Think creating a streetwear brand is an unrealistic side gig?
You cant slap a stolen Y2K graphic on a dozen Gildan T-shirts and call it a day.
it’s crucial that you stand out and earn loyal customers.
Jenny Ukaj, founder of Red Rose Hype Shop, drew inspiration from red roses when deciding the name of her streetwear brand. Photo courtesy of Jenny Ukaj
Do your research, put in the work, and you might just find yourself running an empire.
Brainstorm Your Brand
What do you like to see from a clothing brand?
The off-kilter nostalgia of Online Ceramics?
The cheeky consumerism of Supreme?
The modern art excess of Off-White?
Just dont carbon copy.
People like what theyre familiar with, said Jenny Ukaj, founder ofRed Rose Hype Shop.
Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week.
This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed.
Go ahead and start now, but be sure to bookmark this post so you could easily return later.
Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire.
Taking cues from brands you admire can signal to your customer base that you have something they like.
One of the most important ways you show customers who you are is with your logo.
Think about what makes your brand unique.
How can you communicate that visually?
The other foundational bit of branding is your brand name.
Did you know?
Printed tees are streetwears bread and butter for a reason.
In a word, scale.
you’ve got the option to create a design and pump out as many tees as you want.
The same applies to hoodies and hats, other streetwear mainstays.
Confused about how to actually… design?
It never hurts to start with a plain old pen and paper sketch.
From there, you might convert your idea to a digital format.
Learning how to use design software takes a little time, but its essential for producing clothing at scale.
Jacob Nelson ofTidalwave Screen Printingsaid half of his clients are indie clothing brands.
We just really enjoy working with people who bring us ideas that theyre stoked about, he said.
Youll need stock: blank copies of the items youre planning to customize.
Los Angeles Apparel, Gildan and Rue Porter are some popular options.
Then, youll need to send your design to the printer.
A very pixelated design or a hand drawn design would be sad to see, Nelson said.
We can definitely help you out and make it happen.
But we prefer fully finished, vectorized designs.
Vector graphics translate to smooth, even screenprinting and embroidery.
Next, you’re able to talk to the experts about how to make your design a reality.
Come to an agreement, drop off your blanks, and enjoy seeing your design come to fruition.
On the other end of the spectrum, theres cut-and-sew manufacturing.
Thats when you send a factory a detailed digital design and they produce it.
or you have a unique design you cant achieve with blanks.
Run Your Shop
So youve got a clothing line.
How are you going to actually sell it?
Instagram has a thriving streetwear community.
Many brands get started just by setting up a business account and informally selling via messages.
A low-effort step up?
Online marketplaces likeDepopand Etsy.
it’s possible for you to set up a profile and have a basic online storefront in minutes.
As great as online sales can be, dont forget about the meatspace.
Ive benefited a lot from having a physical store, Ukaj said.
Sometimes, customers fall in love with a piece they would have scrolled right past online.
Theres something about seeing it in person that makes you splurge on buying it right away, she added.
Cant swing a brick-and-mortar location?
There are lots of other ways to get your physical product in front of potential customers.
Is there a brand-appropriate retail location near you that might be open to selling your line?
Independent clothing stores are a no-brainer, but also consider skate shops, coffee shops, and record stores.
Even a simple booth at a pop-up market can do wonders for brand awareness and sales.
Promote, Promote, Promote
Youve got a great streetwear brand that nobody knows about.
How do you change that?
Start by maintaining asocial mediapresence.
Red Rose Hype Shop has an active Instagram following and is building an audience onTikTok,too.
you could have more creative freedom with TikTok creating videos and styling the streetwear pieces together, Ukaj said.
Got a little extra budget and want a boost?
Try running an ad.
The process will vary based on the platform you choose.
That gets it in front of people who dont follow you.
Give away free merch as much as possible, Ukaj said.
Especially, if you’ve got the option to, to any high-end, celebrity clients.
One social media post from an artist wearing your brand could result in a huge jump in sales.
And dont forget the most important step: Start.
Just jumping in and going for it is a good thing, says Nelson.
Heres an example budget for a streetwear brand that partners with a local printer.
Thats $600, total
It depends.
Successful brands like Supreme and Bape make millions upon millions per year.
Unsuccessful brands can actually lose money.
Thats a nice side income, but nothing crazy.
Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and even Reddit are great places to promote your streetwear brand.
Participating in pop-up markets and offering your brand in retail locations is also smart.
Streetwear has a youthful, casual look.
Its not suits or ballgowns its hoodies and sneakers.
Hip-hop, skater, and surf culture have all been huge influences on streetwear.
Streetwear pieces are likely to play with branding, often featuring prominent logos.
Ciara McLaren is a freelance writer with work in HuffPost, Insider, and The Penny Hoarder.
you might find her on Substack (@camclaren).
(Can you sense my millennial sarcasm there?)
You know which ones were talking about: rent, utilities, cell phone bill, insurance, groceries…
