The Honest Truth about Starting a Clothing Brand: I'm typing this comment while wearing a black BC 3001 t-shirt with a design I love printed by Printful. 11 months ago I set out to create a mid-tier streetwear brand that could essentially run itself, and in all honesty I failed. I invested £35,000 ($49,000) to have my logo, brand identity, and t-shirts professionally designed (I'm a designer but I needed to hire a team of designers much better than myself, possessing different skill-sets). My goal was to put my company's branding and design on par with Nike, Adidas, Apple etc. and well above established streetwear brands like Supreme, Off-White, BAPE, etc. Unfortunately, I overlooked the most important aspect of my company which was the overall quality of the product I intended on selling. 1) Garments - I was in a dilemma because the only heavyweight t-shirt Printful offers is the Gildan 2000 6oz, which is a brand of t-shirt most people in the streetwear industry hate. My customers are people who spend £60+ ($75+) on a t-shirt, and prefer the feel of a heavyweight 7oz Jersey t-shirt. (So, I was out of luck on that front.) 2) Printing - I kept pushing forward hoping the quality of the designs would make up for the quality of the garment. I chose to print on several brands (Next Level, Alternative, Bella+Canvas, American Apparel, Anvil, Tultex, and Gildan). The prints were always the best on the BC 3001 t-shirts. Most of the DTG samples I received were faded, blurry, some were even smudged. It quickly became clear to me that DTG was a bad option for my t-shirt designs. People emphasize the soft feel of the DTG print, but almost all my customers and I personally prefer the feel of a screen-print. Moreover, DTG doesn't allow for blind printing i.e. printing black ink on a black garment. DTG has it's benefits, however; for prints below 5 colours screen-printing will always yield a far superior and long-lasting result. (This was game over for me.) I'm now in the process of switching my t-shirt designs to screen-printing and ordering low quantities of heavyweight garments which keeps my costs high, but I can now justify charging a higher retail price. I'm gonna continue learning and preparing, hopefully I can jump back into the fashion industry better prepared. All the best to Ryan, wish him much success. Quick note: Having sampled almost every POD service out there, I highly recommend Printful based on their consistency. Their print quality was better than most if not all of the companies I tested such as ArtGun, FifthSun, DreamJunction, T-Shirt & Sons and every other print provider I sampled through Printify. Moreover, Printful has the quickest turnaround time, delivery time, and the lowest shipping rates. Also you can monitor the entire printing and fulfillment process in the dashboard. Printful is a good company (and they keep getting better) but their business model is currently at odds with mine. They're just not set-up to serve customers in a mid to high-end market.

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

6 жыл бұрын

Hello, we really appreciate your honesty here! We know every journey is different, so we're happy to hear you've been able to test out your options and have found what works best for you and your brand. We think it's important to hear and share all different types of experiences, so those looking to get into the T-shirt industry can determine what might be best for them. We wish you the best of luck! And as a side note, if you qualify for a direct account (email sales@bellacanvas.com to learn more), we do offer a heavy weight street tee in our Fast Fashion collection that just may be what you're looking for: www.bellacanvas.com/product/3010/Mens-Heavyweight-Street-Tee.html. Please email if you have any questions, and thanks again for sharing your story!

@NicoleAllwood

4 жыл бұрын

Best to you and your business! Hope all is well!

Start a series of videos ("The Honest Truth"??) that covers a range of people from all walks of life (even outside of USA lol) who are in this business, briefly telling their story to help inspire other people that they can too! No matter people think them authentic or not, I know I'll always find something from what they say to learn from, that will help me in my goals. Good work B&C :)

I recently started a Christian Clothing line 6 months ago and I totally agree with what was said. It’s really a leap of faith and learning as you go. But nothing is impossible. Perseverance and faith helps. I like his designs.

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

4 жыл бұрын

You got this, Dionne. Keep up the hard work!

I found it to informative and honest, and I don't care what he's doing. If he likes it and he's being productive, who's to say otherwise. I am starting new, with a collection of my fathers artwork. He was a comic book artist and cartoonist for over 35 years. The art he left me is so amazing, retro, and unique. However, I am not an artist. I ordered B/C items and found them to be lovely. I'm just starting out, literally and waiting for my web guy to finish up so I can begin. Fingers crossed. I'm scared but feel in my gut this is the right direction to go at age 55! Now to find that fulfillment company when the orders start coming in :-)

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

6 жыл бұрын

Maranee Mcdonald thanks for sharing your story! We’re so happy to be a part of it. We wish you a lot of success! Please reach out with any questions!

@maraneemcdonald8193

6 жыл бұрын

I do have a question. As I begin my journey of designing my own clothing line, I will eventually need a fulfillment company. I noticed Printful was mentioned. Why doesn't Printful allow me to choose from ALL of your merchandise? I only see 8-10 tees for women etc. I will do this on my own until I find a fulfillment company that allows me to order all of your merchandise.

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

6 жыл бұрын

They carry some of our top selling styles! But since they order directly from us, they only stock what they decide is best for their customers. Are there certain styles you're looking for? We can let them know!

@sammorgan8832

6 жыл бұрын

Maranee Mcdonald what is your website?? Hope you never give up!

@roncelmaxwell

5 жыл бұрын

Congrats on starting your own company and I hope you share the information as I would love to support.

Love the ideas that Bella Canvas is telling it as it really is when starting a brand up. Putting your brand name on quality is very important from a marketing stand point.

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much. Feedback like this means a lot to us!

I really appreciated this vid because he spoke my language. I'm a newbie and need an honest look at what you go thru starting out. I'll be launching my line, Lord willing in the next few weeks and all my homework points to Bella and Canvas, Shopify and Printful so far, so thanks for the transparent interview.

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feedback! Good luck with your line :)

@thatsreal2545

6 жыл бұрын

BELLA CANVAS I appreciate it!

The music in the background is too loud. hope to reduce it for upcoming videos. thanks

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

5 жыл бұрын

will do!

Enjoyed the vid/beat and your discription has brought about that positive vibration 🙌🏾. Thanks

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

5 жыл бұрын

Love hearing that! Thanks so much!

Great content. Love the transparency.

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feedback! We hope to share a lot more content like this in the future.

This is an awesome video. Really simple yet really sound advise!! Thank you!

Great video!! Thanks for sharing!

Put her in more videos, she's gorgeous!!!

Really good videos. Just subscribed!

Great info I’m starting a streetwear fashion line thanks for keeping it real

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

6 жыл бұрын

That's awesome - congrats! Be sure to check out our website at bellacanvas.com to sample some of our product.

The links to the halcyon website and instagram seem to be dead, is the company also? Now THAT would be keeping it real :-)

thnk you so much for posting this !!

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

6 жыл бұрын

Thank you for watching! We're hoping to share more stories like this in the future, so be sure to subscribe to our channel!

Too bad there's a lot of HIGH-HORSE RIDERS commenting about "authenticity" ... One man's trash = one man's treasure, yet both can be deemed authentic, truthful, honest!

@donbollings7797

6 жыл бұрын

wish I could like this twice :-) made me laugh

Thanks for the great info!

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Hope to be a life long partner in the future, thanks for soo much info 👌🏽

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

2 жыл бұрын

we hope so too!

Quite informative:))

Thanks for keeping it real Bella.

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

6 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed! We'll be sure to do more content like this!

The music in the background is too loud

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your input!

Great video😎

Good info!

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! We appreciate the feedback

He is using the same shopify theme as I am. NIce!

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

5 жыл бұрын

nice choice!

@MRoesterreicher1

5 жыл бұрын

Yes, and I am also building a fashion brand right now ;)! I ordered Printful samples, including BC3001;)

@MRoesterreicher1

5 жыл бұрын

And I am also starting my own fashion brand ! ;). Samples of BC3001 will come soon!

This kind of design is so dumb and cheap. These people trying to get "passive income" by putting some easy design on a blank and dropshipping. Shopify, while an awesome tool, has brought the scam artists who want to make a quick buck come out of the woodwork.

Lose the music, people. I couldn't hear everything in the conversation, so it made the video pointless.

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feedback!

That guy looks like the bad guy in Alvin and the chipmunks

AS a brand designer and strategist this sucks.

sad how neither the website and the IG exist anymore lol...basically it didn't work out

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

4 жыл бұрын

I know! Guess not :-(

Looks like the company folded. Domain has expired. Oh, well! It's tough out there.

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

5 жыл бұрын

Oh no! Agreed! Success is never a guarantee :-/

Right, so he did not actually start a proper clothing company, he is doing a print on demand dropship business.....Nothing wrong with that, but who ever titled this video should have said so. I am off

@bmorgens

3 жыл бұрын

And it doens't even exist anymore

@Mrhaydentv

3 жыл бұрын

@@bmorgens Really? lol

Whats the soundtrack in the background?

Honest? Truth? Selling clothes using Surfing images by a guy who doesn't surf, with primitive clip art graphics from a guy who by his own admission isn't an artist, and who is obviously not part of the beach or street culture that he is co-opting. How is any of this honest or true? If you are going to make videos about this topic why wouldn't you feature someone authentic, or who has real involvement or experience instead of a rank newbie with no real credibility or style? What this video really says is that with modern social media & DTG anyone can be a total sell out - Not the message Bella needs to put out there. Sorry, but there are real artists & real surfers with real experience and unique, original talent involved with apparel & design startups that deserve your attention.

@PICK3R

6 жыл бұрын

#TRUTH I wouldn't call using Shopify and plugging it into Printful a "real" Clothing Brand. They are just allowing people to sell products just like Custom Ink. The barrier to entry is so low and the fact he doesn't even touch his products, means its a hobby. Plus I think I saw PAPYRUS. kzread.info/dash/bejne/nIqczqyHetLWf7Q.html

@BELLACANVASOFFICIAL

6 жыл бұрын

We admired Ryan’s honesty about his journey and feel grateful that we could use this platform to highlight all the hard work he’s put into his awesome brand. At BELLA+CANVAS, we applaud anyone who is following his dreams and building a brand using the resources that work best for him. There are a lot of people out there in early stages of creating their own brand who relate to and are inspired by Ryan’s story and appreciate hearing about the resources that may help them in their own journey. With that said, we want to shine a light on all different success stories, so if you have any particular people or brands in mind that we should look into, feel free to email us at social@bellacanvas.com.

@RichArtLove

6 жыл бұрын

Understood, but what this guy is doing is about as far from awesome as you can get. BC is doing wonderful, quality work, and that's why we semi- expect you to only represent what is truly authentic. Thanks!

@codyab30

6 жыл бұрын

The guy is making money doing what he wants to do instead of what he has to do. He is doing his own thing. He is challenging himself. The fact that he is NOT an artist and NOT a surfer and NOT part of the street culture is what I like most. He's stepping out onto a limb, taking a chance and challenging himself. That's the definition of awesome in my book. EVERYONE starts somewhere....a TON of businesses start as a hobby.

@bryceramiro808

5 жыл бұрын

Who cares. The owner of supreme was never a skater

Plentiful is crap. No consistent in quality. Shopify is expensive.. but good. Not really worth it starting out.

@PrintfulCustomPrinting

6 жыл бұрын

Hi there! If you have any issues with the quality you've received on an order, just submit a problem report. Our support team would love to help you out! Here's how to do that - kzread.info/dash/bejne/eIF9mKSQmNGphJc.html there are also some great cheaper and even free options out there for ecommerce platforms. You can check out some of those here - www.printful.com/landing/overview-print-products-fulfillment

@makemoneyonyoutubewithme

6 жыл бұрын

Tell me when and where in the history of the world you could start a business for $29/month? I don't get these few negative comments Shopify or Printful gets. People always want something negative to say..

great news, the company is bankrupted

Check out nunystore on instagram for some dope merch🔥