We can agree that the sustainable fashion business is a niche that is worth exploring. While industrial fashion is taking up a large proportion of the market, eco-awareness is becoming more and more popular. This means that more people are willing to opt for sustainable and eco-friendly businesses to save our planet!
If you’re a true fashionista and a designer, starting your business in this field can be a fantastic idea. However, certain steps need to be taken to ensure your business’s success. So, how do we start a such sustainable business?
1. Research a market
Before you indulge in any kind of business, doing a market analysis and research is essential. You need to understand how the market for your niche functions, whether there is more need for a business like that, and if you can expect any revenue. Besides researching the need and the market, you’ll need to pay special attention to the products, prices, and customers.
Bringing value to the market includes knowing the type of materials, their value, and how to work with them. Even though each customer is an individual, you have a target group of people to whom your product is intended. Research their shopping habits, interests, and how much money they are willing to spend on fashion items. Researching doesn’t end there, it’s an ongoing process if you want to make your business succeed!
2. Create a business outline
Once you’ve researched the market and got a clear idea of what it is like, you need to set up a business plan. Your business plan should rely on your ethics, mission, and vision. Sadly, many businesses that call themselves eco or green are just green-washing! So, ensure your entire business is based on sustainable values before you start.
When it comes to starting a business, you also need to plan your finances and budgets. Even though your mission and vision will help you guide through different challenges and achieve new goals, everything depends on finances. Ensure you know how much sustainable materials cost and what would it take to turn them into designer masterpieces while generating revenue.
3. Source eco materials
One of the crucial parts of the design is the material used. When choosing materials for your creations be choosy and wary. Sourcing materials from a trusted supplier is necessary to maintain your business’s reputation and quality. Pick materials that will go well with your intended brand image, as well as be sustainable. How?
The easiest way to recognize sustainable materials, in the beginning, is by searching for plant-made materials or organic and natural fibers. Organic linen, recycled cotton, hemp, and wool are perfect for a kick-start. Besides the sustainability, check how those materials feel against the skin. Don’t forget to take longevity into consideration as well! Eco and sustainable materials are often more expensive, so look for quality, authentication, and certification.
4. Adapt to your customers
Fast fashion and mass production are two big Nos when it comes to sustainability. Besides polluting the earth, air, and water, fast fashion also leaves behind bulks of unsold items that cannot be reused or recycled! So, when designing have your customers in mind. What would they choose and what would they like?
When taking an order offer a wide range of different materials, designs, and patterns to your customers. One of the most important aspects is originality, so by creating custom clothing you’re ensuring that your designs will be sold, loved, and cherished. Give your customers a chance to have a say in your creations and therefore ensure your pieces will be a part of their wardrobe for a long time!
5. Mindfully manufacture
Mass production causes more harm than good in the fashion industry. In a time when every person wants to be and feel unique and original, producing clothes in bulk will only lead to losses. To prevent that from happening you need to mindfully manufacture your products and entrust the process only to humane and ethical environments. What is meant by that?
Even though multiple solutions on what to do with unwanted clothes exist, it still costs your business money to produce them! Invest your time in planning your distribution and planning on the quantity you will produce. Choose manufacturers that allow on-demand making and create a long-term partnership with those who care.
6. Avoid polluters when delivering
Manufacturing and designing aren’t the only parts of sustainable businesses. You need to pay attention to the distribution and delivery of your goods to people. We are well aware that trucks, planes, and large ships are some of the biggest polluters in the delivery industry. But how can you deliver your products without causing such damage to the planet?
It’s a good idea to start your business locally and expand onwards. Even though you can’t always avoid delivery, use couriers that ride bikes instead of driving cars. Open up new locations for manufacturing in places with high demand and pay special attention to other means of delivery. Your planet and customers will thank you!
Final thoughts
As you can see, starting and running a sustainable fashion business is possible. With a tad of luck, knowledge, and research, you can become a leading local brand in this niche. Merge your love of design with the care of nature and you’ll get a perfect line of work for you!
