How much does it take to start a fashion brand?

This probably one of the most frequent questions asked by any fashion brand. However the amount of money you need isn’t really the most important question to ask as someone can spend £50k on their start up and it the results make it look like they have spent £5k, whilst the person that has spent £5k can get results that make it look like they have spent £50k. On average £5k minimum is what you are potentially looking at once all areas have been factored in but the real answer is, it costs as much as you can comfortably afford to loose.

Figure out a budget that you want to start off with and do your research as to what packages are out there. The key areas your money will go into will be as follow:

1. Tech Pack - The technical document that communicates all the components that go into the garment.

2. Patterns - The pattern is the paper pieces required to make the garment blueprint.

3. Samples - The sample is the final garment. You would need to provide the fabrics for this unless we are doing fabric sourcing for you.

4. Grading - The grading is converting the master pattern to different sizes in preparation for production.

5. Production - The creation of you concept in small batches or mass.

6. Fabrics & Trims - These are the physical resources that your concept will be comprised of.

7. Labels & Packaging - These are the materials that you will use to present the product to your customer once they have made their purchase.

8. Website - This your online store which you will need to communicate your brand values and customer shopping experience.

9. Photography - This will help you communicate the lifestyle of your brand to the customer.

10. Shipping - This involves how your will get everything from your fabric, trims, patterns and samples from point A to point B, C and D.