u/atlashorizons

I'm planning to start my own apparel brand and I'm currently at the stage of developing my first product. I'd really appreciate advice from people who have actual experience building and selling clothing brands, especially those who started small.

I already have experience reselling clothing, and through that I've become very familiar with different brands, fabrics, construction and overall quality. After handling and selling a lot of clothing, I feel I've developed a good eye for quality. From the first look and feel of a garment, I can usually tell when something feels premium versus cheap or poorly made.

Now I want to take that experience and create my own products and brand, rather than only reselling other brands.

I already have an idea for my first product, including the design, fit, fabric feel and quality level I'm looking for. I'm currently contacting manufacturers, mainly in Europe, and comparing their MOQs, fabric options, sampling process, production costs and capabilities.

My plan is to start relatively small and develop one really good product first, rather than immediately creating a large collection.

For those of you who have actually built an apparel brand:

• Am I approaching this in the right order?
• What did you wish you knew before producing your first garment?
• How important was the first prototype/sample in your experience?
• What should I pay the most attention to when choosing a manufacturer?
• What mistakes did you make with your first production?
• Would you recommend starting with a small quantity even if the cost per unit is higher?
• What should I be negotiating with manufacturers besides the unit price?
• How did you decide when a product was ready for bulk production?
• What would you do differently if you were starting again today?

I'm also realistic about the fact that some money may be wasted while learning. I'm prepared for that. I see the first product as an opportunity to learn the manufacturing, sampling, quality-control, pricing and selling process. If something doesn't work, I'll learn from it and use that experience for the next product.

I already have other product ideas and directions for the brand that I'd like to explore later, so I'm not expecting everything to work perfectly on the first attempt.

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who have actually worked in apparel manufacturing, product development, e-commerce, or built a clothing brand themselves.

I already understand that the apparel market is competitive and that there are huge established brands. I'm not looking for comments telling me that the market is saturated or that big companies will destroy my business. I already know that.

I'm looking for practical advice from people who have actually been through the process — what worked, what didn't, what surprised you, and what you would do differently.

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience.

I'm planning to start my own apparel brand and I'm currently at the stage of developing my first product. I'd really appreciate advice from people who have actual experience building and selling clothing brands, especially those who started small.

I already have experience reselling clothing, and through that I've become very familiar with different brands, fabrics, construction and overall quality. After handling and selling a lot of clothing, I feel I've developed a good eye for quality. From the first look and feel of a garment, I can usually tell when something feels premium versus cheap or poorly made.

Now I want to take that experience and create my own products and brand, rather than only reselling other brands.

I already have an idea for my first product, including the design, fit, fabric feel and quality level I'm looking for. I'm currently contacting manufacturers, mainly in Europe, and comparing their MOQs, fabric options, sampling process, production costs and capabilities.

My plan is to start relatively small and develop one really good product first, rather than immediately creating a large collection.

For those of you who have actually built an apparel brand:

• Am I approaching this in the right order?
• What did you wish you knew before producing your first garment?
• How important was the first prototype/sample in your experience?
• What should I pay the most attention to when choosing a manufacturer?
• What mistakes did you make with your first production?
• Would you recommend starting with a small quantity even if the cost per unit is higher?
• What should I be negotiating with manufacturers besides the unit price?
• How did you decide when a product was ready for bulk production?
• What would you do differently if you were starting again today?

I'm also realistic about the fact that some money may be wasted while learning. I'm prepared for that. I see the first product as an opportunity to learn the manufacturing, sampling, quality-control, pricing and selling process. If something doesn't work, I'll learn from it and use that experience for the next product.

I already have other product ideas and directions for the brand that I'd like to explore later, so I'm not expecting everything to work perfectly on the first attempt.

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who have actually worked in apparel manufacturing, product development, e-commerce, or built a clothing brand themselves.

I already understand that the apparel market is competitive and that there are huge established brands. I'm not looking for comments telling me that the market is saturated or that big companies will destroy my business. I already know that.

I'm looking for practical advice from people who have actually been through the process — what worked, what didn't, what surprised you, and what you would do differently.

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience.

I'm planning to start my own apparel brand and I'm currently at the stage of developing my first product. I'd really appreciate advice from people who have actual experience building and selling clothing brands, especially those who started small.

I already have experience reselling clothing, and through that I've become very familiar with different brands, fabrics, construction and overall quality. After handling and selling a lot of clothing, I feel I've developed a good eye for quality. From the first look and feel of a garment, I can usually tell when something feels premium versus cheap or poorly made.

Now I want to take that experience and create my own products and brand, rather than only reselling other brands.

I already have an idea for my first product, including the design, fit, fabric feel and quality level I'm looking for. I'm currently contacting manufacturers, mainly in Europe, and comparing their MOQs, fabric options, sampling process, production costs and capabilities.

My plan is to start relatively small and develop one really good product first, rather than immediately creating a large collection.

For those of you who have actually built an apparel brand:

• Am I approaching this in the right order?
• What did you wish you knew before producing your first garment?
• How important was the first prototype/sample in your experience?
• What should I pay the most attention to when choosing a manufacturer?
• What mistakes did you make with your first production?
• Would you recommend starting with a small quantity even if the cost per unit is higher?
• What should I be negotiating with manufacturers besides the unit price?
• How did you decide when a product was ready for bulk production?
• What would you do differently if you were starting again today?

I'm also realistic about the fact that some money may be wasted while learning. I'm prepared for that. I see the first product as an opportunity to learn the manufacturing, sampling, quality-control, pricing and selling process. If something doesn't work, I'll learn from it and use that experience for the next product.

I already have other product ideas and directions for the brand that I'd like to explore later, so I'm not expecting everything to work perfectly on the first attempt.

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who have actually worked in apparel manufacturing, product development, e-commerce, or built a clothing brand themselves.

I already understand that the apparel market is competitive and that there are huge established brands. I'm not looking for comments telling me that the market is saturated or that big companies will destroy my business. I already know that.

I'm looking for practical advice from people who have actually been through the process — what worked, what didn't, what surprised you, and what you would do differently.

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience.

I'm planning to start my own apparel brand and I'm currently at the stage of developing my first product. I'd really appreciate advice from people who have actual experience building and selling clothing brands, especially those who started small.

I already have experience reselling clothing, and through that I've become very familiar with different brands, fabrics, construction and overall quality. After handling and selling a lot of clothing, I feel I've developed a good eye for quality. From the first look and feel of a garment, I can usually tell when something feels premium versus cheap or poorly made.

Now I want to take that experience and create my own products and brand, rather than only reselling other brands.

I already have an idea for my first product, including the design, fit, fabric feel and quality level I'm looking for. I'm currently contacting manufacturers, mainly in Europe, and comparing their MOQs, fabric options, sampling process, production costs and capabilities.

My plan is to start relatively small and develop one really good product first, rather than immediately creating a large collection.

For those of you who have actually built an apparel brand:

• Am I approaching this in the right order?
• What did you wish you knew before producing your first garment?
• How important was the first prototype/sample in your experience?
• What should I pay the most attention to when choosing a manufacturer?
• What mistakes did you make with your first production?
• Would you recommend starting with a small quantity even if the cost per unit is higher?
• What should I be negotiating with manufacturers besides the unit price?
• How did you decide when a product was ready for bulk production?
• What would you do differently if you were starting again today?

I'm also realistic about the fact that some money may be wasted while learning. I'm prepared for that. I see the first product as an opportunity to learn the manufacturing, sampling, quality-control, pricing and selling process. If something doesn't work, I'll learn from it and use that experience for the next product.

I already have other product ideas and directions for the brand that I'd like to explore later, so I'm not expecting everything to work perfectly on the first attempt.

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who have actually worked in apparel manufacturing, product development, e-commerce, or built a clothing brand themselves.

I already understand that the apparel market is competitive and that there are huge established brands. I'm not looking for comments telling me that the market is saturated or that big companies will destroy my business. I already know that.

I'm looking for practical advice from people who have actually been through the process — what worked, what didn't, what surprised you, and what you would do differently.

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience.