How to Sell Clothes Online in India: An Ultimate Guide for Fashion Designers
Are you a fashion designer who has no clue about how to go online and sell your clothes? In this guide, we will discuss what to sell, where to sell, how to market yourself, and how independent designers can sell their designs online.
Choosing the platform and listing the items for sale depends upon what kind of clothes you are going to sell.
Before You Sell Clothes Online, Decide What You Are Actually Selling
Women's Wear
If you make kurtas, sarees, dresses, co-ordination sets, or occasion wear, you start with the designs that you are familiar with. Concentrating on a limited collection helps you list your first product.
Men's Wear
While selecting shirts, kurtas, jackets, trousers, or ethnic wear, think of fit, measurements, material, and occasions. For instance, a linen kurta requires a different description than a wedding sherwani.
Kid's Wear
Information about age or size, comfortable material, wash care, and safety aspects of the kids' clothes becomes essential. The parents require easy-to-understand information while buying clothes online.
Ready-to-Wear Clothing
Ready-to-wear implies that the apparel is ready-made in certain sizes. This is useful if you have customers' orders and production processes that are clear and quick for delivery.
Custom-Made Clothing
Custom clothing allows buyers to adjust the specifications in regard to sizes, colour, fabric type, etc. Custom clothing is ideal for independent designers, yet all requests should be specified before production.
Small-Batch Collections
You do not require many items to start selling your products. A small collection of high-quality designs will allow you to assess the market demand and manage your clothing inventory.
Where Can You Sell Clothes Online in India?
Starting to sell clothes online is easy when you know the right platform to sell. Though there are numerous platforms, choosing the right channel depends on how much control you need, where you will find customers, and what kind of selling ecosystem you require.
Sell Through Your Own Website
If you have your own website, it gives you control over brand identity, customer experience, prices and design. There are many platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce which can come in handy, but the task of acquiring visitors becomes your own.
Sell Through Social Media
Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp may be used by you for design demonstrations, answering queries, and forming relationships. It suits you very well if your clothes are designed in an artistic way, if they are highly personalised, and if they are connected with your identity.
Sell Through Online Marketplaces
Large marketplaces may provide you with established clientele, but they still have their unique policies for sellers, platform charges, competition, and operations. Amazon India, Flipkart, Myntra, Meesho, and AJIO are some of those that serve distinct groups of sellers.
Sell Through an Independent-Designer Marketplace
As an independent designer, you can leverage a designer-specific marketplace such as Studio Tokri when your core competency lies not in having bulk inventory but in being able to create innovative design work.
How to Sell Your Clothes Online Through Studio Tokri
Studio Tokri is India’s first designer arketplace that operates on direct communication between designers and buyers. Follow this step-by-step guide if you are a designer making hand-crafted or custom-made clothing items.
1. Register as a Designer
Register on Studio Tokri as a designer and upload your portfolio or other samples of your designs. Buyers need to know something about your work, styles and kinds of clothes you produce.
2. List Your Ready-to-Wear or Custom Designs
Provide pictures of designs along with descriptions, sizes, materials, prices and other customisation possibilities in order to give the buyer a possibility to estimate what can be bought from you before initiating discussion.
3. Receive Custom Requests
A buyer may like some of your clothes but wants them in another colour, size or with different finishing. With a customisation request, you get an opportunity to discuss their requirements.
4. Discuss and Finalise the Order
Discuss all details of the order (design, measurements, materials, prices, customisation and completion time) before starting work on it. Proper clarification prevents future misunderstandings.
5. Complete the Creation and Deliver
Create the dress according to the requirements agreed upon, verify its finishing and measurements, pack it up correctly, and deliver it. A good delivery can make your one-time customer your recurring one.
6. Payment Received
After you finish your order, you will receive your payment directly into your account. Studio Tokri does not charge any commission on your earnings, which means that your profit remains intact. Your payment will be credited to your account after a few working days.
What Sets Studio Tokri Apart for Fashion Designers & Boutiques
Keep Your Earnings
Designers can earn profit without taking any share as a platform fee from the amount they get from each of their orders completed on the website.
Sell Finished or Custom Products
You can create offers of your finished goods for those who buy them quickly, while you may ask buyers to provide you with requirements for customised products.
Direct Buyer Communication
Studio Tokri allows designers to communicate with buyers in a direct way and understand what exactly they want, especially when it comes to providing measurements, colours, fabrics, etc.
One Selling Workspace
There is no need to conduct conversations with buyers, place orders and do other related actions in various locations; all that can be done in one place.
Creative Freedom
Your value does not have to come from producing mass quantities. You can present distinctive clothing designs, craftsmanship, and custom work according to your own creative approach.
Factors That Affect Online Clothes Sales: Building Customers' Trust Online
Customers cannot feel the quality of your garment through your screen. Therefore, you must give sufficient details about your product to reduce any uncertainties about purchasing it.
Product Photography/Video
Give various views of the garment. Then give close-ups for details on the fabric, embroidery, stitching, texture, finishing, and so forth. Video footage can show how the garment moves.
Products Description
Write descriptions that are more practical than just pretty words. Give fabric type, how it fits, measurements, colour, care instructions, customisation, production time, and what the customer will receive.
Colour Variations
Colours are often shown differently on different screens and under different light conditions. Show the garment in realistic light and clearly indicate if the colour shown is not the exact one.
Size Chart
Do not presume your clients know your sizes. Give actual sizes and measurements of the garment or the body and how to take such measurements. Also give information on whether the designs are standardised or customizable.
Reviews and Ratings
Customer reviews reduce uncertainty for buyers because they can see the experience of people who bought it earlier. Ask customers to leave an honest review regarding quality, fitting, communication, and the final product.
Order Packaging and Shipping
Quality packaging will ensure safety and show your care. Describe how long it will take for the preparation of the order, its dispatch, shipping details and what happens in case of delay or damage to the product.
Customer Support
Speed and efficiency are crucial in customer support when the buyer is uncertain about the size, material, customisation, or shipping. Quality support will make the buyer feel confident without any back and forth.
How to Price Clothes When Selling Online
The price must account for the total cost associated with the production and transportation of your product, not only the raw materials needed. Then add the profits which will make the effort worthwhile.
Materials Costs
Take into consideration the fabric, lining, buttons, threads, accessories, labelling, etc., used to make a single product, taking into account the possible wastage.
Labour
Make sure to take into consideration the time which you spend producing the clothing: cutting, sewing, tailoring, pressing, inspection and preparation of the product.
Time Spent Designing
If the product is designed from scratch or modified by you from some other design, the time which was spent on the development of the design is the value which needs to be taken into consideration.
Packaging
Make sure to include bags, boxes, wrappings, labels, protection and other packaging costs in addition to the costs of business.
Delivery & Shipping
Find out if you pay for shipping or customers do. Take into account the real cost of the shipment when setting the minimum price.
Customization
Make sure to charge adequately for additional measurements, alterations, embroidery, replacement of fabrics, urgency and other work.
Operating Expenses
Make sure to factor in such costs as photography, tools, workspace, software, platform expenses, marketing, utilities, and other costs related to the operation.
Profit Margin
Once all real costs have been covered, make sure there is a margin for profit to recognise your talent and continue producing high-quality clothes.
How to Build Trust When You Are an Independent Fashion Designer
As there is no opportunity to see you in person, trust will have to be earned by means of your listing, communication, presentation and consistency. You need to eliminate any uncertainty before customers place their order.
Show Your Real Work
Provide photos of clothes that you design and manufacture yourself. It is important to provide close-up shots, details about the finish, texture of the fabrics and overall construction of the piece.
Describe Your Art
Do not just say that your clothes are premium quality. Describe why the piece is unique: hand embroidery, materials used, sewing, technique and small-batch production.
Collect Genuine Customer Feedback
Once you finish an order, make sure to get honest feedback from satisfied customers. Real customer reviews will help others to know about your quality, communication, fit, etc.
Be Clear About What You Can Make
In case a customer asks for some modification, let them know whether you will be able to do it. Setting clear boundaries will earn you much more trust than agreeing to everything and then failing to deliver.
Make Your Information Consistent
Your photos, descriptions of the items, sizes, pricing and delivery period should be consistent. Contradictory information creates hesitation and may scare away potential clients.
Start Selling Your Designs Directly With Studio Tokri
If you are a fashion designer or boutique who wants to sell clothes online without paying commission for every order, then Studio Tokri gives you a way to go straight from you to the customers. You may present ready-made or customised clothes; discuss any requirements and manage your orders without involving anyone else. The platform is built on the principle that independent creators should have control over their product, the customers, prices and profits.
Conclusion
There is an opportunity to sell clothes online easily, but only if you choose the right platform and understand what needs to be done. Select appropriate products; calculate all costs; present them properly; win the buyer’s trust; create a selling system which can be repeated many times.
FAQs About Selling Clothes Online
Do I need a large clothing inventory to start?
No, beginning with just a few pieces might be more realistic. You can determine what types of items will attract clients before spending a lot of money on your inventory.
Do I need professional equipment for product photography?
Not always. With today's smartphones, good lighting, and good positioning, you can easily achieve great results. What matters most is consistency rather than fancy equipment.
Should I offer discounts to get my first customers?
First, estimate your real cost and minimum profit margins. Professional appearance of the product, excellent quality, and a reliable shopping experience might be more important than discounting yourself from the start.