Men's Clothing Line

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Men's Clothing Line? (In 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 5th, 2024

Looking to start a men's clothing line?

But curious about:

how much it costs to start a men's clothing line?
what are the typical men's clothing line startup costs?
or the actual cost of starting men's clothing lines?

Well, we have the data to prove it, supported by real men's clothing lines and how much they actually cost to start.

Let's go over it.

What is the average cost of starting a men's clothing line?

Based on our data reported by actual men's clothing line founders, the average cost of starting a men's clothing line is between $126 and $100,000.

Additionally, our data shows that the the median startup costs for a men's clothing line are around $5K.

Remember, though, not all men's clothing lines are the same - and neither are people's budgets. It's important to distinguish between different levels or types of men's clothing lines

Real World Examples: How much does it cost to start a men's clothing line?

We asked real men's clothing line founders and business owners how much it actually cost to get started?

Here is what they said:

Julian Samarjiev

Founder of DULO ($1.23K/month)

"The company is a 50/50 partnership, completely bootstrapped and self-funded."

Julian and Marin are the co-founders of DULO, a business that makes dress shirts from performance fabrics and officially launched their webshop on November 1st, 2017.

Read this case study

Read by 6,744 founders

Rob Kessler

Founder of Million Dollar Collar ($40K/month)

"The MVP took just 2 weeks to build and cost only $400. I registered the domain and it cost $12.99. It really didn't cost much."

Rob Kessler is the founder of Million Dollar Collar, a company that invented the world's first permanently installed placket stay aimed at improving the appearance of casually worn dress shirts.

Read this case study

Read by 7,786 founders

Justin Clark

Founder of RomperJack ($60K/month)

"I made a bulk order for 1 style with 4 different colors. The first order we purchased was for 1200 pieces 4 different styles."

Justin Clark is the founder of RomperJack, a men’s apparel business that caters predominantly to the LGBTQ community, offering premium men's rompers and jumpsuits.

Read this case study

Read by 11,034 founders

Paul Kaster

Founder of Crooked Branch Studio ($2.5K/month)

"At the end of the campaign, I raised a bit over a thousand dollars which I used to buy a CNC machine, a computerized woodworking tool which I thought would help me scale production."

Paul Kaster is the founder of Crooked Branch Studio, a business that started in 2016, making handcrafted wooden bow ties.

Read this case study

Read by 7,248 founders

Paul Chittenden

Founder of Bad Ass Work Gear ($15K/month)

"I was willing to invest *$500** on this project. I couldn’t buy an industrial sewing machine for that."*

Paul Chittenden is the founder of Bad Ass Work Gear, a business that started in 2013 making heavy-duty work gear like duffel bags specifically developed for the oil and gas industry.

Read this case study

Read by 16,227 founders

Valentin Ozich

Founder of I Love Ugly ($300K/month)

"Please note I funded this whole process from a few thousand dollars I had from savings, selling the product, living a frugal life and reinvesting everything back into the business."

Valentin Ozich is the founder of I Love Ugly, a men's premium streetwear brand that started in 2008.

Read this case study

Read by 21,353 founders

Jeff Schattner

Founder of Lawrence Hunt ($20K/month)

"I spent most of 2015 trying to figure out a cost-effective way to manufacture our shirts and effectively build a matching patterned dress shirt with two different fabrics."

Jeff Schattner is the founder of Lawrence Hunt Fashion, an innovative clothing tech start-up that began in 2016, focusing on sweat-wicking dress shirts combining professional attire with performance wear.

Read this case study

Read by 9,084 founders

Anastasia Osindero

Founder of Boystrous ($150/month)

"Before my temporary contract ended in late June, I had been able to invest in my business using my earnings, investing in a batch of plain t-shirts, a heat press machine, and a printer."

Anastasia Osindero is the founder of Boystrous, a menswear brand launched during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

Read this case study

Read by 7,993 founders

Rob Kessler

Founder of FLXCUF ($2K/month)

"After almost two years of prototyping and working with manufacturers overseas, I finally made FLXCUF bands. I had to abbreviate the word “Flexcuff” in order to trademark it. That said, I launched my actual online store and the business itself in June of 2017. Outside of friends and family, it did take a while to get some customers. FLXCUF was a new kind of accessory at the time, so I knew it was going to take some credible validation before I really started seeing some traction."

Jay Fuller is the founder of FLXCUF, a business specializing in a unique dress shirt sleeve holder that started in 2017.

Read this case study

Read by 6,828 founders

Gregg Frost

Founder of Be Kind Apparel ($450/month)

"So far between the 3 of us, we've invested 3,600 euros. It cost us 40 euros to register as a business in Ireland. We designed our website ourselves on Wix and that's costing us 300 euros per year. Our domain www.bekindapparel.ie cost us 40 euros per year. We spent about 3,000 euros on our stock."

Gregg, Eric, and Aga are the founders of Be Kind Apparel, an Irish Ethical and Sustainable leisurewear brand that aims to spread kindness and highlight its impact on mental health.

Read this case study

Read by 2,453 founders

Enjoyed reading these real world examples?

Our platform is full of case studies of successful men's clothing lines that you can learn from.

Starting a men's clothing line - what you should know:

Starting a men's clothing line involves numerous considerations regarding cost, which can vary significantly based on decisions you make in multiple areas.

Design and Development Costs

Creating initial designs can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000 per style. The complexity of the design plays a major role—simple T-shirts may only require a few hundred dollars, while intricate suits or outerwear can demand thousands. Additionally, hiring a designer could run you anywhere from $30 to $150 per hour, potentially adding up to several thousand dollars depending on how many pieces you need designed.

Fabric and Materials

The cost of fabric and materials can vary greatly based on quality and source. For instance, basic cotton fabric can cost between $2 and $6 per yard, while higher-end materials like Italian wool can cost upwards of $40 per yard. You'll need to factor in the quantities required for your production run, which could mean your material costs alone might range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.

Manufacturing Costs

Labor charges for manufacturing are another significant expense. If you're producing domestically, expect to pay around $20 to $40 per hour in labor for standard pieces. For lower labor costs, international production might be an option but could introduce complications in quality control and ethical considerations. International labor costs can be as low as $5 to $10 per hour, but also factor in shipping and tariffs, which can add another 30-50% to the base cost.

Marketing and Branding

Creating a strong brand presence can cost from $2,000 to $10,000 initially, covering logo design, website development, and early marketing campaigns. Allocating a budget for continuous marketing is crucial—plan for about $500 to $2,000 per month for social media ads, influencer marketing, and email campaigns to build and sustain consumer engagement.

Overhead Costs

Finally, don't overlook operational expenses like renting warehouse space, which can cost $1 to $2 per square foot monthly, and employing staff, which can vary greatly but generally averages around $30,000 to $50,000 annually per employee in administrative roles.

Starting a men's clothing line is a financial commitment that requires careful planning and strategic decision-making to balance costs effectively.

Potential Costs of Starting a Men's Clothing Line

Starting a men's clothing line involves several potential costs, from initial design to production, marketing, and distribution. Here's a detailed breakdown of the potential expenses:

Cost Category	Item/Service	Estimated Cost Range
Design & Development	Fabric and Material Sourcing	$1,000 - $5,000
	Initial Sample Production	$500 - $2,500 per style
	Pattern Making	$200 - $500 per pattern
	Designer Fees	$50 - $150/hour
	Tech Packs	$100 - $500 per tech pack
	Prototyping	$200 - $1,000 per prototype
Production	Bulk Manufacturing (MOQs)	$5,000 - $20,000+
	Quality Control/Inspection	$0.10 - $0.50 per unit
	Material Costs (Bulk Purchase)	$10 - $50 per yard
	Labor Costs	Varies by region, typically $5 - $20 per hour
Branding & Marketing	Logo Design	$300 - $1,000
	Brand Consultation	$100 - $300/hour
	Website Development	$1,000 - $10,000
	Hosting Fees	$10 - $50/month
	Domain Registration	$10 - $50/year
	SEO Services	$500 - $2,000/month
	Social Media Marketing	$200 - $2,000/month
	Paid Advertising	$500 - $5,000/month
Logistics & Distribution	Warehouse Rental	$1,000 - $5,000/month
	Shipping Costs	Varies; $5 - $20 per shipment
	Fulfillment Service Fees	$1 - $5 per order
Legal & Administrative	Business Registration	$50 - $500
	Trademark Registration	$225 - $600 per class
	Legal Fees	$150 - $500/hour
	Accounting Services	$100 - $300/month
Miscellaneous	Office Supplies and Equipment	$200 - $1,000
	Insurance	$500 - $1,500/year
	Travel (for sourcing/meetings)	$500 - $5,000+ per trip

This table provides an overview of the various costs you might incur when starting a men's clothing line. Actual costs can vary based on location, scale, and level of quality desired.

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Starting A Men's Clothing Line: Everything You Need To Know

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