1. Think of a name
Well, of course, you need a name for your brand; how would people know you? Try to think of a name that stands out but also sounds simple. When I came up with the name LawVille for my street wear brand, I knew I wanted my name somewhere in my brand, so I chose "Law" because my last name is Lawrence. I was thinking to myself, what goes with "Law"? It took me a whole week to think of something, and I kept saying everything that could match with "Law," then boom, I thought of "Ville," and I knew it was perfect—that was my final choice.
2. Think of a meaning for your Streetwear brand
Think of a meaning for your brand that is important to you because if you want to build a brand, you need to know it's bigger than the clothes. You're going to have a lot of people asking you what your street wear brand means, and you need to be ready. For example, my streetwear brand, LawVille, means success and freedom. I want to show that young people can be successful and free. Make sure your meaning relates to other people.
3. Find a graphic designer
You need a logo for your brand so people can identify you. If you're good at graphic design, I suggest you use Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop on your computer or ipad. If you don't know how to make designs, you can go to Instagram and search for ".std," which stands for studio, and a bunch of graphic designers will pop up. Note that it is Instagram, so some people will try to scam you, and unfortunately, it happened to me. When you're looking at a graphic designer's page, they usually have a bunch of designs. If none of them say "sold," it could potentially be a scam because it might mean nobody is actually buying them. Even if they are giving the designs to people and it doesn't say "sold," you still should not buy from them because now somebody can have the same exact design as you. If you see a logo or graphic design you like on a page but it looks like a scam, screenshot it and have another graphic designer that looks legit remake it. You can also use Fiver.
4. Do research on different types of materials and prints
When I started my brand, I had no idea about fashion, and I didn't really care about it; all I wore was black every day. If I can learn about it, you definitely can too. Start researching different types of fabric. Personally, my favorite fabric is French terry. See which ones you like, and consider how they wash, if they shrink a lot, if the fabric is of good quality, and so on. You also need to learn about different types of prints like puff print, screen print, DTG print, and many more. The same thing goes for different types of embroideries like chenille embroidery, 3D embroidery, denim embroidery, and many more. Make sure you consider how the prints and embroideries would wash too. Do your research on different types of hang tags too.
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5. Create a tech pack
A tech pack is specific details you make for your clothes like the type of material, print, logo dimensions, etc. Then, you give it to your manufacturer, and I suggest you always get a sample first. Here is an example of a tech pack that I made. You want to make sure you get all the details correct. My mock-up is not the best, but you can definitely get a better one made if you pay somebody. If you need to create a tech pack I suggest you go to Seaggs to get a mock-up pack.
6. Find a manufacturer
When I first started my brand, I had no idea how to find a manufacturer, but it's actually really easy; the only challenge is finding a good one. Download Alibaba on your phone or search it up on your computer, and there you will find thousands of manufacturers for everything. When I say everything, I mean everything. You can make shoes, clothes, stickers, key chains, and many more things there with the same formula by using a tech pack for everything. Simply search for what you want after you have done research on the clothes you want, and manufacturers will pop up. I hear a lot of people say you can get scammed on Alibaba, which is true, but it's super easy to avoid that. When you see a manufacturer you like, make sure they are verified and have reviews to prove credibility, and when you follow these steps, your odds of getting scammed are very low. Here is an example of a manufacturer that is legit, and if you're wondering how I know, it's because they are my manufacturer.
7. Make a website
You need a website so people can buy your clothes, but you know that. When making a website, I suggest you use Shopify. I'm pretty sure you've heard everybody say that. I use Shopify myself, and they're really good because everything is easy and automated, so you really don't have to do that much work when creating your website. I suggest you buy a domain to make your website name look more professional because if you don't buy a domain, your website name will say whatever you chose and will have Shopify store at the end of your website name. I suggest you use GoDaddy to buy a domain name. That's what I use, but there are other websites to buy from. You have the option to pay annually or monthly for your domain name, but it's very cheap.
Your ready now
Once you follow these steps, you officially have a street wear brand. It won't be easy, but it's very fun, and as long as you stay consistent and don't give up, you will be very successful. You are in no rush, so don't beat yourself up if you don't get any sales in the beginning; that's normal. Just know you will make a bunch of sales as you keep learning, and you will be glad you never gave up.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a LLC?
You don't need it right away to start your street wear brand ; you can start your brand without it, but I recommend you get one soon. Before you get an LLC, get an EIN first, which is free at irs.gov. When you have an LLC, you can potentially have access to business credit cards, business bank accounts, and other incentives that can boost your business. It's also good to have an LLC so you can stay organized and have your money from your business in a business bank account and not in your personal account. You are also protected, so if anything bad happens to you, your business will be affected but not you. If you put everything in your name, then you would be affected. To get an LLC, you will search up the state you're in and put secretary of state LLC at the end. Mine cost $150, but in different states, they cost differently.
How do I get people to buy from me?
You can get people to buy from you in many ways. I like to try and think of how I can benefit people and add value to my brand so I'm constantly trying to motivate people to build an emotional connection because people buy clothes based on emotions. Find that good niche that will add value to people's lives. Also, market your product but don't make it seem like you're trying to sell your product. For example, you can make a video on how you made your hoodie. It's like you're putting something in their face, but you're not saying to buy it because most people online don't like being told what to do or being sold to. In person, you can apply it the same way, and it's even better because they get to build a better relationship of trust with you.
If you want to check out my website for an example go click here.
