Many successful fashion brands weren’t started by fashion school graduates. They were built by people with an idea, a vision, and the persistence to make it real.

The truth is, while formal education can give you valuable skills, it’s not the only way to enter the industry. But here’s the catch: skipping fashion school doesn’t mean skipping structure.

Without a clear plan, even the most creative ideas can get lost in the chaos of production, timelines, and costs.

Starting a fashion brand is exciting—full of creative energy, big dreams, and late-night inspiration. But in our experience working with dozens of new designers and startups, we’ve seen the same avoidable mistakes happen again and again. These missteps can cost time, money, and momentum.

If you’re getting ready to launch a clothing line, here are the most common mistakes to watch out for, and what to do instead.

Finding a clothing manufacturer is one of the biggest challenges for new fashion brands, and it’s often the part that causes the most stress.

If you're just starting out, you might be wondering:

• Where do I even look?

• What do I need before reaching out?

• Will a factory even work with a small brand like mine?

The good news? You don’t need to be a big-name label or place a massive order to find the right production partner. But you do need to be prepared and strategic.

Here’s how to find the right manufacturer, even if you’re brand new.

If you’re new to starting a clothing line, you’ve probably had a little sticker shock when you got a quote for your first sample. Maybe you thought, “It’s just one piece—why is it so expensive?” Totally fair question.

As someone who works closely with emerging brands, I hear this all the time. And the short answer is: samples are expensive because they’re custom, labor-intensive, and often involve the most trial-and-error of your entire production process.

But let’s break it down a bit.

If you’re a designer or startup building your first clothing line, you’ve probably heard the term tech pack thrown around. And if you’ve ever Googled it, you know it can sound intimidating—pages of specs, charts, and terms you may not be familiar with yet.

But here’s the truth: A well-made tech pack is your production bible. It’s how you communicate your design vision clearly to factories and manufacturers, and it can save you a lot of time, money, and mistakes down the road.

So let’s break down exactly what goes into building a tech pack step by step, and how you can create one that sets your product up for success.