to gather feedback and show appreciation.
• Engage customers through community events and workshops related to fashion.
• Optimize the online shopping experience with user-friendly navigation and secure payment options.
• Implement customer appreciation programs to reward loyalty and encourage repeat purchases.

FAQs For how to start a clothing brand in India

How much does it cost to start a clothing brand in India?

Starting a clothing brand in India may cost somewhere around 1 lakh INR initially. This amount can cover the fabric procurement, stitching costs, basic packaging, transportation, and any other essential expenses for setting up the initial production and operation of your clothing brand. 

However, it’s important to note that actual costs can vary depending on various factors such as the scale of your operation, the type of fabric you choose, the complexity of designs, and other incidental costs that may arise during the setup phase.

How Can I start my clothing brand in India?

1. Identify a niche market, e.g., sustainable fashion for young adults.
2. Create unique designs, e.g., using organic cotton and eco-friendly dyes, or partner with local artisans for handcrafted production with attention to detail.
3. Build an engaging online presence through social media campaigns and a user-friendly website.
4. Sell your products through both an e-commerce platform and select boutique stores.
5. Offer personalized customer support and gather feedback through surveys and reviews.

How can I start a clothing business from home in India?

1. Choose a niche like sustainable baby clothing.
2. Outsource the stitching of clothes to local tailors or small factories.
3. Promote your brand on Instagram.
4. Provide personalized customer support.
5. Utilize Instagram shopping features for direct purchases.
6. Engagement with your customers through interactive content on social media.