Clothing Company - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

BlaqK20 · 01-24-2005, 07:19 PM

I don't really know where to start. Basically, I want to start my own clothing line. I've tried searching google, but I couldnt think of any words to look up. Most of them took me to fashion sites dedicated for women.

Anyways, I would appreciate any help anyone can give, whether it is directing me to a different site, or telling me about your past experience.

I dont have a clear plan yet, but I was thinking of starting out small. For example make my own shirt, and then seeing how I like it and what not.

I'm also not sure how I would go about copyrighting my own design/logo's, and how to check if a certain name/logo is already taken and has already been copyrighted.

I'm really psyched about this and I've been wanting to do this for a while, but I'm not sure where to start.

Thanks for reading

amonkie · 01-27-2005, 08:03 AM

Well, before you even start slapping logos down, what's your vision? Are you seeing yourself as a casual line, trendy, or more business oriented? As soon as you have a targeted area, then you'll be able to have a foundation from which to explore.

How do you plan to produce these shirts? Silk screening? Press ons? Yourself, or through a third party?

As far as checking patents, this site may help you:

http://usgovinfo.about.com/gi/dynami...t.gov/records/

nickynicole · 01-27-2005, 10:58 AM

are you thinking more of MAKING your own shirt, or decorating/silk screening your own shirt?

maleficent · 01-27-2005, 11:26 AM

It's unsexy -- but whenever you start out on a new venture... you really want to come up with a business plan, of what your business goals are, and what product you are trying to createm and how you will market it. The Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov) should be a great jumping off point.

Having a business plan will save you a lot of money and heart and headaches in the long run.

Research the industry you want to get into and find who is already doing it, and see where they failed, and where they succeeded, basically, learn from other people's mistakes. There might even be user's group type meetings you could attend to meet with real people. Most folks are usually willing to share their knowledge.

BlaqK20 · 01-29-2005, 11:41 PM

Hey guys, first of all thanks for all the helpful answers. Keep them coming.

As for my vision, I want to go through the business route and looking forward to many deals with large companies. My goal is to be a successful patent such as nike, or addidas, even though its a big goal, its just that...a goal.

As far as printing, I'm currently looking through yellowpages at some local shirt printing companies and just looking around for qoutes so I can somewhat start making a plan and organize things as how much its going to run me.

And Mal, what do you mean by unsexy? As in, its going to be a hard venture? Well, of course mostly anything you want to do to get successful will be hard in the beginning but Im going to try and experience it myself before being scared of by other peoples failures.

How would I go about finding out other peoples mistakes and such? I'm thinking of other message boards or chatrooms but I dont know where I would start to look for boards relating to such topics.

Anyways, please dont be scared to give me any advice whatsoever.

Thanks

DDDDave · 01-30-2005, 06:11 PM

Since you mentioned Nike, here is my advice......Just Do It.

Especially in a creative type business you need to try out your ideas and see if they are any good. i.e. if someone will buy them.
Don't make any more complicated than that in the beginning. Make your product and sell it. Forget about a trademark or brand for now. Get a feel for developing and executing fresh ideas. If you continually come up with fresh ideas there will be nothing for anybody to copy.

I have seen so many people go to a lot of trouble setting up a business and then have it languish because it wasn't exactly what the market wanted. That is why I suggest that you make your product yourself. You will learn what goes into production from the ground up. I recently read about a guy who wanted to make a better ski jacket than he could find in the stores. He bought the material, he and some friends sewed them in their garage. He put them in the trunk of his car and went to ski shops and convinced them to take them on consignment to see if the market wanted them. When they all sold out he knew he had a winner. He then went from there. Now he had a direction and was able to fine tune his product for the market.

Just Do It. Good luck my friend. Entrepreneurship is America.

BlaqK20 · 01-30-2005, 09:29 PM

Thanks DDDDave, that was an excellent response. I've been having some great idea's in the past, but I was too skeptic to try it out, in small amounts, due to the fact that I dont want any legal trouble from any companies. But I'll take your advice and just do it. Thanks.

01-24-2005, 07:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
BlaqK20 Upright	Clothing Company I don't really know where to start. Basically, I want to start my own clothing line. I've tried searching google, but I couldnt think of any words to look up. Most of them took me to fashion sites dedicated for women. Anyways, I would appreciate any help anyone can give, whether it is directing me to a different site, or telling me about your past experience. I dont have a clear plan yet, but I was thinking of starting out small. For example make my own shirt, and then seeing how I like it and what not. I'm also not sure how I would go about copyrighting my own design/logo's, and how to check if a certain name/logo is already taken and has already been copyrighted. I'm really psyched about this and I've been wanting to do this for a while, but I'm not sure where to start. Thanks for reading

01-27-2005, 08:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
amonkie Drifting Administrator Location: Windy City	Well, before you even start slapping logos down, what's your vision? Are you seeing yourself as a casual line, trendy, or more business oriented? As soon as you have a targeted area, then you'll be able to have a foundation from which to explore. How do you plan to produce these shirts? Silk screening? Press ons? Yourself, or through a third party? As far as checking patents, this site may help you: http://usgovinfo.about.com/gi/dynami...t.gov/records/ __________________ Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

01-27-2005, 11:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	It's unsexy -- but whenever you start out on a new venture... you really want to come up with a business plan, of what your business goals are, and what product you are trying to createm and how you will market it. The Small Business Administration (www.sba.gov) should be a great jumping off point. Having a business plan will save you a lot of money and heart and headaches in the long run. Research the industry you want to get into and find who is already doing it, and see where they failed, and where they succeeded, basically, learn from other people's mistakes. There might even be user's group type meetings you could attend to meet with real people. Most folks are usually willing to share their knowledge. __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

01-30-2005, 06:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
DDDDave Addict Location: Sarasota	Since you mentioned Nike, here is my advice......Just Do It. Especially in a creative type business you need to try out your ideas and see if they are any good. i.e. if someone will buy them. Don't make any more complicated than that in the beginning. Make your product and sell it. Forget about a trademark or brand for now. Get a feel for developing and executing fresh ideas. If you continually come up with fresh ideas there will be nothing for anybody to copy. I have seen so many people go to a lot of trouble setting up a business and then have it languish because it wasn't exactly what the market wanted. That is why I suggest that you make your product yourself. You will learn what goes into production from the ground up. I recently read about a guy who wanted to make a better ski jacket than he could find in the stores. He bought the material, he and some friends sewed them in their garage. He put them in the trunk of his car and went to ski shops and convinced them to take them on consignment to see if the market wanted them. When they all sold out he knew he had a winner. He then went from there. Now he had a direction and was able to fine tune his product for the market. Just Do It. Good luck my friend. Entrepreneurship is America. __________________ I am just a simple man trying to make my way in the universe... "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." - Thoreau "Nothing great was ever accomplished without enthusiasm" - Emerson

01-27-2005, 10:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
nickynicole Crazy Location: not here.	are you thinking more of MAKING your own shirt, or decorating/silk screening your own shirt?

01-29-2005, 11:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
BlaqK20 Upright	Hey guys, first of all thanks for all the helpful answers. Keep them coming. As for my vision, I want to go through the business route and looking forward to many deals with large companies. My goal is to be a successful patent such as nike, or addidas, even though its a big goal, its just that...a goal. As far as printing, I'm currently looking through yellowpages at some local shirt printing companies and just looking around for qoutes so I can somewhat start making a plan and organize things as how much its going to run me. And Mal, what do you mean by unsexy? As in, its going to be a hard venture? Well, of course mostly anything you want to do to get successful will be hard in the beginning but Im going to try and experience it myself before being scared of by other peoples failures. How would I go about finding out other peoples mistakes and such? I'm thinking of other message boards or chatrooms but I dont know where I would start to look for boards relating to such topics. Anyways, please dont be scared to give me any advice whatsoever. Thanks

01-30-2005, 09:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
BlaqK20 Upright	Thanks DDDDave, that was an excellent response. I've been having some great idea's in the past, but I was too skeptic to try it out, in small amounts, due to the fact that I dont want any legal trouble from any companies. But I'll take your advice and just do it. Thanks.