Starting a clothing brand is one of the most exciting ventures in the fashion industry, but one of the biggest challenges new designers face is sourcing quality fabric at the right price. In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about using wholesale fabric to launch your clothing line — from choosing the right materials to building supplier relationships.
Step 1: Define Your Brand and Target Market
Before you buy a single yard of fabric, you need to know exactly what you're creating and who you're creating it for. Are you launching a streetwear line that needs premium French terry and fleece? A sustainable basics brand built on organic cotton and bamboo jersey? A luxury women's line featuring silk and lyocell? Your brand identity will directly determine which fabrics you need and how much you'll spend.
Step 2: Learn About Fabric Types and Their Uses
Understanding fabric is essential. Here's a quick breakdown of popular fabric categories:
- Knit fabrics (jersey, French terry, rib knit, fleece) — Great for t-shirts, hoodies, loungewear, and activewear. They stretch and move with the body.
- Woven fabrics (cotton poplin, linen, denim, rayon challis) — Ideal for button-downs, dresses, pants, and structured garments. They hold their shape.
- Specialty fabrics (selvedge denim, double-brushed poly, ponte roma) — Premium options for specific design needs and elevated collections.
Step 3: Find a Reliable Wholesale Fabric Supplier
Your fabric supplier can make or break your clothing brand. Here's what to look for:
- Consistent quality — You need the same quality every time you reorder. Manufacturers who produce in-house (like KBM Fabrics) can guarantee consistency.
- Competitive pricing — Wholesale pricing should give you enough margin to be profitable. Ask about tiered pricing for larger orders.
- Low or no minimums — When you're starting out, you may need small quantities for sampling and initial runs.
- Quick turnaround — Fashion moves fast. You need a supplier who can deliver quickly.
- Variety — A supplier with a wide range of fabrics, colors, and weights saves you from juggling multiple vendors.
Step 4: Order Samples Before Committing
Never place a bulk order without sampling first. Order swatches or small yardage to test how the fabric feels, drapes, stretches, and holds up after washing. This is especially important for knit fabrics, which can shrink or stretch differently depending on the blend and manufacturing process.
Step 5: Calculate Your Costs and Price Your Garments
Fabric typically accounts for 30-50% of a garment's production cost. When pricing your pieces, factor in fabric cost per yard, yardage per garment (called "fabric yield"), labor, packaging, shipping, and your desired profit margin. Buying wholesale fabric helps keep your fabric cost down, which directly improves your margins.
Step 6: Start Small and Scale Smart
Don't order 500 yards of fabric for your first collection. Start with small runs, test the market, gather feedback, and then scale up. Many successful clothing brands started with just 10-20 pieces and grew from there. The key is to start lean and reinvest profits into larger orders as demand grows.
Why KBM Fabrics Is the Perfect Partner for New Clothing Brands
At KBM Fabrics, we've been manufacturing premium knit and woven fabrics for over 40 years in Los Angeles. We understand the needs of emerging designers and small brands because we work with them every day. Here's why new clothing brands choose us:
- No minimum order for retail customers — buy as little as 1 yard
- Wholesale pricing available for bulk orders
- Made in USA — all our knit fabrics are manufactured in-house in LA
- Huge selection — French terry, jersey, fleece, selvedge denim, linen, lyocell, and more
- Expert guidance — our team can help you choose the right fabric for your designs
Visit us at 1732 Maple Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90015 in the heart of the LA Fashion District. Shop online at kbmfabrics.store or call (310) 290-6561 to discuss your project. We're open Sunday through Friday, 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
Ready to turn your fashion dreams into reality? Start with the right fabric — start with KBM.