Fashion and clothing startups.

Fashion and clothing are not only functional, it's also a way to express our individuality, through colors and forms we try to tell others who we are. Now there's nearly 8 billion relatively different people on earth and they certainly have different way to dress and that's why there is an opportunity to start a business in clothing.

This post is about clothing startups, we will see how they found their way to the market. There is similarities in their approaches and of course are part of global trends :

1- Sustainability,

2- Multi-usage clothing,

3- Branding

4- Population specific

5- Ethnic clothing,

6- Identity,

Sustainability

You can actually develop a brand around sustainability, which is a stronger trend year after year. The startups bellow are based on natural or organic materials like dyeing plants, cotton or linen.

Textile artist

Natural dyeing Technics can be used in small workshops to produce unique fabrics, an artisan process, it consist in extracting dye from specific plants using boiled water, the color swatch can be extended by changing plants quantity or mixture, boiling time and temperature.

MODEST TRANSITIONS is a workshop that use those techniques, their e-commerce sells :

- headband crowns,

- scarves,

- shawls,

- bags,

- tunics,

- jackets,

- dusters,

MODEST TRANSITIONS also organize training workshops where students learn natural dyeing techniques.

On the 20 April 2021, NEXTFAB published a post announcing MODEST TRANSITIONS as an ARTISAN ACCELERATOR 2021 cohort member. NEXTFAB is a network of membership-based maker-spaces that provide access to digital and traditional fabrication equipment for : 2D printing & photography, 3D printing & scanning, design software, electronics, jewelry, laser cutting & engraving, metalworking, woodworking and textiles.

Organic 

On January 2022, BROWN THOMAS ARNOTTS published a post in LinkedIn announcing PURE CLOTHING as the winner of pitch'21 competition with EUR 10,000 business development fund. PURE CLOTHING is a sustainable clothing range of sweatshirts, beanies and joggers made from 100% organic cotton.

Linen 

On the 27 April 2022, sharjah entrepreneurship centre published a press release announcing NATURE HEDONIST as one of access sharjah challenge winners. NATURE HEDONIST use European premium linen manufactured in European laboratories that confirms the most stringent requirements for environmental safety & fair trade.

Multi-usage clothing 

Fashion meets convenience

On the 23 April 2022, the Charlotte hornets foundation published a post on nba.com announcing THE JURSE as the winner of the Hornets innovation summit competition with US$15,000. THE JURSE is a jacket that can be turned to a purse and vice versa.

Branding 

Screen printing 

The screen printing is in competition with digital advertising but it is still here serving marketing and sales managers needs of visibility and branding.

One of INVEST606 2021 cohort members is PRINT MY THREADS, it's a screen printer in late stage that developed a web-app that help manage custom printed apparel process for brands or businesses. As explained in their website, their process include 8 steps:

1- quote request

2- order placement

3- order checking

4- order submission

5- payment

6- garment ordered and received

7- print

8- delivery

PRINT MY THREADS won US$15,000 prize.

An other screen printing business is ELEGANT STITCHES INC, one of the Boston Celtics POWER FORWARD small business grant first round winners with US$25,000 prize. ELEGANT STITCHES INC is a custom embroidery and screen-printing company that supplies branded apparel and promotional products for public and private sector employees, teams and community members.

Population specific 

you can start a business serving a specific population like :

1- infants,

2- tall boys,

3- tall athletes,

4- elevated style,

5- sports women,

6- plus size women,

7- disability

8- amputees.

There is certainly others who do not find what they need in the market.

Infants 

On the 29 August 2022, FUTURPRENEUR relayed a GLOBALE NEWSWIRE press release announcing TIMININOUS as the 2022 RBC rock my business emerging entrepreneur award recipient. TIMININOUS is a Canadian company that designs and manufactures merino wool thermal clothing and accessories for infants and toddlers so they can keep warm while joining their families on winter adventures.

Tall boys 

On the 26 April 2022, university of Baltimore Merrick school of business twitted TAILORED FIT as the winner of RISE TO THE CHALLENGE business pitch competition with US$15,000 check. TAILORED FIT is a fashion line for tall boys.

Tall athletes 

On the 13 January 2022, Arizona state university's global sport institute published a post announcing CONSCIOUS GEAR as a winner of 2021 global sport venture challenge. It's a big and tall athletic and outdoor wear brand.

Elevated style 

One of MOTOR CITY MATCH round 18 cash awardees with US$30,000 grant is MATURE, a menswear clothier store that provides a balanced wardrobe for the elevated lifestyle.

Women's sports

One of the Boston Celtics POWER FORWARD small business grant first round winners with US$25,000 prize is PLAYA SOCIETY, a sport-inspired street wear brand online store that prioritizes women and promotes both gender equality and social justice.

Their shopify e-commerce sells :

1- t-shirt

2- hoodie

3- sweatpants

4- short

Plus size women

On the 24 September 2021, ENGEN pitch and polish twitted PLUS-FAB as the 2022 third place winner with ZAR 50,000 prize. PLUS-FAB is for the plus size woman who is for clothes that not only fits but accentuate her curve.

Disability

On the 22 December 2021, the metropolitan economic development association (MEDA) twitted SLICK CHICKS as one of the million dollar challenge for minority entrepreneurs winners. SLICK CHICKS is an underwear for people with disabilities and physical constraints.

Amputees

One of the 2021 Arch Grants Startup Competition winners with US$60,000 prize is NO LIMBITS, an adaptive clothing for amputees, wheelchair users,and people who experience limited dexterity and sensory sensitivities.

Ethnic clothing

Indigenous clothing

indigenous art has a lot to offer. motifs, designs and colors used in indigenous clothing have the potential to become commercial success if managed appropriately. Niim is a business that market socks adorned with traditional indigenous designs created by native Americans.

On the 19 April 2021, northern Michigan university published an article announcing Niim as the winner of  6,500 USD first place new business venture competition, Niim also won,750 USD big pitch prize.

Indigenous + hockey 

On the 20 October 2021, pow wow pitch published an article announcing SMUDGE THE BLADES as the 2021 pow wow pitch top prize winner with CA$25,000 grand prize. SMUDGE THE BLADES is an indigenous brand and hockey apparel company.

Identity 

Metal Branding

finding a successful branding concept is not easy, increasing sales turnover through impact full branding is sensitive. HEXMETALWORKS brand is about metal : metal fabrication and heavy metal music, they have an online shop that sells black t-shirts that heavy metal fans like.

On the 10 June 2021, women in business northern Ireland organized YES YOU CAN pitching competition, HEX WOKWEAR has been announced as the £5k overall winner in their website.

Anime inspired 

On the 24 August 2021, the university of Texas at Arlington published an article announcing HASHIRA STUDIOS as mavpitch competition top prize winner with US$25,000 award. HASHIRA STUDIOS is a made to order anime-inspired clothing designer.