Developing your clothing line doesn’t have to be reduced to a paper and pencil—there are so many different tools that you need in order to start making your own clothing line, whether you’re designing your clothing in house or working with a manufacturer. Both avenues require you to have a distinct handle on what your clothing should look like—and that means you should be able to create them yourself. What do you need in order to start your clothing line?
Vital Equipment You Need for Your Clothing Line are:
- A way to draw your designs: a sketchbook, tracing paper, computer program, pencils, colored pencils, etc.
- A way to create your patterns: pattern paper, measuring tape, pencils, dress form, muslin fabric for trial and error, weights, cotton stay or styling tape, pattern cutting scissors
- A way to sew your clothing: a sewing machine, needles, thread, scissors, and findings; seam ripper, pins, chalk, rulers such as curved rulers and the hip curve ruler
- A way to iron or steam your clothing: an iron or steamer; an ironing board
- A way to create your clothing: any types of fabric that you need
- Other equipment: an emergency sewing kit, pin holder
Your skill set doesn’t matter—whether you’re starting from scratch or just looking to make sure you have everything you need before you start, the following is a comprehensive list of the supplies you will need to start your very own clothing line.
A way to draw your designs: a sketchbook, tracing paper, computer program, pencils, colored pencils, etc.

Before you even consider making your clothing line, you’ll need a way to visualize it. How you do that is up to you, but you have several options—for many, it’s a sketchbook and pencils. If you go this route, consider using pencils specifically made for this sort of art.
You should also have colored pencils to design your fabric or pattern colors. It’s much easier to see your designs come to life when you have them drawn out before you in full color.
If doing it by hand isn’t your thing, you could also try a computer program. Any sort of artistic computer program can be used to create your clothing line, but each one has varying costs and computer design experience levels.
Suggested sketchbooks: Essential Fashion Sketchbook, The Fashion Sketchpad, Fashionary, Pro Fashion Sketchpad
Suggested computer programs: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw
A way to create your patterns: pattern paper, measuring tape, pencils, dress form, muslin fabric for trial and error, weights, cotton stay or styling tape, pattern cutting scissors
To create your prototype clothing, you’re going to need to cut a pattern. Once you’ve sketched your piece, you and start to create the piece in real life—and that is going to require more equipment.
The first major piece of equipment you will need is a dress form. Whether it’s a full-sized form or just the bust, make sure it works for your type of clothing and style of clothing before you make a purchase. When you have your form, you can start visualizing your pattern and the way the clothing should fold on it. Having a cheap muslin fabric can help you start to visualize how the pattern should look by giving you an idea of how the cloth will drape on the individual wearing your clothing.
You will also need a way to measure your dress form and fabric. A simple measuring tape can do the job for even the hardest of projects. As you create your pattern, you should also have pencils to draw out your pattern and appropriate scissors to cut the pattern paper. Utilize weights to make sure you’re cutting the paper or the fabric properly. Tape can also help make sure your pattern and fabrics are laying properly as you drape the fabric on the form.
Suggested dress forms: Dritz My Double Designer Adjustable Dress Form, Singer Adjustable Dress Forms
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A way to sew your clothing: a sewing machine, needles, thread, scissors, and findings; seam ripper, pins, chalk, rulers such as curved rulers and the hip curve ruler
As you create your clothing line, your next step after cutting a pattern will be to sew the clothing item. The best and fastest way to do so is to have a sewing machine. Note that you will have to have certain supplies like thread, needles, scissors, and other findings depending on what you’re creating, like zippers, buttons, any decoration, etc.
You should also have ways to cut your fabric and threads—and fix any potential issues in the meantime. Having the right scissors and seam rippers is very important to make sure your stitching and sewing stays the highest quality.

You should also have pins, and you should have a lot of them—you should never run out of straight pins as you create your clothing line! In addition, you’ll need tape that you used from earlier, along with pencils to mark the patterns or chalk to draw on the fabric. You should also use the measuring tape you used previously, along with any other rulers—suggested rulers include curved rulers and the hip curve ruler.
You should be using all your tools of the trade at this step: including your scissors—there are many to choose from, but the tailor’s scissors cut heavy duty material, the all-purpose scissors cuts anything that isn’t fabric, and lightweight scissors are best for lining and silk.
Suggested sewing machines: Singer M5300 Sewing Machine, Janome Graceful Gray Basic, the Brother Sewing and Quilting Machine, the Janome 2212 Sewing Machine, the HC1850 Sewing and Quilting Machine.
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A way to iron or steam your clothing: an iron or steamer; an ironing board
Before you sew your fabric into clothing and after it’s been created, you should be ironing or steaming your fabric. While it depends on what you’re making, you may do one or the other; make sure you research what type of heat your fabric responds best to.
Suggested irons: Rowenta Access Steam Iron with Retractable Cord, Panasonic Cordless Iron, Singer Steamcraft Plus Iron
Suggested steamers: Conair Turbo Extreme Steam Handheld Steamer, Conair Extreme Steam Fabric Steamer with Dual Heat, Rowenta X-Cel Handheld Garment and Fabric Steamer
A way to create your clothing: any types of fabric that you need
This may seem like many steps before creating your clothing piece, but it takes until this step to actually get to your fabric. Depending on what you decide to use, you will need to practice with cheaper cloth before making it to this type. Be cautious with cutting to make sure you’re cutting it properly.
Suggested fabric shops: Joann, Fabric.com, Spoonflower, Minted, Mood Fabrics
Other equipment: an emergency sewing kit, pin holder
How many times have you been out and about or travelling and needed a way to fix a button? While it isn’t required to carry around an emergency sewing kit, having a small box of needles, thread, extra buttons, a small scissors, and other findings can help save you or someone else from a fashion emergency.
While you sew, it’s also helpful to have your pins on hand. That can be made easier with a magnetic pin holder. You can also find those that wrap around your wrist with elastic so you can have them easily on hand.

Another item you may want to have on hand is some way to store all your items—a box or tool case is helpful, especially if you want to be portable.
As soon as you have an example created of your clothing, you can start to make more of your clothing line by hand or you can start approaching manufacturers to make your pieces for wholesale. Regardless of what your path is, knowing what goes into making your clothing line and being able to do it yourself can give you a true appreciation for what work and focus goes into each piece. Regardless of skill level, these are the piece of equipment that clothing designers and clothing line creators use—so use that skill to create the next big thing in fashion.
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RELATED QUESTIONS
What is a fashion sketch called?
A fashion sketch—the type of sketch that has a person’s form along with a dress or clothing design drawn over it—is called a “fashion croquis”. To create one, you can reference body proportions and guides to draw the form, then sketch your clothing design on the top.
How many items should a clothing line have?
To have a successful clothing line, most should have about ten to twelve different designs to start. You can always develop more as you continue to create your clothing line.
How much money do I need to start a clothing line?
About $10,000 is enough to start your own clothing line at home where you sell online. Between your inventory, point of sale system, website and marketing, insurance and business permits, photography and modeling, staffing, and delivery costs, by selling online and by working with minimum quantity order manufacturers, you can keep your initial costs around $10,000 to start.
To learn more about how to start your own fashion clothing line check out my startup documents here
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.

Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Fashion Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a designer or boutique owner at a craft fair, farmers market, retail location or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Fashion Business Boss: I want to help fashion business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.