You have many fashion stores, shops, retail outlets and
garment manufacturers. To start the business you need to write a business plan.
Then carry out a feasibility study and survey.
Focus on a niche and secure funds through partnership or
bank loans. Here is how to start a fashion business n Nigeria.
Determine
Type of Fashion Business
The first step is to determine the type of fashion
business you want to establish. You can choose to go into manufacturing,
fashion designing, import, export or retail.
Manufacturers select fabrics, create designs and make
samples. Importers buy ready-made cloths or used cloths while designers make the
cloths.
Find
an Ideal Location
You need to find an ideal location irrespective of the
sector you prefer. Fashion designers could establish close to residential areas.
And manufacturers are better located in commercial and industrial areas.
Machines
used by Garment Manufacturers
- Pressing Machines
- Sewing Machines
- Knitting Machines
- Cutting Machines
Find
a Source for your fabrics
Any successful fashion business needs unique branding.
The cloths should be nice and high quality. Importers need to find a good
source of fabrics or network with top designers. Same applies to retailers and
manufacturers.
Fashion
Import and Export Business
The investor can decide in import cloths or manufacture
local. The local manufacturer tends to make good earnings because of interest
in local fabrics and designs.
You have different ethnic wears like agbada, buba, iro,
gowns and dresses. Many customers still prefer local designs especially for
traditional occasions, weddings and engagements.
Fashion
Design Equipment
The fashion designer uses many tools to create those
beautiful designs. Common tools are dress form, draping tools and fashion art
tools.
Others include drafting tables, sewing tools, computer
assisted design tools. You have pressing machines, sewing machines, different
needles and threads. More are solids, fabrics, specialty fabric, pattern making
tools product development tools, cutting mat.
Fashion
Design Tools
- dress form
- draping tools
- fashion art tools
- drafting tables
- sewing tools
- computer assisted design tools
- pressing machines
- sewing machines
- different needles
- threads
- solids
- fabrics
- specialty fabric
- pattern making tools
- product development tools
- cutting mat
Product
Development Tools
The common product development tools are pencil
sharpener, pencil, translucent tracing paper, bond paper. Others are black
liquid marker, tape measure, eraser, push pin and yardstick.
- pencil sharpener
- pencil
- translucent tracing paper
- bond paper
- black liquid marker
- tape measure
- eraser
- push pin
- yardstick
Pattern
Making Tools
Pattern making tools are clear plastic ruler, French curve
tool, awl and tape. Others are paper scissors, tracing wheel, unlined white
pattern paper.
- clear plastic ruler
- French curve tool
- Awl
- Tape
- paper scissors
- tracing wheel
- unlined white pattern paper
Specialty
Fabrics
Specialty fabrics they use are wedding tulle, tulle roll
spool, tie dye, batiks. More are cotton fabric bundles, polyester and polka dot
cotton. Some solids are ballistic nylon, cotton stretch, satin and faux silk.
- wedding tulle
- tulle roll spool
- tie dye
- batiks
- cotton fabric bundles
- polyester
- polka dot cotton
Fashion
Importers
There are two categories of importers the SME and large companies.
The SMEs import small amount of high fashion outfits. These cloths are usually meant
for a boutique or cloths store. The larger importers bring the cloths in bales
and are not particular about the quality.
The
Retailer
There are over 300,000 retailers of cloths in Lagos
alone. The business is widespread and startup is relatively low. You find them
in small stores, sheds and selling from the back of their vehicles. The quality
of the garments and expenses varies from one store owner to the next.
Fashion
Designer
It seems every tailor is a fashion designer in Nigeria.
Once the person learns how to sew, and cut they tag themselves fashion
designers.
However the true fashion designer creates amazing outfits
through creative thinking and ingenuity. A fashion designer could own a store
and create outfits for sale in the store.
Alternately they could offer their clientele custom made
designs. They also make cloths for celebrities and people in the media.
Marketing
The fashion business is very competitive and you have
many players. You need to distinguish your self through branding or patenting.
Use print media and electronic media to reach potential
clients. Advertise in newspaper, fashion magazines and on television.
Use billboards, posters, flyers and banners. Build a
website to showcase your business and offer online sales. Drive traffic to the
site through Facebook advertisement and Adwords.
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