Pretty common, believe me.Yepp im just jumping into the adventure, try my best, fail, and learn from it.
Even though I’ve always known what I’m doing is wrong because I didn’t have a precedent, I went ahead with it.
In my opinion, like yours here, that’s the only way to learn or “learn as you go” as I’m calling it.
After 4-5 small successes with different stores, I decided I knew enough to start a clothing brand.
Not the kind that people do now with POD or slapping a logo on a t shirt.
A brand where I went from outsourcing materials all the way to design and sales.
I was good in photoshop so I could always make designs.
But I had to learn about patterns, stitching, materials, sizes, fit, etc.
I started with the idea of creating a luxury brand.Because its kinda expensive since im manufacturing in italy, but i want the best quality for my product.
Designed a full blown collection. Velvet bombers with python leather sleeves.
Swarovski embellished hoodies.
Sweatshirts made out of 6 different materials.( think of a camouflage
If you’re not familiar, swarovski’s are expensive.
My designs were and are great.
I offered quality but since I wasn’t some well known brand, I tried to attract customers with “fair prices”
Ie: cost to make was £100/hoodie and I was selling for £150.
Bullshit. That doesn’t account marketing or packaging and shipping.
I wanted to offer quality so much, everything was packaged in magnetic opening boxes and I had leather HANG TAGS. Hahahahah I laugh now.
After spending about £50k, I realized I won’t have enough money to manufacture the whole collection.
I decided I’d only do hoodies, t shirts and sweatshirts.
In the meantime I spent some more because yeah, next design is better than the old one. )
Got to the point where I could only manufacture the hoodies, but I wasn’t going to have any money left for marketing.
I figured all of these where “challenges” I had to pass, not realising I’m spiralling down an endless pit.
I then cut some more designs that I decided I couldn’t do myself.
I was left with only the designs that I could make at home.
I bought myself a vinyl cutter, lots of swarovski rhinestones, a heat press, blank hoodies, and there I was.
Given these conditions, the hoodies turned out great.
Made the store. Bear in mind up to this point I done 0 to verify anybody wants my shit.
Started with fb ads, got good engagement.
The whole process of working for this for a year and a half was paying off.
I sold 2 hoodies at £250/each before I ran out of marketing money.
Most people that interacted with the ads were saying the same thing.
Beautiful designs, but too expensive.
I had two comments that opened my eyes.
“It’s nice, but why would I buy this when I can buy a Versace hoodie instead?”.
You see, the whole point is:
People don’t want top quality if it comes with an expensive price tag when you’re nobody.
Had I spent the £50k in creating an online presence that people would go crazy for,
I could’ve slapped a logo on a t shirt, write MADE IN LONDON on it, and sell it for £99 a piece.
When you think again that you want to offer top quality, ask yourself if it makes sense in terms of business for you.
I recommend you visit versace,gucci, louis vuitton’s websites.
Sure, they’ve got some very good products in the thousands.
But they also slap their logo on a cotton t shirt and sell it for £500.
And it works for them. Because they’ve created a culture. A lifestyle.
Went a bit overboard with my reply, but there it is. I’ve done everything right for the manufacturing part. What I was missing was business sense and brand sense. That’s why wearing different hats for your business is hard. You cannot think of everything.
Good luck on your journey.
Last edited: