Creating a Sustainable Fashion Brand

Are you passionate about fashion and the environment? Are you good with a pair of scissors, a needle, and some thread? If the answer to these questions is affirmative, then creating a sustainable fashion brand might be the perfect business venture for you. After all, considering the fast fashion industry's ecological footprint, designing inclusive, slow fashion choices really is a great way to help the planet (and put a smile on people's faces).

However, creating a sustainable fashion brand isn't just about the design. If you want to build up a business that will withstand the test of time and ensure your efforts pay off, you'll need to do some serious preparation.

So, if you're ready to do the hard work, these are the things you need to know about creating a sustainable fashion brand.

1. Sustainability Is Not Only About Fabric

When we say sustainable fashion, most people's minds jump straight to natural fibers, like organic cotton and linen. And that's no surprise. These two fabric options really are more eco-friendly alternatives to the widespread use of polyester and other plastics. However, natural materials don't necessarily have to be good for the environment.

Leather and wool, for example, while durable and possessing some quite impressive comfort properties, necessitate the exploitation of animals. For the majority of people trying to lessen their impact on nature, this is an automatic no-no.

So, as you're starting your fashion brand, the best piece of advice is to do your research.

You may be capable of sourcing plant-based leather from the Philippines. But, keep in mind that shipping also contributes to your overall carbon footprint. In this case, it might actually be more sustainable to go with a locally produced organic material or even use Tencel.

Furthermore, you must be mindful of not just what material you use, but also how much you need, how you handle scraps, and how many garments you make.

All of these factors will go into creating a sustainable fashion brand. Doing the research and knowing what choices to make will, ultimately, only contribute to the success of your business.

2. The People on Your Team Matter

Like in any professional undertaking, you want to ensure that the people you work with bring value and innovation to your newly formed company.

When choosing your associates, you want to end up with people who understand and support your vision.

Even more, you want to make sure they're getting the same amount of satisfaction out of the work as you are. That, of course, means paying them a fair wage, investing in their wellbeing and education, and making sure you're upholding a positive company culture.

Of course, all of these seem like big adjustments to make.

But, if you're in it for the long run, these considerations will prove to be crucial to the smooth operating of your business. And quite frankly, it's always better to get the basics right than to have to go back and fix past mistakes.

3. Branding Is Everything

In addition to designing beautiful clothes and bringing them to life, you also need to think about the state of your brand.

Quality, ethically-made fashion is the end goal. But you also need to know how to position yourself in an increasingly competitive market. That's why you need to come up with a stellar branding strategy.

For one, you need to come up with a great name. Additionally, you'll need a tagline, a beautifully designed logo, and a set of values you'll communicate to your target audience.

Furthermore, don't forget that branding largely depends on how you present your mission and beliefs. So, make sure you come up with a web design that supports your aesthetics. If you can, it's also not a bad idea to start an ecommerce store, which will allow you to see every sale through from start to finish.

Finally, don't forget about your social media presence. Not only does it need to be consistent in terms of visual identity and messaging. But, it's also going to be one of the key elements of reaching (and interacting with) your target audience.

4. You Can't Ignore the Technical Details

Even though running a sustainable fashion brand is all about creativity and innovation, you have to remember that it's still a business. And that means having some strong planning skills.

Before you get started, comb over your business plan to make sure there are no major oversights. Even if you've done extensive research regarding your competition, it's always better to be overly critical than to be surprised.

Ideally, you should also seek out the advice of an experienced entrepreneur, financial advisor, or even an accountant. They'll be able to take a look at your cash flow, give you some pointers on where you can save and where you should spend more, and, of course, let you in on the secrets to not letting your administrative work pile up.

Last but not least, also be prepared for worst-case and best-case scenarios.

Many young businesses lack an exit strategy that would prevent them from losing more than they can afford if things happen to go downhill. However, even more entrepreneurs fail to plan for growth, ending up with huge demand and zero infrastructure to answer it.

Final Thoughts

Sure, creating a sustainable fashion brand is not easy – especially when you consider all that you need to learn to lift your business off the ground.

However, if fashion is what you're passionate about, you'll make it work – there's no doubt about that. Just remember to be vigilant with your research, always continue learning, and, of course, stay true to your vision.