I would love some advice in starting up a baby clothing line?

IRONFIST-X2 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-14-2009, 11:42 AM

Im getting confused with all the different websites out there so some clarification would be great thank you!!!

some of my main questions...

where to get wholesale baby items that are reasonable and good quality?
trademarking - where and how much?
copy writing - If they are my own design/ photos - where and how much again?
screen printing or lazier.. etc?
If I will be doing my own design of say a story book / nursery song is this allowed or can i get in legal problems for it?

any help is greatly appreciated!!!!

thanks

mommyblues78 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-15-2009, 11:42 AM

I dint know exactly how helpful it may be to you but you can check out a site called offer and see if you can benefit from it.

sexii_grl · #3 (**permalink**) 02-19-2009, 11:42 AM

My friend has a on line shop, they don't sell baby items except for baby socks. But the city they stay has many famous baby wear.
My friends also help people printing their own design picture on the T-shirt, I do not know if they provide baby T-shirt.
You can contact with her: MSN sunfish_05@hotmail.com
Hope this can help you.

Brigid O · #4 (**permalink**) 02-20-2009, 11:42 AM

I'm happy to help you out with answers about starting a clothing line AND trademarks. I'll do the clothing info first...

The fashion industry, as you can well imagine, is a very competitive one. To succeed takes knowledge, patience, talent and a bit of luck. As far as the knowledge bit goes, I found some sources that will assist you further.

Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have about the clothing industry as well as many you haven't anticipated yet.

http://www.iacde.com/ -- International Association of Clothing Designers & Executives
http://www.apparelsearch.com/associations.htm -- Associations Directory for the Apparel & Fashion Industry

There's nothing quite like research ? the more you know about the clothing industry, the better. There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check out these articles:

http://ezinearticles.com/?Key-to-Starting-Your-Own-Clothing-Company&id=66129 ? Key to Starting Your Own Clothing Company by Bradley Johnson
http://ezinearticles.com/?Your-New-Clothing-Company---Apparel-Sourcing&id=69380 ? Your New Clothing Company ? Apparel Sourcing by Bradley Johnson
http://ezinearticles.com/?Fashion-Marketing-101&id=41674 ? Fashion Marketing 101 by Amie Pronowski

Also, here are some book titles that may interest you:

* The Official Step-by-Step Guide to Starting a Clothing Line by Jay Arrington,
* The Business of Fashion: Designing, Manufacturing, and Marketing by Leslie Davis Burns
* Fashion for Profit (Revised Edition with Retail Chapter) by Frances Harder
* The Fashion Designer Survival Guide: An Insider's Look at Starting and Running Your Own Fashion Business by Mary Gehlhar

It's necessary to have comprehensive research on the mark done prior to filing to ensure that there is no possibility of infringing upon another party.

This entails searches of the pending & registered Federal and State trademark files as well as the US National Common-Law files. Then, if clear, you can decide if you would like to file for a Federal or a State trademark.

To register a trademark, that's done either through your Secretary of State for a State trademark or the US Patent & Trademark Office for a Federal trademark.

If you are only conducting business in one state, then a State trademark is most appropriate. If you conduct (OR are planning to conduct) business in at least 2 states OR between the US & any other country, you can file for a Federal trademark.

The Federal government, USPTO, charges $325 per classification. State fees vary, from $10 to $120.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!