Remember your first kid? And how pregnancy was all the more difficult because you had the useless task of “Picking the right clothes” every day. What if you could turn that frustration into a fashionable business opportunity today?
But not so fast, because everything in haste… goes to waste. Let’s look at a step-by-step way to launching your own maternity wear brand with a good trusted manufacturers.
Why Maternity wear? How will it work?
The global maternity clothing market is thriving, valued at around $18 billion, and is likely to grow further as awareness of holistic wellness increases. Today's expectant parents are more knowledgeable and conscious of their purchasing decisions, preferring apparel that is safe, sustainable, and fashionable.
Here are some reasons why a Maternity wear brand will work best in today’s world
High demand and market opportunity: Sustainable, Ayurvedic, and eco-friendly maternity apparel options are becoming increasingly popular among ecologically conscious consumers. Hence, gaining the advantages and showcasing them in the best option, we must go for something which is good for both the body and the eyes. (For reference, look at the Miho designs at www.mihowears.com )
- Empowering Expectant Ladies: Maternity clothing brands provide confidence and comfort to expectant women at this crucial moment in their lives. Let’s keep the common goal alive of making selecting clothes in the morning easier for them.
- Potential for Growth and Profitability: The growing maternity apparel sector presents significant revenue and brand expansion opportunities to any brand that wishes to introduce itself in the market. By focusing on a high-quality product range and excellent marketing via social media, you may establish a strong brand identity and a loyal consumer base.
- Personal Fulfillment and Creativity: You can also look into options for diversification, such as starting a line of baby garments or postnatal apparel, and hence, the product lines can be limitless. For once, your designers need not hold back on their creativity, and you can experiment because the market is not saturated enough to blind customers with just a couple of brands.
Choosing your right partner-in-crime (The Manufacturer)
Now, choosing someone who gives you an immediate discount or a better deal is not necessarily the best for you. Because you aren’t searching for someone who would do a one-time freelance gig for you, but rather be a perfect partner for all of your future endeavors as well. Hence, you must check the authenticity of your manufacturer before you actually “Commit” to them.
Here are some things to consider before finalizing a manufacturer:
They should be consistent: Be it the price, colour shade, or quality. Nothing should be left out of sight. It’s what builds customers’ trust in the brand after all.
A good manufacturer is one who wishes to build up with you. They might not necessarily be a big plant at the moment because let’s be honest, it’s a journey from 100 units to 1000 units, but it shouldn’t come by compromising deadlines.
Your creativity or ask should not be bound but rather supported by them. Instead of just talking money, growth should be the main aspect of this partnership.
They should sort out your backend in a way that production becomes the least of your worries. Because let’s be honest, there is always a lot on the plate while starting out a new business.
Now, some things that you must keep in mind:
- Look at their (Manufacturers') previous testimonials
- Look at past clients’ portfolios that they had catered to
- See that they’re upfront about lead times, costs, and limitations.
- Look at their textile safety standards and also certifications like GOTS (organic textiles), OEKO-TEX, ISO 9001, or BSCI if you value ethical labor practices.
- See how many of your production tasks can be catered to by them in-house.
What facilities can they outsource for you?
Also, enquire if they have prior experience in the type of fabric and garments that you wish to work with.
Bonus advice: Always try a sample first or at least a minimum quantity order so check their work at minimum loss.
There are a few ways to look for a manufacturer:
- Online on websites like Indiamart or LinkedIn
- Through someone’s reference
- On-site visits
- Niche sourcing platforms
Your first milestone
Your first branded sample would be your first milestone. You will understand why I call it a milestone once you get that perfect first sample in your hand. You might cry from the exhaustion of many revisions, fit checks, minor error counting and endless phone calls and visits. But I assure you, it will all be worth it.
Once you are set at the production stage, you can now focus on building your branding and advertising it and getting those sales numbers in…
Some of the common mistakes that first-time owners generally make, and you can AVOID:
- Rushing into ordering way too much… the sales aren’t going to flow in on your first command. Patience is a virtue you need to have.
- Ignoring the testing phase
- Not having clear communication with the manufacturers
- Choosing a manufacturer based on discount or price
- Ignoring the postpartum needs in the design
- Not understanding the post-production care as well.
Avoid these mistakes and be a boss while smoothing things out for yourself from day uno!
