Image via CrunchBase

You love designing, and the idea of having your own clothing line is about as fantastic as winning the lottery. But how do you start? How much money does it take? And how can you make sure your clothing line is to die for?

These ideas will help:

• Your clothing line must be unique. It must provide something that is hard to find elsewhere. LRG Clothes, for example, are of interest to celebrities who thrive on beginning clothing trends for the larger population. The average person can be a part of that; in fact LRG hopes they do, and maybe even start a winning trend of their own.
• Have a budget. Decide before you start how much you’re going to fork out, if you’re going to need an investor or take out a loan. Keep the costs of purchasing your products on the lower end of the scale. You really can’t afford to charge someone $40 for a t-shirt until they know and love your product.
• Keep it simple. Start with your best core designs and go from there. Ask friends, relatives and acquaintances about the designs they like the most.
• Use social media to market your clothing line. Give away an item a month in a prize drawing, or give readers of your blog a discount when they mention you on Facebook.

Don’t get discouraged if your clothing line doesn’t take off right away. On average a new business takes about two years to really get going—and in this economy it might take even longer. Keep a stiff upper lip and your eyes open to new or unique opportunities to sell your work.