Lingerie is one of the coolest, most amazing parts of the fashion world. Why is that the case? Because the market is ENORMOUS and the growth is crazy! You can turn your ideas into reality and grow an amazing brand by following the right steps.
So, what exactly is lingerie? It is a fancy term for ladies’ undergarments. You know, bras, panties, shapewear and sleepwear. Because women wear it on a daily basis, there are dozens of types. From cozy basics to fancy lacey ones, there is a lot to choose from.
This beginner-friendly guide will make your life easier. Here are the 11 steps to manufacturing your own lingerie collection.
1. Define Your Type
Before manufacturing lingerie, decide what type of lingerie you want to make. To get started, try by asking yourself these questions. “Do I want to focus on comfortable everyday wear?” or “Does my target audience like the fancier and luxurious designs? If you want to keep it simple, you can create basics that offer good quality, comfort, and style. If you’re aiming for something more exclusive, go for intricate lace details, satin finishes, and unique styles. Your choice decides the entire direction of your brand. For example, plus size lingerie manufacturers focus on creating designs that are both stylish and comfortable for a wider range of sizes.
2. Find Your Niche
All that is left is to figure out the niche you want to go for. There is bridal, maternity, plus size, maternity and so many others. So, for example, if you pick a maternity lingerie niche, then you will need to pay attention to the fit, comfort, technical elements, and wearability. For the plus-size lingerie collection, you should remember to include inclusive sizes, comfortable styles and stretchy materials. Any niche identifies and makes you understand the difference your brand will have to offer that others don’t. A wholesale lingerie manufacturer offers a wide range of different customers. This includes your average size customers or even full size and some that would like custom made lingerie.
3. Design, Design, Design
Having settled on your type and niche, it is time to have fun with the designs! The essential elements are the aesthetics, fit, and comfort of the item. First, draw sketches on how the lingerie should look and how it will be worn. Use fabrics that correlate to the dimensions that you are planning to use. For something simple, cotton or modal works great, while lace, satin, and silk are more for the fancier pieces. On the other side, dedicated lingerie manufacturers will have many more options for materials, which makes the personalization of your designs much easier. In addition, plus size lingerie manufacturers will have a better range of bra pads and other trims that plus size lingerie requires.
4. Finding the Right Lingerie Manufacturer
After you are done with your designs, you need to find the right manufacturer. And, if you find the right one, everything from this point is going to work very smoothly. So, make this decision carefully. Schedule meetings with as many potential manufacturers and weigh the pro’s and con’s for each, only then can you choose someone who understands your style and aligns with your business plan; Someone who will give life to your vision in the same quality you want.
You can work with a custom lingerie manufacturer who will create all the customized and personalized lingerie trims, padding, closures just for you. Whichever niche of lingerie you are designing in, working with the right manufacturer creates all the difference as they will be responsible for ensuring your ideas get their physical form in the exact way you wished for.
5. Select Fabrics and Materials
Choosing the right fabric is essential in ensuring your lingerie is comfortable, long lasting and looks good. Cotton is gentle, breathes well, and a natural fiber which is safe for everyday use and devoid of harsh plastics and chemicals. If you are looking for something more elegant, lace is the way to go, as it is beautiful and more romantic and often made using silk threads. On the other hand, satin and silk help make beautiful, luxury lingerie that has a stunning sheen and feel. You will also need to employ stretchy materials such as elastane for straps and waistbands, especially in bras and bra shapewear for added support and comfort.
6. Create the Patterns
Once your design is set, the next step is creating the patterns. Think of patterns as the foundation of your lingerie. They determine how the fabric is cut and stitched to bring your vision to life. You can make your own patterns if you have the skills, or you can hire a professional pattern maker. The patterns should match the style you want, whether it’s a simple bra or an intricate lace design. It’s where your design starts to turn into something tangible and ready for development and production.
7. Make Prototypes
Before mass production, you want to create prototypes of your products to see if your ideas come out great and fit the way you want. A prototype is the first version of your lingerie that you will produce.
In doing this, it minimizes any risks and financial losses on larger scale production. Most brands will go through multiple rounds of prototyping to ensure that the fit is up to snuff, the fabric is performing properly, and the design is how you envisioned it. Once a prototype is approved, you can then place your bulk production order with your chosen manufacturer where they will then start the production phase of the product’s lifecycle.
8. Start Production
With your approved prototype in hand, you are not ready for bulk production. If you have selected a good lingerie manufacturer who understands you and knows what you want, this step shouldn’t be daunting and scary. We believe that a great production partner shares your vision, is transparent, and always has a clear channel of communication. With these three pillars, there shouldn’t be anything that slips through the cracks.
9. Quality Control
Quality control is essential during production. You want your lingerie to meet the highest standards, so it’s important to inspect every batch for any defects or mistakes. Check the stitching, fabric, and overall appearance of the garments. Are the seams even? Are the labels correctly sewn in? Quality control ensures that your customers get a product that meets their expectations, and it helps build trust in your brand. If you notice any issues, address them right away with your lingerie manufacturer. Typically, your manufacturer will handle this process or outsource this to a third party inspector to check that your product is made with care and attention to detail.
10. Branding and Marketing
Now that your designs are running the gambit through production, you can now focus on the branding and marketing aspects of launching these products. Branding is much more than just your company name and logo; Your brand is a living and breathing being that you are showcasing to the world. Your branding should evoke a feeling and emotion when people see and interact with it. How do we do this? Using certain colors and shapes will affect how people view your brand. For example, a brand using the color red is perceived as strong, powerful, and confident; whereas a brand using the color blue is perceived as calm, stable, and pacifist.
When it comes to marketing a new apparel brand, you are fighting for the limelight from many established brands in the market. Now, a lingerie brand will be more niche and have less competitors, but we can apply the same marketing ideology. In this world of technology, social media and user generated content (UCG) reigns supreme and is a great and quick way to get your brand out there. A lot of the brands we work with will outsource the social media portion of their marketing to an agency who is better equipped to handle influencer outreach and scheduling social posts, sales, and call to actions.
11. Distribute and Sell
Last but not least, you’re going to sell that lingerie! Many brands will find initial success through direct-to-consumer (DTC) using their e-commerce platforms such as SHOPIFY or ETSY. Ensure your website is user-friendly, and describe your pieces, highlighting what they offer. You can also reach out to retail stores or boutiques to sell your products if you want to go the traditional route. Some of our clients have also found success through local pop-up shops and farmers markets to gain a more local and centralized customer base.
When it comes to distribution, you have a few options. The most straightforward and “easier” route is having all your product housed at your residence, or somewhere private. In doing so, you avoid storage fees, but you will also be taking responsibility for fulfilling and replenishing orders. The other option is working with a Third Party Logistics company (3PL). A 3PL will help with storing your products at their facilities, and help with fulfilling orders, and organizing your product. Whichever option you choose, understand that it is okay to seek out help and understand that you do not have to do everything all on your own!
Conclusion
If you have gotten this far you now know the amount of work, time, and money will be needed to get a lingerie brand off the ground. As we always say, fashion is not for the faint of heart! While it may seem overwhelming, JustLabs has the capabilities and resources to help you through every step of the process.
Every good thing is worth the struggle, so don’t wait any longer and start turning your dreams into reality today!