Do you want to start a business in the fashion industry and search for ideas? Find here a list of profit-making fashion business opportunities in the clothing and apparel industry.
The global apparel market is valued at 3 trillion dollars, 3,000 billion, and accounts for 2% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The fashion industry includes many sub-industries, such as menswear, kidswear, womenswear, casual wear, and sportswear. And the United States of America is the largest fashion market globally.
The industry offers a wide range of opportunities to startups. However, according to your investment capacity and market demand, you will need to explore an idea. Go through to get the most profitable fashion businesses in the apparel industry.
55 Fashion Business Ideas
#1. Alteration Service
If you have good sewing skills, then you can consider starting an alteration clothing service business. The business demands small startup capital. You also need to have a sewing machine and stitching equipment like threads, buttons, zips, etc.
Learn More: How to Start an Alteration Service Business
#2. Belt Buckles Making
This is another great business you can consider if you have a creative mind. Customized belt buckles have a huge demand in the market all across the globe. The manufacturing process of making belt buckles is also simple. Additionally, there are many online places where you can sell items.
Learn More: How to Start Belt Buckles Making Business
#3. Boutique Store
Actually, you can initiate a boutique store in several ways. For a small startup, you can consider starting a home-based boutique store. Also, you can start from a commercial retail location or an online store. Every business model demands a different planning and marketing strategy.
Learn More: How to Start a Boutique Shop Business
#4. Bridal Shop
If you have a clear sense of style, you can consider starting your own bridal shop. Generally, to be brides and their family spends a lot of money on procuring bridal gowns and wedding accessories for the special day. However, you must have adequate knowledge of the religious culture of your locality too.
#5. Cotton Yarn Dyeing
If you want to start a manufacturing unit in the fashion business industry, you can consider this. Still, cotton is a major textile fiber. And dying is absolutely applying different shades of color permanently. The business demands moderate capital investment and strategic planning.
#6. Crochet Knitting
Generally, crochet knitting is a great home-based business for women, housewives, and moms. Also, this is a good income opportunity for the students also. You can produce attractive home decor items and dresses with crochet. You can procure the equipment either online or from local wholesalers.
Learn More: How to Start a Crochet Knitting Business
#7. Custom Buttons
If you have a creative mind and you enjoy making attractive things, you can start this business at home. Practically, there are thousands of different types of buttons that are used in making dresses. So, you can consider making customized buttons as per the client’s specifications too.
#8. Designer Blouse Making
A blouse is an essential readymade garment for women. Generally, this apparel was popular in the Asia Pacific region in ancient times. And women used to wear blouses as daily wear. Nowadays, with the changing fashion style, designer blouse is increasingly popular globally.
Learn More: How to Start a Designer Blouse-Making Business
#9. Embroidery
Embroidery is ancient needle art. And it is one of the most popular needlework for designer garment making. Additionally, embroidery is very popular in any type of decorative bag, home decor, and home furnishing industry.
Learn More: How to Start an Embroidery Business
#10. Fashion Blog
Nowadays, a blog is one of the strongest tools to reach people and interact with them. If you enjoy writing, then this is the best fashion business you can start from home. Creating a blog is extremely simple and it does not require any technical skills at present.
Learn More: How to Start a Beauty Blog
#11. Become a Fashion Designer
Basically, fashion designers attempt to design clothes that are functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. They consider who is likely to wear a garment and the situations in which it will be worn. As a fashion designer, you can provide your service to garment manufacturing companies. Also, you can work for celebrities too.
#12. Fashion Design School
Generally, fashion design schools provide education to fashion designers. This business is perfect for fashion designers. However, you can also hire other fashion designers as an instructor. The business is quite easy to start. However, you must identify your target demographic first.
LearnMore; How to Start a Fashion Design Institute
#13. Fashion Magazine
If you are a passionate writer, then you can consider starting your own fashion magazine. Generally, fashion magazines cater to a wide range of areas. However, initially, you can start catering to a niche audience. The business demands strategic planning and moderate capital investment. Basically, you can earn revenue from subscriptions and advertisements.
#14. Fashion Show Organizer
Generally, organizing a fashion show comes under event management. The business is totally for the upper-class audience. You must have a huge network base. Additionally, the business demands adequate knowledge about the industry and prior experience.
#15. Garment Selling Business
For individuals who have family responsibilities and want to earn money, starting a garment business from home is an ideal option. Hence, the business is perfect for housewives, moms, and even students.
#16. Garment Manufacturing Unit
Basically, the garment manufacturing units produce different types of readymade garments from the fabrics. The list may include menswear, womenswear, kidswear, casualwear, bridalwear, nightwear, etc. Initiating this type of business demands substantial capital investment. However, the business ensures a lucrative ROI.
#17. Image Consulting
If you are looking for a service providing an opportunity in the fashion business industry, you can consider this business. Basically, image consultants help clients to improve their appearance for personal or professional reasons. They help to improve, enhance, update, or upgrade their appearance for personal or professional, or social reasons.
Learn More: How to Start an Image Consulting Business
#18. Jeans Garments Making
This is another lucrative readymade garment business you can consider. The business demands moderate capital investment and knowledge about the fashion industry. Denim garments or jeans casuals are very popular apparel items among men, women, kids, and seniors.
#19. Jersey Customization Business
Generally, a customized jersey provides a visual identity to the sports team. Additionally, the shelf life of a jersey is very less compared to other garments. So, sports teams have frequent requirements. You can tap this opportunity with a small capital investment too. Start the business initially at home.
#20. Jewelry Making
This is another great business one can start from home. As an individual jewelry maker, you can sell your products online. The craft jewelry market is very prominent. And people prefer costume jewelry because of its wide variety, beautiful designs, low cost, and durability.
Learn More: How to Start Jewelry Making Business
#21. Jute Bag Making
Actually, jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fiber. It is also popular as ‘Golden fiber’. And currently, it is one of the strongest all-natural fibers available throughout the globe. Also, jute fiber is reusable and biodegradable.
#22. Kid Garments Production
This is another great fashion business in the manufacturing segment. The kid’s fashion industry is getting huge hype these days. However, the industry caters to a wide range of items like baby boomer suits, frocks, skirts, infant dresses, gales pants, etc.
#23. Ladies Footwear Making
Currently, the footwear industry is facing steady growth worldwide. Additionally, the lady’s footwear industry has the largest potential in this segment. With a small startup capital investment, you can start a lady’s footwear-making business even at home.
#24. Ladies Top Making
According to the cut design and pattern, there are millions of different types of lady tops you can find globally. However, the specific demand highly depends on the taste and dressing culture of the local people. Some of the most popular items are kurtas, tunics, off-shoulder, empire, ruffled, peplum, belted tops, etc.
#25. Leather Belt Making
Leather fashion is a lucrative business in the apparel industry. And with a small capital investment, you can start a leather belt-making business. Even, if you have sufficient space at home, you can start home-based too. With different types of leather belts, you can also produce different types of small handbags, wristwatch straps, etc.
#26. Leggings Making
Practically, leggings are more popular in women’s bottom wear than any other dress like jeans. Basically, leggings are tight-fitting stretch pants that provide a slim look to women. With a small capital investment, you can start leggings manufacturing business. Even from the same unit, you can produce Capri, jeggings, pajamas, etc.
#27. Lingerie Production
The cost of starting a lingerie business basically depends on the specific business model. Practically, there are a thousand different types of lingerie designs you can find in the market. However, starting a successful lingerie line requires adequate skill and years of experience in the industry.
#28. Maternity Wear Production
In both Eastern and Western cultures, there is a greater demand for fashionable maternity clothes. In Western culture, pregnant women in the public eye are taking the lead in maternity fashion. Hence, it is a highly lucrative segment for entrepreneurs who want to start a fashion business with moderate investment.
#29. Modeling Agency
The primary responsibility of the modeling agency is to provide fashion models. You can earn a good income via commission, usually, from the deals, you make with the model and or the head agency. The business requires adequate communication and networking skill.
#30. Online Fabric Store
Simply, an online fabric store sells fabrics online. So, you must set up an eCommerce site before initiating this business. Additionally, you will need to add the payment integration and delivery module. The business is quite interesting and demands less capital investment compared to a brick & mortar store.
#31. Online Lingerie Store
If you have adequate knowledge about different types of lingerie, you can set up an online store. With a wide range of lingerie, you can sell different types of nightwear also. Additionally, you can initiate the business from home with small startup capital.
#32. Online Shoe Store
Shoes are highly sold apparel items online. Initiating an online shoe store is an interesting and self-rewarding business. With a small eCommerce store, you can operate the business on your own. However, if you are starting with a shoestring budget, then consider starting with a specific niche.
#33. Paper Jewelry Making
Actually, with different types of paper and simple hand tools, you can create beautiful jewelry. There is no need for machinery. Additionally, a home-based operation allows you to work in fractured time hours.
#34. Perfume Shop
Practically, there are several ways to start and operate a perfume shop. Definitely, a retail brick-and-mortar shop ensures good revenue. Otherwise, you can also open an online perfume store or mobile perfume shop. The business demands moderate capital investment and adequate knowledge about different types of perfume and their use.
#35. Promotional Wear
Basically, promotional wear caters to a wide range of dress materials. The list may include jerseys, t-shirts, caps, etc. Generally, small and big businesses procure promotional wear to promote their brands. In this business, you don’t need to produce garments. You can simply procure the bare garments and apply the logo and company name to them.
Learn More: How to Start Promotional Product Selling Business
#36. Safety Clothing Store
High-visibility safety clothing is very popular these days. High Visibility Safety Clothing ensures others can see you while working in poor weather and low light conditions. Basically, construction companies, factories, real estate companies, and security companies buy safety clothing items for employees. You can open a safe clothing store with a moderate investment.
#37. Saree Business
Saree is traditional wear in the Asia Pacific region, especially in the Indian subcontinent. If you live in a region where there is a demand, you can start a saree business with moderate capital investment. Some of the most potent ways you can consider home-based, offline retail, or online saree store.
#38. Sewing Business
Women, housewives, and even moms can earn extra handsome money from the sewing business. Generally, you will need to have a specific sewing machine according to your needs. And you have to procure threads, buttons, zips, etc.
#39. Shoe Store
A small retail shoe store is a profitable business to start with a small capital investment. Generally, a shoe store sells shoes, sandals, sleepers with other ranges of footwear. The location plays an important role in this business. Additionally, you must keep the products according to the local market demand.
#40. Slipper Making
Slippers are considered a household consumer durable item. Generally, men, women, and kids use slippers. Slippers are lightweight footwear made up of rubber. The slipper-making process is very simple. You can set up a small-scale slipper manufacturing unit to produce slippers.
#41. Sneaker Store
Opening a sneaker store or sneaker boutique is simple but not easy. The business demands adequate knowledge about the product and the local market demand. Additionally, you will need to secure a premium space for opening the store.
#42. Socks Making
Basically, socks are hosiery items. Men, women, and kids of all age groups use socks on a regular basis. Starting a socks knitting business is a profitable and lucrative opportunity for entrepreneurs. Socks of various types and designs can be produced by using cotton yarn, acrylic yarn, polyester yarn, and nylon yarn of different counts, qualities, and shades.
#43. Sports Wear Shop
Do you know the brand Nike? This is one of the largest sports clothing brands globally. Starting a sportswear business is highly profitable. However, for a beginner, it is better to start as a franchise partner of reputed brands.
#44. Swimming Costume Making
Swimming suits are in demand in both the eastern and western markets. Woman’s ambition for sports seems to be very good. Swimming has also been a hobby of the new generation. Generally, women prefer swimming at clubs, hotels, and public swimming pools in order to maintain a good physique, health, etc. You can start a swimming costume-making fashion business on a small-scale basis.
#45. Textile Screen Printing
Textile screen printing is the process of applying color to the fabric in definite patterns or designs. The business demands moderate startup investment. Generally, the garment manufacturers who procure printed fabric for producing dresses are the consumers of your business
#46. Textile Shop
A textile shop is a great retail opportunity in the fashion business segment. However, the business demands moderate capital investment and strategic planning about product selection, marketing, etc. The business is highly profitable in both small towns and metro cities.
#47. T-Shirt Business
Worldwide, the t-shirt is a multi-million dollar industry. Broadly, there are numerous ways you can start a t-shirt business. However, you will need to create your own business model according to your personal capacity and expertise.
Learn More: How to Start a T-Shirt Printing Business
#48. Uniform Making
Different types of uniforms have a wide market globally. Basically, every school, education institute, club, and sport has its own uniform. Even, some business organizations have their own uniform for their employees. A home-based uniform-making business demands small startup capital.
#49. Wigs Retailing
Basically, wig retailing is a self-rewarding opportunity in the fashion business segment. And definitely, you can start the business both offline or online. You can find several wig manufacturers in the domestic and international markets. Just source the item from them at the wholesale price and sell the wigs at the retail price.
#50. Tailoring
Tailoring is a low-cost business any individual can start as such in the fashion industry. The business of tailoring demands very low-cost investment. Initially, you just need a sewing machine, different threads, and other accessories like buttons, zip, etc. Though you can start the business as home-based, a retail operation ensures high revenue.
Read: How to Start An Alteration Service Business
#51. Open a Sunglass Store
If you are looking for a profitable retail store niche in a fashion-related business, consider starting a sunglass retail shop. Having experience in sunglass selling will be a big plus. The startup cost of opening a sunglass shop will largely depend on the cost of the retail space.
#52. Design Knitwear & Sweaters
The knitted fabric market is expected to grow more in the coming years. If you have the necessary skills, there is a good scope of making money by designing sweaters, leggings, t-shirts, underwear, etc.
#53. Start a YouTube Channel
There are many making good money running a YouTube channel in the fashion niche. If you have good presentation skills, consider uploading videos on YouTube on topics like product reviews, the latest designs, fashion celebrities, etc., and earn money from home.
#54. Podcasting
If you love talking about different aspects of fashion, running a podcast can be a profit-making venture. Nowadays, there are several free and paid platforms to start a podcast.
#55. Become a Fashion Photographer
At present, fashion photographers are highly paid. If you have a passion for photography, consider starting a career as a fashion photographer.
Tips to Start a Fashion Business
After choosing the business idea, it is important to decide on a name for your fashion business and book a relevant domain name. Remember, your business name and website domain must be similar.
Nowadays, fashion is one of the most prominent industries in the lifestyle segment. Generally, the fashion industry consists of textile and apparel brands, retailers, exporters, importers, and wholesalers.
Fashion styles, fabrics, and trends go beyond simply being basic aesthetic values enjoyed by modern society. The shirts, pants, shoes, jackets, or dresses that we wear are important components that help form our individual lifestyles.
Hence, clothes emerge as an expressive tool for designers to deliver their message to the world. However, consumers decide which message they wish to embrace by making purchases. Therefore, they send a strong signal regarding their current and possible future preferences.
The fashion industry is very vibrant. And if you look inside, you may find numerous opportunities here. However, you must prepare a business model according to your expertise and investment capacity. We hope this list of fashion business ideas and opportunities will help you in starting a business in the textile, clothing, or apparel industry.
About the Author: 99businessideas.com led by Rupak Chakrabarty is committed to helping beginners, entrepreneurs, and small business owners in starting, managing, and growing their businesses.
