“How much does it really cost to start a clothing line?”
Google gives you a wide range: $500 to $500,000.
Helpful, right? 😅
But if you do it the right way you can start small, strategically, and without wasting money, if you plan your budget wisely.
In this post, I’ll break down:
What to Budget For When Starting a Clothing Brand
This breakdown assumes you’re launching a ready-to-wear line with 1–3 styles and small-batch production (50–100 units per style).
1. Product Development & Design
| Item | Estimated Cost |
| Tech Packs | $300 - $800 per style |
| Patterns | $150 - $400 per pattern |
| Initial Samples | $100 - $300 per sample |
| Fit Sample Revisions | $100 - $200 per round |
Pro tip: Spending more here saves money later. Good tech packs = fewer sample rounds.
2. Fabric & Trims
| Item | Estimated Cost |
| Swatches | $0 - $50 |
| Bulk Yardage | $10 - $20/yard (varies widely) |
| Trims | $50 - $300 total |
Order a little extra, most factories ask for 5–10% overage to cover cutting loss.
3. Production Costs
| Item | Estimated Cost |
| Cut & Sew Manufacturing | $8 - $30 per unit (depends on MOQ and factory) |
| Total Production Run | $1000 - $5000+ (depends on style & volume) |
4. Branding & Website
| Item | Estimated Cost |
| Logo & Branding | $150 - $1,000 |
| Shopify | $250 - $2,000 |
| Photography | $200 - $1,000+ |
Note: These can vary depending on location and country
5. Marketing & Launch
| Item | Estimated Cost |
| Email Platform | $20 - $40/monthly |
| Paid Ads (optional) | $200 - $2,000 |
| Influencer (optional) | $150 - $1,000+ |
Total Budget
| Range | Total Budget |
| Low End | $2,500 - $5,000 |
| Mid-range | $7,500 - $15,000 |
| High-end | $20,000+ |
This includes small-batch production of 1–3 SKUs, plus development, marketing, and website.
Where Founders Overspend (or Underspend)
Overspend: Samples, packaging, or influencer gifting too early
Underspend: Tech packs, planning, margin strategy, the foundation stuff