With sustainability an ever-growing concern in the fashion industry, it's important that new fashion businesses are sustainable from the start.

This guide is here to walk you through exactly how to start a sustainable fashion business in 11 straightforward steps, not only including the key actions you need to take at the beginning of starting your business but also how to ensure that your fashion company stays sustainable as you grow.

What is Sustainability in Fashion?

The fashion industry is one of the world's most polluting and resource-intensive sectors, owing to the extensive use of resources in the creation of apparel, production, transportation, and packaging.

In fact, the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of worldwide greenhouse gases and uses approximately 93 billion cubic meters of water each year, which is around four percent of all freshwater extraction.

Many fashion businesses are aware of their unsustainable practices, but making significant adjustments after their brands have become well-established and rely on these unsustainable methods is not always simple.

To proactively combat this, having sustainability in mind from the very start is the most effective solution. So - let's take a look at some of the sustainable methods and ideas that you could incorporate into your fashion business from the very start.

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How To Start a Sustainable Fashion Business in 10 Steps

Step 1: Understanding Sustainability and How it Impacts Your Fashion Business

It's important that you fully understand what sustainability actually is and how it affects your fashion business before you get started. This will also ensure that you create a thorough, comprehensive plan.

You should be able to answer the following questions: What does sustainable fashion mean to me? Why do I feel passionate about sustainability in fashion? How can I work my passion for sustainability into my business?

Step 2: Creating a Sustainable Brand Concept

Once you understand the features of sustainable fashion and how it can positively impact your business, you'll need to create a brand concept.

The brand concept is the core of your business and it will guide all of your marketing and design decisions, as well as how you make revenue. You can expand on points raised in step one by asking yourself: What do I want my brand to represent? How does this complement my values?

Your brand concept will also play a big part in getting your business off the ground. After all, if you don't know exactly what kind of brand you want to create, how will you go about creating it?

Step 3: Understanding Your Customers

One of the most important aspects of sustainable fashion is that it appeals to customers who are passionate about the environment and new methods of production. Without any customers, your business would not exist and thus it's important you understand exactly who your target market is and the values they hold.

By doing this, you'll be able to develop a marketing strategy that resonates with them and adding in sustainable practices will become second nature. It'll also mean that when looking at new materials for your designs, you'll have an idea of the most popular sustainable materials.

Step 4: Research Into the Most Sustainable Methods of Fashion Business

The next step is to research sustainable methods of running your fashion business. You may already be aware of some ways that you would like to make changes, but by reading up on other sustainable businesses' practices, you can find new sustainable ideas that are applicable to your brand.

You can also read up on new sustainable methods and materials that are being created to stay up-to-date. Check out our blog to learn more.

Step 5: Working with Sustainable Mentors

It's important that you connect with mentors who are experienced in sustainable fashion and willing to share their knowledge. This will make up for any gaps in your own experience and may inspire new ideas for your business.

Sustainable fashion consultants have years of fashion industry-specific experience and are trained to think about your business operations from a sustainability perspective. They can also help you monitor the progress of your sustainable practices so that you know where improvements can be made.

Our expert consultants can help you at every stage of starting your sustainable fashion business and at James Hillman we pride ourselves on providing tailor-made consultancy for each client we work with.

Step 6: Designing Your Sustainable Fashion Collection

Once you have a clear brand concept and understand your target market, it's time to design your collection. This is arguably the most fun step in our guide with so many exciting opportunities! By now, you should have a clear vision for what you want your brand to be, but this will also mean that designing your collection can be quite challenging.

You'll need to consider each element of your design with sustainability in mind, including the fabrics used and the manufacturing process. You should also make sure that you are producing high-quality designs that are both fashionable and functional.

Check out our Sustainable Fashion Design Development Services for high-quality design support!

Step 7: Using Sustainable Fabrics

When it comes to the materials used in your company's products, these could be produced with renewable raw materials, recycled materials, or organic fabrics. You could also look into using alternative garments made from organic cotton, rather than unwashed denim or cotton which can wear out easily.

This approach generates a positive reaction from customers who are passionate about the environment. In this way, you'll be able to demonstrate your commitment to sustainable fashion and will have a unique selling point that is sure to get your brand noticed! There are so many fabrics that could be used for sustainable fashion - the possibilities are endless.

Step 8: Getting Your Designs Made With Sustainable Methods

Now that you have a collection of gorgeous designs, it's time to get them made! If you're planning on using sustainable methods throughout your fashion business, this is one of the most important steps in our guide and again needs to be planned carefully.

It's worth thinking about how you can produce your designs in a way that is as efficient as possible and how materials will be transported. You should also consider working with suppliers who adopt sustainable practices, which could even mean finding a manufacturer near your studio or showroom.

Our Sustainable Fashion Production Services offer an array of options that will allow you to create a stunning collection without compromising on sustainability.

Step 9: Establishing Business-Wide Sustainability

Your production team can all contribute to sustainable fashion by using eco-friendly materials, water conservation techniques, moving towards using renewable energy sources and recycling. Furthermore, your business should be environmentally friendly in every way possible - from packaging and transport to design equipment and production processes.

By establishing company-wide sustainability, you'll be able to provide your customers with the best possible experience that demonstrates your values and commitment to sustainable fashion.

Step 10: Transparency in Your Fashion Business

Being transparent with your customers about the work you do to implement sustainable methods is a great way to prove to them that you're committed to sustainable fashion. This is applicable whether through your social media channels, email marketing or onsite messaging, as it offers a personal touch to your business.

What's more, you could also display QR codes on your product packaging that lead customers to a website where they can learn about the sustainability measures you have taken. In this way, you'll be able to build trust with them and demonstrate your commitment to sustainable fashion.

Step 11: Staying Sustainable

The final step in our guide to sustainable fashion is staying sustainable! Firstly, you should always aim to build upon your existing success and explore new ways to implement sustainability into your company. Secondly, you need to keep yourself up-to-date with industry developments, as this will allow you to remain competitive and offer high-quality products that are desired by your customers.

Finally, it's important to remember that sustainable fashion is a process and it should be an ongoing part of your business culture - not just something you add in when launching a collection! You'll need to continuously evaluate and review how you can use sustainability as part of your long-term strategy.

Start Your Sustainable Fashion Business with James Hillman

Our Sustainable Fashion Consultancy Services offer you the opportunity to launch a highly successful collection without compromising on sustainability. To learn more about using sustainable methods in your fashion business or to discuss your upcoming project, contact us today!