How to launch and grow a successful fashion brand : The Arrivals

Launching a fashion brand can be daunting. Lack of experience, high start-up costs, and fierce competition can discouraging even to the most motivated entrepreneur. But it doesn’t have to be.

There is no shortage of examples from business savvy founders who have created successful brands despite those barriers. Following their journey and studying their techniques are the best ways to learn how to tackle difficulties and to prepare to take a leap of faith.

With no previous experience in the fashion industry, former architect, Jeff Johnson, and partner Kal Vepuri have created one of the most inspiring independent fashion brand of these days. Motivated to create supremely elevated products at an honest price, The Arrivals is a well-curated line of perfectly crafted outerwear made from highest-quality materials.

With no physical stores, no middlemen taking their cut and no markups, every penny is invested into crafting exceptional pieces in the heart of New York City. Signed and numbered by the skilled craftsmen who makes them, each jacket is made with some of the most extraordinary materials available, such as waterproof suede from Italy, rare Japanese raw denim and high-tech waterproof micro-mesh shell from Vancouver.

The Arrivals proves that by using the web to cut traditional business expenses, making great use of social media and spending time and money on crafting high-quality products instead of traditional advertisement, you can launch and grow a successful business even when you don’t have a big budget or previous experience in the industry.

If you are planning to launch a brand or product here are a few ideas you can borrow from The Arrivals:

Start small. Make one thing well. There is no need to create an entire line of products from the get-go. You can grow the line later, once you have a proof of concept.
Cut all unnecessary costs. Do you really need a physical store or an expensive website? What about starting with a simple online shop or a pop-up store? What about a stand in a market or at an event? Ask yourself the question “Is it really necessary?” for every cost you have and use your imagination to find alternatives.
Invest time into branding. We’re not talking just about a logo but about creating a specific universe. Delivering a message and sharing what you stand for. What is the story behind your brand? Why is it different, what makes it unique? The founders of The Arrivals have crafted a great about page where they share their story and the importance they give to creating outstanding products. Knowing how much the makers care about their work creates trust and trust is the most important relationship you can create with your costumers.
Don’t neglect the visuals. Let’s face it, we are in a image-centered world. Even if you don’t have time now, make it a priority to always upgrade your visuals. Think about hiring a great photographer and designer once you have the fundings to. It’s never too late to make it look good and make it stand-out.
Make something that last. Spend time and resources into creating high-quality products. Look for high-end and rare materials, take the time to do your research. We already have too many cheaply made stuff these days, we don’t need anymore. Customers are always more taking into account the quality of the products and the details of the production behind it.
Make it local if you can. Should we say more?
Look around and get inspired. See what others are doing and take inspiration from their success. Here are a few brand and people you should check out.