Starting a lingerie or swimwear brand typically costs between £8,000 and £30,000 for a first collection. Here's a full breakdown of every cost to budget for — from tech packs and sampling to production, photography, and marketing.

Do you need to ask manufacturers and suppliers to sign an NDA before sharing your design work? A practical guide to non-disclosure agreements for fashion startups and independent designers.Do i need an nda

An introduction to Sarah Denise Studio — a specialist lingerie and swimwear design consultancy helping brands bring their collections to life, from initial concept through to production.

New strategic consulting packages from Sarah Denise Studio — designed to help lingerie and swimwear founders get focused support on design development, factory sourcing, and launch strategy.

How much does production cost?!

This is a question I am asked time and time again by clients. As I’m sure you realise by now, production costs can be difficult to pin down because there are many factors and moving parts involved in the process.

I’ve gone into these in more detail elsewhere, but to summarise: depending on the design and choice of manufacturer, the cost per unit could be anywhere from $10–$40. This means that for a five-piece collection, production could start from around $7,500 (based on a small MOQ of 150 units per style) and increase from there. Detailed designs and comprehensive tech packs are essential in order to obtain accurate costings.

You will need to determine what cost price you can afford by working backwards from the margin you want to achieve and your expected retail price.

The majority of start-ups I work with would say the entire process has set them back at least £15k (GBP). This figure typically includes marketing, admin, financing, web design, and other associated costs. Many brands use crowdfunding to reach this stage.

Below are some of the key factors that affect production costs, listed in no particular order.

The end of January saw the closing of yet another Couture Week in Paris. So, in this week’s post we are going to put our front row catwalk hats on and review everything we saw in the world of Couture.

Part 3: An analysis on whether the Fashion Industry will ever become TRUELY sustainable (hopefully in our life time!)

Part 2: Tips on how to shop more sustainably

This is the second article in our series about sustainability in the fashion industry, from running a sustainable business, to shopping sustainability, and assessing the industry.

Part 1: Actionable steps to make your fashion brand more sustainable

Ok, so you’ve always had the dream of having your own brand.

And now it seems social media is full of influencers, celebs & even your ex colleague starting their own labels, and making a success of it!

But, how much does it really cost?

Read more to find out the minimum investment required to launch your label.

The first year of your fashion business is hard enough, we are here with advice on what to avoid, but most importantly how to thrive…

There is nothing better than re-vamping your wardrobe for the upcoming season. But how can we stay on top of trends whilst still minimising the environmental effect, we have a few ideas for you…

The one question I always get asked when I mention that I’m a lingerie designer is:

“ Ooh, I just can’t find a comfy bra that is ALSO supportive… can you help?”

I am SO excited to be sharing this brand-new workshop where you will learn how to improve your money mindset with step-by-step guidance and learn practical techniques on how to hack into your higher self-worth and better your finances !