Starting a clothing line takes more than great designs — it takes strategy.
Before you dive into production, learn the five things every new designer needs to know to launch smarter, save money, and avoid the most common mistakes in fashion manufacturing.

Every new designer hits the same wall — turning an idea into a real product. Between confusing steps, high costs, and hidden gatekeeping, most lose momentum before launch. Here’s what’s really holding designers back — and how to fix it for good.

Dreaming of launching your own clothing brand but not sure where to start? This step-by-step guide walks you through the entire process - You’ll learn how to:

• Choose the right first product

• Use production-ready patterns to save time + money

• Work with factories for sampling + production

Whether you’re a beginner or ready to scale, this guide gives you the roadmap to turn your idea into a brand.

From garment licensing in California to tech packs, overseas MOQs, and digital sewing patterns — indie designers face a lot of questions when launching a brand. This guide breaks down the answers you need to avoid costly mistakes and start your fashion line with confidence.

Hoodies are must-have pieces for today’s indie brands, but developing the perfect fit takes weeks. With Stella Luna & Co.’s ready-to-use digital hoodie patterns, you can skip the drafting process and create oversized, cropped, or zip-up hoodies that are production-ready from day one.

T-shirts are the foundation of every collection — but drafting patterns from scratch wastes time and money. Stella Luna & Co.’s ready-to-make digital T-shirt patterns give indie brands modern fits, multi-size files, and instant downloads so you can move from sketch to sample faster.

Most indie designers skip or rush their tech packs — and it’s the single biggest reason samples come back wrong, budgets get blown, and timelines drag. Learn how to avoid this mistake and discover 3 simple ways to launch smarter.

Digital sewing patterns are the secret weapon indie fashion brands often overlook. They save time, cut costs, and give your collection a professional edge. Learn why factories love them, how they streamline production, and how Stella Luna & Co.’s patterns help you launch smarter and scale faster.

Overseas manufacturing doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With Stella Luna & Co. as your local partner, you can access low MOQs starting at 100 units per color, explore wider fabric options, and maintain quality control — all without the stress of managing factories yourself.

California has some of the strictest garment laws in the U.S., requiring licenses, registration, and joint liability — even if you’re incorporated in another state. For indie designers, compliance can be overwhelming. Learn what these laws mean for your brand and why many choose to look beyond California for production.

Turning your sketches into samples doesn’t have to take months. With Stella Luna & Co.’s ready-to-make digital sewing patterns, you can skip the drafting process and move straight into sampling. Our modern, multi-size patterns help indie brands launch collections faster, with less cost and more confidence.

Tech pack? Spec sheet? They may sound similar, but each serves a different role in fashion production. This guide breaks down the difference, why both matter, and how indie designers can use them together to save time and money.

Pricing is one of the hardest challenges for indie designers — and undercharging can kill your margins. Discover how to calculate true costs, protect your profits, and confidently price your collection with Stella Luna & Co.’s digital costing sheets.

Today’s buyers expect indie brands to be sustainable — but sourcing ethically isn’t easy. Learn how to find fabric vendors, certifications to look for, and small-MOQ options that help you stay eco-friendly without breaking your budget.