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4 Legal tips to start your tshirt business in India

Any business or event or celebration can be more flamboyant with custom printed tshirts. There are only a few things that you need to know about legally doing your tshirt business right.

Here we took the time to address all the possible queries to make your own custom tshirt printing experience at ease with the legal compliance.

We are tshirt manufacturers in Tirupur. We print custom tshirts and ship it to the customer across India & Globe. With our experience, we will give way few crucial points that will help you to get legal aspects having positive and negative impacts.

Let say We as tshirt manufacturer, when you order Printed Tshirts. We will evaluate all the legalities as much as possible & discuss the same with you as customers. You trust us. its a duty of a tshirt manufacturer to put things straight.

Before we start with legal tips. Have this one line in your mind
“Customer is everything. Rest all is just a choice”

Give us a call @ +91- 96888 95559 to manufacture your tshirts merchandise. We are here to help.

1.Know the basics, It helps:

™ – TM Symbol

The TM symbol is used when an application for the trademark is made with the trademark registry. It is an intellectual property where you can trademark “name, word, phrase, logo, symbol, or a combination of these elements

When you trademark something, It gives direct warning to the infringers & the counter-fitters that the particular element is trademarked and is legally an offence to use it

® – R Symbol

The R symbol denotes that the trademark is registered. Registered logo or elements trademarked enjoys protection from infringement under the Trademark laws.

Statutory Notice: Use of the ® symbol after filing a trademark application or without obtaining trade mark registration is unlawful.

©- C Symbol

The © symbol stands for copyright and is a reserved right notice concerning any work that can be copyrighted like artwork, photography, videography, books, literary works, etc.

In simple words: When you take copyright of your tshirt design when someone intends to use your tshirt designs for custom print tshirts. The person intending to make use of your copyrighted design has to pay a royalty for every single sale he/she makes with that particular tshirt design or share profits in terms of stocks or benefits of some kind.

Using your copyrighted work will become a legal offence if proper permission in not got from you.

For Tshirt business,
When you want to protect your tshirt designs. The only way is COPYRIGHTS.
When it comes to brand protection. You have the trademark and the next stage is Registered

Apart from all these, there is only one thing that I would personally insist any tshirt entrepreneur. When you are starting your tshirt business in India or anywhere as a partnership.

Ensure you carve down a clear contract between partners about
who owns the trademark of the brand at the end?
what is the compensation of the partner(s) giving up the brand for the one?
How would you evaluate the brand value?

It’s Business, No body is a greed less monk here.

As a great line from the movie Founder says it beautifully.
“Dog eat Dog. Rat eat Rat – Its Business”

2.First things First: Beware of COPYRIGHTS ISSUE.

Why would a customer either tshirt supplier or tshirts loving person would buy your tshirts of a new brand. They want it from a big brand to show off that’s the attitude of few young fashion oriented people. They fail to understand that there are tonne of companies provide great quality tshirts than these fancy highly advertised brands

As t shirt manufacturers, we encounter this specific area that enthusiastic newbie to the tshirt business gives lesser importance.

Yes, It cost the same to manufacture any branded tshirts & tshirts manufactured for our customers with their own attractive designs.

This question comes & goes all the time.
As tshirt manufacturers, why can’t you manufacture branded apparels?.

Yes, Manufacturing or selling will land anyone in trouble. Without having proper approval from the Licensee, Selling any counterfeit products is punishable by Indian Law.
”
IPC 486
Selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark

Description

Whoever sells, or exposes, or has in possession for sale, any goods or things with a counterfeit property mark affixed to or impressed upon the same or to or upon any case, package or another receptacle in which such goods are contained, shall, unless he proves:

that, having taken all reasonable precautions against committing an offence against this section, he had at the time of the commission of the alleged offence no reason to suspect the genuineness of the mark, and

that, on demand made by or on behalf of the prosecutor, he gave all the information in his power with respect to the persons from whom he obtained such goods or things, or

that otherwise, he had acted innocently,

be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

Classification u/schedule 1 CrPC

Offence: Knowingly selling goods marked with a counterfeit property mark
Punishment: 1 Year or Fine or Both
Cognizance: Non-Cognizable (Police Officer cannot arrest or investigate until a court order is issued)
Bail: Bailable ”

So, Ensure you don’t sell any such goods and land in trouble. It directly means that you should not use any copyright or trade mark or Registered property of designs or patterns or any kind of direct images

but
“You can source inspiration”

from any branded or copyrighted images. even though, these branded companies would object or threaten to sue. You will definitely win the legal battle in the end. Use your brains carefully & creatively without any line for infringement.

3.How to protect your designs of tshirts? Yes it is possible:

As t shirt manufacturers, we process many designs for custom print tshirts. With us, yes we don’t share your designs with any of our clients. Once the screen is done with the job, It would be destroyed then and there leaving no stones un turned. Your design will be protected with us while manufacturing your custom print tshirts.

Let’s say, we manufacture & send it to you. You are intending to sell the tshirts on these market places. You will be uploading a high-resolution image for a more lucrative look to the visitor. What will you do when a design hungry trader steals your design from the marketplace & replicate it.

Or you design get leaked online via some digital breach.

Here is what you can to do to protect your images:

You can copyright your images by filing your artwork with COPYRIGHT OFFICE which will cost you somewhere around Rs 200 to Rs 40,000 for a single artwork or design.

Here is the price chart for the application http://copyright.gov.in/frmFeeDetailsShow.aspx

Getting Copyright is a tedious process. You can find the work flow here http://copyright.gov.in/frmWorkFlow.aspx

You can register yourself here http://copyright.gov.in/UserRegistration/frmLoginPage.aspx

Unless or until you go through these tedious process and get your intellectual property copyrighted, Anyone can use your images with or without your permission. Ensure if you are more concerned about your work. get essential legalities enrolled.

4.What are the elements that you should not use in your Custom tshirts business?

Fancy characters like Harry Potter, Superman, Tom & Jerry & alike
Images & portraits or any kind of famous people like politicians, actors & alike
Branded logos from other companies like Puma, Zara & alike
Copyrighted Quotes or slogans

Update: To check whether your brand name is trademarked or not.

You got to check with Ministry of Commerce & Industry
For Apparels, Incase if your starting your tshirt brand. This is the first thing that you need to do. Check for the name that you have chosen for your brand conflicts with other brands or don’t

It can be done easy. Click on the link below.
https://ipindiaonline.gov.in/tmrpublicsearch/frmmain.aspx

Enter the Name of your brand in the Wordmark Column
In the class column. Mention Class 25
Then search.
If there is conflict then you need to change your name or get ready to fight the company legally

Hope you have enjoyed the article. Start Smart & be a successful tshirtpreneur

If you want anything about tshirts. I am right here. Call me up +91-96888 95559 or email me at dinesh@ramsayexports.com

Click the link to know How to start your tshirt business online in India

4 Legal tips to start your tshirt business in IndiaDinesh MJ2024-05-02T09:08:26+00:00

How to start profitable tshirt business in India

How to start tshirt business in India updated in 2024

Please be informed that this social article is written to educate people who wish to start things from scratch so point to detail with simplicity is kept as the main agenda & communicated. I got you covered with details & information that you exactly need to start your online t-shirts business.

Spend the next 10 minutes, Read the holy blog “:)” about starting a t-shirt business. Dont get motivated or demotivated with the points. it is a complete reality on the ground. Choose wisely.

The Good:

Passion, Patience & perseverance.
It’s all it takes for you to become a successful “TSHIRTPRENEUR”

What you want to know is. Tshirts Market Growth is very exponential in the coming years. The fastest way to leap & surge in the fashion industry & take on powerful ones is best possible only online. Being online is all about ads & the right products Because the more exact the target segment you can figure out, the more gold mine you hit.

Tshirt-market-data

Is tshirts business really profitable:

There are a lot of fake gurus on instagram and youtube who “say how to start t-shirt business”. No guru tells you the hurdles or the process or reality of running a t-shirt business. T-shirt business takes a lot of time effort and resources to become a business. Once business and turnover are established then comes the profitability.

When you do tshirt business online, Many think that “Doing turnover is business”. Turnover is not your profit. Don’t get excited about the turnover. No, it’s not right. Get excited about the bottom line. Let’s say the reality. You sell 5 lakh worth of goods/ month. It means there is a high probability that you are at a 5% to 10% ( Rs 25,000 – Rs 50,000) net margin out of all your overheads and other business operating & marketing costs. but effort, experience, and luck determine whether your profit is at least 5% net or books under loss.

Building a website, mockup, and advertising is a process to begin the business. but to run the business profitably makes the difference. Fake Gurus say ” How to start a t-shirt business in 10 min” but it is a long-term thing. Many online t-shirt business is bleeding to this day and do not generate any profit or profits to win their bread and butter. This is the reality.

I do agree but t-shirt businesses run with the marketplace can survive to an extent. Everywhere strong inventory and advertising cost plays a very big role. Any body can start a tshirt business, but running the tshirt business online profitably will make it worth it.

The Reality:

THE COMPETITION IS REALLY REALLY TOUGH.

If you are going to run an online store,
It is not the hiring or manufacturing or paying a dropshipping vendor or real estate that is going to cost big chunks of expenditure,

The marketing cost is!!! The fact is “No Online Marketing, No sales – Please be informed: Customers are not going to come to your doors “

When it comes to luring the market. Limited Collections will not be sustainable to start as a tshirt brand. I say this by carefully analyzing data of over 100 brands and observing their lifetime before they survived or went out of business.

Only advertising is going to bring customers. Every rupee spent should have some sort of value creation on marketing. Means Sales. So, it is better to have a larger category to encash the money spent on ads.

Smaller Inventory or Smaller SKU will not help your business when you rely on advertising.

Don’t ever fantasize about what happens in the so-called Western countries. India is unique and your approach to addressing the Indian market is completely different as a tshirt startup. Do research the market before you get in.

Also Note,

The Customers don’t buy what you have created with passion or what you like to sell, The customers buy what they like. Period.

Don’t get doomed by getting obsessed with your product, Get obsessed with how to make a product that sells. Sells in large numbers. Making money is important. Making a Profit is important from day 1. When profit is made, The brand can be built at your command. If you dont build what market wants with right marketing, You will have dead stocks. period.

Secret Market Research Hack:

Go to any online store (Shopify or Woocommerce)-> Go to the collection page of any brand -> Sort by best selling -> Absorb for 90 – 180 days daily -> You can rip out almost every tom’s best-selling product & what is running in the market in any online store then hunt the product mercilessly and double down & tear them apart. Commercially winning first matters the most than innovation.

In larger Picture, Every dam brand has only few best selling products which makes their bread and butter. Ripping and hunting those top selling products will reduce your risk considerbly. Rest of the products even with big filthy showoff bigotry brands are slow moving or deadstocks to project their collections size which they will be selling for lot of months or years together. Reducing your risk at the start is crucial.

The collection page means the category in the website says ( In menswear – shirts, t-shirts are categories).

Also note, In labour intensive Workforce nation like India, Commercially, Sustainable products or sustainbility are a big fat fricking joke. Viability of scaling a business multi crore with sustainable products in India is like catching fire on your own tail and running behind it in the same place mindlessly.

Have this ruthless mantra in my mind “Dam Consumer doesnt care about what you think. Dam Consumer will buy only what “it” wants”

Winning the apparel game directly is “Understanding to avoid the dead sizes & keeping the hot selling sizes at stock before the need generates”. Many brands squeal & scream with their bottomline over time with dead stocks. When you observe that there is a size under performing, Remove them. you dont have to be that market pleaser. You are here to make yourself sustainable not the dam market.

Either sell only the high-demand low competition essentials or Do the branding right.
Tshirt is a low demand and high competiton essentials. So, You average branding efforts will make your business dunk in 6 months.

Proper high value branding, knowing what the dam consumer needs, understanding the game of dead stocks & having best sellers at stock will help you breakeven as a business at some point or you will remain as just another want-re-preneur.

So much negativity right!. Hell yeah. Market awaits you then. Let’s cool off a little now😜

How to start tshirt business: Tools & Hacks.

GST Registration with documents required
Smart Registration for Your Startup
Website & Tools & Technologies
Intellectual property rights for your startup and trademark
Marketplaces to sell your brand T-shirt
Volumetric weight vs Parcel weight: It’s very important
Knowledge about t-shirt design & quality & printing types.
Investments & Cost Analysis for your T-shirt business
GST Billing for your state and other states, Input Tax Credit with IGST, CGST & SGST
Invoice formats free download
How to process CASH ON DELIVERY(COD) orders wisely without revenue loss?
Smart ways to build your brand & Internet marketing tips

LIGHTS & SWITCHES:

HOW DO I DO GST REGISTRATION?

Take registration with GST for one main reason at least when you start “INPUT TAX CREDIT”. For a startup, It’s all about frugality & a thrifty mindset. Save where it has to be saved. Spend where it has to be spent.

Say you manufacture your tshirts with Tshirt manufacturers in Tirupur, Your billing is done at 5% GST.
Let’s assume you manufacture goods worth 3 Lakhs INR. You eventually pay 15000 rs as GST. You will get it has a refund when you sell it to your customer.

Do get GST, and have better accountability for your business.

System always finds a way to steal and loot the dam money from you. It is important to file taxes or nil returns on time every month. Paying more than 1 paise than required to the system is the most foolish act. Practise caution when you generate bills & while filing it. Most startups are one man army who are new, file returns carelessly endup loosing money by paying useless fines for late filing or failing to raise a credit note or debit note.

What is Class 3 Digital Signature?:

In case if you didn’t know about the digital signature. It is a small USB pen drive device that will have your identity. With Digital Signature, You can sign, authenticate, or approve any document digitally.

Ensure you have subscribed to Class 3 digital signature as it is now practically needed for GST returns & other government processes.

You can get it here https://www.emudhradigital.com/allproducts.php

So, get to your Chartered Accountant.
Register yourself under GST to do your online tshirt selling legally.

The registration cost would be costing from Rs 2500 to Rs 20000 depending upon the type of registration ( Proprietorship, Partnership, One Person Company, or Pvt Ltd) & the auditor.

What are the Documents Required for GST Registration:

– PAN Card of the Business or Applicant
– Identity and Address Proof of Directors or Partners or Proprietor
– Business Registration Document
– Address Proof for Place of Business
– Bank Account Proof
– Digital Signature Class-3

HOW CAN I DO SIMPLE REGISTRATION?

Being in business is not that easy. You got to be frugal, thrifty & smart.
At the same time, Too much cost-cutting & lack of future-proof investments will lead to disaster.

WHY PROPRIETOR REGISTRATION IS BETTER TO START WITH?

Don’t spend money in the start on anything except your product & marketing.

Government registration is like your wardrobe, can be altered or replaced anytime you want
but the product & marketing are like your blood & skin.

1. You have to file separate IT returns for your company as well as personal IT

2. You have too much Pre-registration and post-registration documentation & filing to be done like DIN, MOU & AOA & AGM & YOY Performance statements with the registrar of companies (ROC).

3. Filthy money involved in maintaining all this and closing formalities with MCA is a large “ROFL”.

For Every startup without a “VC’s War-Chest “, Even buying a single 1₹ pencil is a cost & every single penny matters 🙂

Whereas with a proprietorship registration,
The proprietorship has just one IT Return to be filed & No Separate PAN Card is needed.
Literally, No documentation except GST & IT returns.

Unless or until if you are going for equities or planning seed funding & Esops, Proprietor registration is a smart choice.
PRIVATE LIMITED tag or LLP tag doesn’t bring business, Only your top-notch service & products & marketing make the business.

If you are starting small, Go for a normal proprietor registration.

More the turnover & margin.
More the bargaining power with your bank & investors.
So be frugal, avoid the dead cost, Be a hustler.
Decide whichever suits you.

WEBSITE, TOOLS & TECHNOLOGIES:

Before you do any sort of registration, Decide your “BRAND NAME”

Brand Name is your identity so think of an easily pronounceable name.
Immediately Check for the website domain name.

Also, find if there is any conflict with existing brands with the IPR website.
This part of gaining control over a name has to be taken seriously at the start which would avoid lot of unwanted litigation in the future.

Can my domain name & company name be different?

Yes, it can.
Domain Name registration is nothing to do with legal registration or the legal name of your business

You can operate your domain name and legal name with different names.
But your business transaction and filing of GST have to happen on your legal name of the business, not with the brand domain name.

Let’s take an example!
http://tirupurexportcompany.com is the web face of my business.
GST is filed under Ramsay Exports which is the legal face of the business.

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR YOUR STARTUP & TRADEMARK?

THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR BOTH ONLINE & OFFLINE.

How to check TRADEMARKS for your brand?
It is one way of protecting your brand’s unique identity to an extent.

You got to check with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry of India

there are various classes for different products. Want to check to click here
For apparels its Class 25

It can be done easily. Click on the link below.
https://tmrsearch.ipindia.gov.in/tmrpublicsearch/frmmain.aspx

Enter the name of your brand in the Wordmark Column
In the class column. Mention Class 25
Then search.
If there is a conflict then you need to change your name.
when you check for a brand name – Let say your aspiring brand name idea is “Fliptees” then you should start searching from the word “FLIP” in the words column. so you will find even the closest conflict.
Make sure that the name chosen is unique

Taking a trademark for your brand name would cost you Rs 6500 – Rs 8000

How can I build a website for my t-shirt business?

You don’t have to be a hardcore techie but a smart business person 🙂

As for traffic is concerned for businesses with no apps, This is what we have observed with the brands that we work with. The brands who ran ads as the marketing method

About “96%” of traffic to online stores comes via MOBILE PHONES.

All warm, cold, re-targets or repeat audiences put to count with data. Data measured via google analytics & webmaster collectively along with KPI’s in the ad platforms.

So, Make sure that for D2C (Direct to consumer) business online, Having a mobile responsive & well-optimized website will largely cut down bounce rate & improve CTR & conversions.

Should i use Woo-commerce for my e-commerce store? Why?:

It is part of WordPress. Help you build your E-commerce store with a one-time investment
Approximate cost of creating a woo-commerce store (20K to 1 Lakh )
Product upload & maintaining the website doesn’t require so much effort.
Kindly check on Bandwidth, Execution Time & memory size.
Try to pull all possible static and dynamic files to CDN as much as possible.
Update very frequently in order to protect & enhance Woocommece security.
Use security-enhancing plugins & update PHP regularly.

But Woocommerce is almost vague & not recommended in 2024/2025. No proper apps to support your day-to-day process or check analytics as efficiently as Shopify. The smart option is to move to Shopify. Shopify is good in every aspect of running a hassle-free online store.

SHOPIFY makes sense in 2024.

It’s like a CAKEWALK.
Easier to build without any technical or coding knowledge or minimal coding knowledge.

The approximate cost of creating a Excellent Shopify e-commerce store would be 150 to 300 USD
The tentative annual cost of subscription including required apps would be another 300 to 500 USD
You get all the apps that can make your work easier. Yearly Collective cost is notably higher.
Shopify is a wise choice for people who want their e-commerce store maintained hassle-free
It is extremely secure that the backend is completely controlled by SHOPIFY
It has apps to take care of your billing, RTO management & Exchange of products & others.

Since i have shopify is better, I will also explain how to build it smartly.

Go to themeforest -> Purchase a theme -> Install it easily simple guidance from youtube. Literally you dont need any tech company to these.
All these more of plug and play. Free Themes are available and also good themes start from Rs 3000.

Apps to use in shopify:
Kiwi Size Chart
Advanced Cash On Delivery
Ecoreturns
Rivo Popups
Flow

Shipping Aggregators:
ShipRocket
Ithink Logistics
ClickPost
Pickrr
Shyplite

What are the other design tools I need to refer to?

1. CANVA
2. ADOBE SPARK
3. EASIL
4. PICMONKEY

there are lot of tools to design templates. These are some of the useful ones.

Add Payment Gateway (Applicable only for your own website):

RAZORPAY
CASH-FREE
PAYTM
SIMPL

THE INVESTMENTS & GO TO ACTION PLAN:

INVEST IN AN OFFLINE MODEL:

Just like every other Dukaan and be profitable & hit breakeven faster & live with limited potential & market size.

INVEST ON PRODUCT & DO THE MARKET PLACE:

Let’s buy from a trader & get to Flipkart, myntra, amazon, meesho, etc… & do the magic. Your grandpa does it. Your grandma does it. Everyone does it. Follow Guidelines & it’s done.

INVESTMENTS & COST ANALYSIS FOR YOUR TSHIRT BUSINESS
Below mentioned data is a complete simulation.

Product cost would vary from time to time depending on the marketing conditions.
A good quality graphic round neck T-shirts for bulk orders at Rs 160 + 5% GST = Rs 168

Please note that Tax that you pay to the manufacturer will be refunded as “Refer – Input Tax Credit” to you when you make a sale and file GST.

Now you are uploading the products to the marketplace and have priced the product.
Now comes the commission in the marketplace

Selling price: 499.00
Commission at the marketplace (15 to 20% )
Let’s assume 20%: 99.8 would be the commission to be paid to the marketplace.

Apart from these,
you will have a closing fee or marketplace fee of Rs 10
You will have a courier charge of Rs 45 (For regional or within the state will be less)

Commission and charges may vary from one marketplace to another.
Note: Now, GST Tax might vary the taxes you pay

Now, If you are selling in marketplaces:

Selling Price	499
Commission 20% to marketplace	99.8
Service Tax On Commission	17.964
Market Place Fee	10
Service Tax closing Fee	1.8
Courier Charge	45
Product Cost	168
Total sales tax to be paid after source tax cut	16.95

Total Cost	359.514
Total Profit Per Tshirt	139.486

Tax already Paid on the product at source	8
Tax to be paid on the selling price	24.95

MARKET-PLACE LINKS:

Below mentioned are direct access to a few worthy T-shirt marketplaces to mention.

https://seller.flipkart.com

https://services.amazon.in/services/sell-on-amazon/pricing.html
https://partners.myntrainfo.com/

https://sellers.snapdeal.com/

https://seller.paytm.com

http://seller.shopclues.com/

http://sellercentre.ebay.in/feecalculator

https://udaan.com/help/sell-on-udaan
https://supplier.meesho.com/

MANAGE MULTIPLE MARKET PLACE:

Managing Multiple Market Place with below software as a service products.

http://www.unicommerce.com/
http://browntape.com/
http://www.zaayega.com

Non-Refundable Commissions:
Marketplaces burn cash so they charge a healthy 15 to 20% commission, marketplace charges & service taxes on your selling price which is a one-way road that will not be refunded back to you even if the customer cancels or returns your product.

Hefty re-shipping charges:
Assume if your product is returned once or exchanged. You will be paying thrice the shipping cost to deliver the same product but your profit takes a hit.

LET’S TALK ABOUT INVESTMENTS & STARTING YOUR OWN BRAND ONLINE:

Start an online store & explore a whole lot of new world of opportunities.

Greed is a very powerful weapon in business & is completely ok to have in you in this beautiful world of business when you can see the future before your competitors see it.

Don’t have the fear. Google ate yahoo. Believe in yourself.

All thy enthu to start an online T-shirt brand came from recent valuations on T-shirt startups & awesome funding happening in the world of apparel & lifestyle brands.

But not all startups get to the level of attracting investors to join your journey.

Bootstrapping is good & becomes fruitful in the long run. In an online space, every player has their space.

LAUNCH MORE CATEGORIES:

Now,
when you start an online store, starting with limited categories will not be so successful as far as the startup brands that I have worked with.

In an online store, without running ads, Getting consumers is very challenging.

When we spend money on ads, making the best out is mandatory. For example, Let’s say if you try to sell printed t-shirts in your store & run ads for the same.

When the visitor lands for the money spent on ads, it always makes better sense to Cross-Sell or Upsell more products for the same amount of money that is being spent on ads.

This is what most tshirt startup brands miss out on & spendthrift on ads.

Is Selling T-Shirts Without Holding Inventory Possible?

Is selling tshirts without holding inventory viable? TEST WATERS ON POD (a) DROPSHIPPING:

If your investment is less than 5 to 10 Lakhs for the merchandise
Blindly, Choose only the dropshipping model.

Print on demand is a business model where you can sell merchandise without the hassle of managing inventory, fulfillment, or shipping just by connecting your online store to the drop shipping vendor.

Yes, I am a tshirt manufacturers in tirupur. Yet I say this.

Try out with Drop Shipping as a Business Model even though the profit you gonna get via the dropshipping business model after your RTO shipments is “BURNT PEANUTS:)”

Unlike western countries, India doesn’t experience customers willing to pay a premium for the merc you promote.

The customer mindset is more momentary & exposed to more options. Indian customers see more VFM factor than the intent of art itself.

with dropshipping model cost price is high and the selling price is not as premium as it looks. The cost price being high adding with marketing overheads will result in very skimmed bottom line.

Set your prices correct with POD Model, The best is to consider the 2 X Cost-price = Selling-price

Let’s assume the average cost for the printed tee including fulfillment & shipping : CP = ₹350.
The selling price for the same is ₹600 incl of taxes. To be exact ₹570.

Net margins % = 38%
Where all marketing costs & overheads are not added yet.

Limiting the Overhead & optimizing the marketing budget (Ads) is very crucial.

You get more categories viability & less hassle of dead stock risk. Figure out what works.

if you find any sign of breakeven traction with a dropshipping model, slowly migrate to an inventory model via T-shirt manufacturers.

Only where you can dream of making some good strong bottom line & eventually making a fortune.

So kindly know, T-shirt business works for people with an “Entrepreneurial Mindset” who are here for the long haul & have the strength to take on “Rough Seas Ahead”. Do not expect ROI like a day in day out bull market.

Figured out, Go On.

STORM THE MARKET & RULE THE GAME IN AN INVENTORY MODEL:

90% of the market is running behind printed t-shirts. There is a new world of fabric composition & construction that very few T-shirts startup brands explore.

Set your prices correctly with the Inventory Model, The best is to consider the 3 X Cost-price = Selling-price

Allocation of finances plays a major role in scaling the apparel business. when you figured out your best sellers, always have them in stock until it fades out. Maintaining the inventory is not a big thing. Maintaining the inventory for the product that sells matters.

Basics in investment (in case if you don’t know):

EQUITY:
You dilute your shares, you raise funds at a certain valuation from angels, seeds & incubators then comes VC funds dilution upon dilution.

More control from investors in day-to-day activities & Pressure to raise more funding with bubbles unless you are dam profitable.

DEBT:
You take a loan kind of arrangement where you have to repay the investor with favorable conditions after “X” years.

Less control from investors & More risk to repay.

Rest all you can discover if you at all raise funds:)

STUDIO PHOTOSHOOT WORKS WONDERS: THINK LIKE LAYS:)

Invest! Invest! Invest! in a professional photographer for your products.

Without proper and stunning images. would someone or you even care to look at a product?

To make that extra sale, Invest & upload high-quality images with all details of the t-shirts.
Images with that minute details sell better.

TRENDING STYLE IN THE MARKET:

1. UNISEX – ROUND NECK PLAIN TEE
2. UNISEX – FULL SLEEVE PLAIN TEE
3. UNISEX – OVERSIZED TEE
4. WOMEN’S – CROP TOP
5. WOMEN’S – FULL DRESS
6. WOMEN’S – SCOOP NECK
7. UNISEX – POLO
8. UNISEX – SWEATSHIRT
9. UNISEX – HOODIES
10. BOTTOM CURVE TEE
11. TANKTOP & GYMWEAR
12. CUT & SEW
13. UNISEX V NECK
14. UNISEX HENLEY
15. UNISEX RAGLAN
16. TIE & DYE, ACID WASH, OIL WASH & CPD.
17. STAIN REPELLENT TEE, MINERAL WASH.

TRENDING FABRIC COMPOSITION

1. 100% COMBED COTTON
2. 100% PIMA COTTON
3. 80% COTTON & 20% POLYESTER
4. 65% COTTON & 35% POLYESTER
5. 52% COTTON & 48% POLYESTER
6. 100% POLYESTER
7. 100% MICROMODAL /MODAL
8. 100% TENCEL
9. BAMBOO COTTON
10. ORGANIC COTTON
11. REGENERATED COTTON
12. RECYCLED POLYESTER
13. RAYON / VISCOSE

What the “Terry Cotton fabric with 250 gsm or 280 GSM :)”

Yes we manufacture.
Terry Cotton Fabric is nothing but t-shirts made from “French Terry Knit Type”.
French Terry Fabric will have soft loops on the inside and a smooth surface on the outside.

Knowledge about t-shirts & the quality & Printing types:

Before I explain about the tshirt types & quality,

I will put an end to this misconception.

“Higher the t-shirt thickness is not equal to quality & lower the t-shirt thickness doesn’t mean less quality”

Quality of the tshirt – Tirupurexportcompany.com

Basics With T-shirts Quality:

You need to ensure, the T-shirts or any knitted merchandise, that you make, should not have any issues mentioned below so your product will sell better & will be liked by the customers.

– Shrinkage (T-shirts getting shrunk after wash affecting aesthetics)
– Fastness Issue (Color Lost from the fabric after wash)
– Cracks in Prints (A limited wear and twist stretch of the tshirt should not result in cracks of the print)
– Neps in the tshirts (lints or spun coming out of tshirts after multiple washes)
– Measurement ( this is a very sensitive category where you should be spending more importance)

In case if you want to discuss bulk orders.
Call RAMSAY EXPORTS at +91-96888 95559 or Click to Whatsapp.

Where do I get mockups & Templates for my T-shirts:

Two Very Important GOLD MINE links of Absolutely Free MOCKUPS for starters :
“Learn a little bit of photoshop before downloading mockups from the below links.”

https://inscribemag.com/free-t-shirt-mockups-psd/
https://graphicburger.com/mock-ups/

Rest of the mockup creator links below comes with a cost.

1.https://placeit.net/ You can also find more designs & designers.

Fiverr.com – Freelancer’s portal where can get your job at $5 approx Rs 350 per design.

99designs.com – You have professionals who can design you top notch designs

https://graphicriver.net/ – where you can buy cool designs for your tshirts

https://www.behance.net – Find some of the world’s creative people who make crazy out of the box designs.Envato Elements ” The coolest way to explore easy artworks”: You can also buy templates, font types and arts as Photoshop, AI, and other format files and alter designs according to your requirements and design intuition.

Visit https://elements.envato.com/

CONNECT TO US FOR BULK ORDERS

Screen Printing:

About 90-95% of the t-shirt printing across the globe goes on screen printing. If you have simple text or uncomplicated designs, You can printing any number of prints using screen printing.

If you really need a print quality that exists on the t-shirt till the t-shirt exists, Don’t look elsewhere. Screen printing is you only go.

We at Ramsay Exports, provide screen printing services and provide
High-quality Plastisol, nonpvc, pigment as standard. ( Puff, High Density and others)
We also have the pricier option for thermo-chromic, photo-chromic, and Hydro-chromic printing tech.

The Goods:
1. Budget-friendly printing & Cost-effective
2. Screen printing dyes are very durable
3. Less time for printing required than the DTG

The terrible:
1. Setting up time is higher to make screens
2. Not suitable for color having more than 8 colors in printing

Direct to Film (DTF) Digital Printing:

DTF printing is the best option currently. DTF Printing includes printing your design straight onto a film and then transferring it to a T-shirt made of cotton, polyester, or their blends, regardless of colour, as it can work with white ink. To be precise, it is like a sticker you print and heat press it on the tshirt. Unlike DTG, DTF printing works well with all garments and has no limitations

To achieve the same quality as screen printing,

Use DTF Printing

The Goods:
1. Multicolor or gradient printing
2. Durable Printing than DTG
3. No pre-treament like DTG
4. No white ink issue like DTG
5. Decent print quality

The Terribles:
1. 3X costlier than screen printing
3. Printing location is limited & less flexible than screen printing

Direct to Garment (DTG) Digital Printing:

DTG printing seemingly looks like an easy option but the printing quality is terrible many times when compared to screen printing. The cost involved in DTG printing is really unjustified to the amount of print quality. When DTG printing is chosen with low passes, the print gets clumsy in a few washes.

To achieve the same quality as screen printing,

DTG is at least 5X pricey than screen printing but logically target consumer will pay the same price

We never recommend this DTG printing for bulk orders.

The Goods:
1. Multicolor or gradient printing

The Terribles:
1. 5X costlier than screen printing
2. Print quality can never be compared to screen printing
3. Printing location is limited & less flexible than screen printing

Sublimation Printing:

Sublimation printing works very well on 100% Polyester and partially on polyester-rich cotton fabric. As it is a heated paper press technique, You cannot print a white color (Let’s say” white color text on the dark fabric)

We at Ramsay use sublimation printing for all corporate event t-shirts & Marathon Tshirts.

The Goods:
1. Cost-effective printing tech
2. Can print great on Polyester & partially on polyester-rich cotton tees

The Terribles:
1. You cant print white color on dark garments

HEAT TRANSFER (a) VINYL Printing:

Heat transfer works on any fabric. Similar to sublimation printing. Your paper-to-fabric transfer vinyl and cut as per your design and transfer it to the tshirts.

The Goods:
1. Cost-effective printing tech
2. can be printed any fabric type

The Terribles:
1. Result varies depending the stickers used.
2. Quality can never match the screen printing printed tees.

WHY SHOULD YOU KNOW VOLUMETRIC WEIGHT FOR COURIER:

Know Volumetric weight on starting a tshirt business in india

Many aspirational newbie loose things here.
Paying a useless extra charge for the courier is a mindless thing to do.

Dimensional accuracy plays a crucial role with the shipping partners.

Know why.
Let’s say you got your brand ready for shipping.
You make a good quality attractive cardboard box without checking the measurement of it & you only check the total weight.
which leads to the scenario where you shell out your profits uselessly by paying extra for the courier partner.

whenever you calculate in all the shipping rate calculators, you will find only the total weight, not the volumetric weight.
But volumetric weight is important.

Watch this very carefully, The formula for volumetric weight:

let’s say I ship my products from Lovely Bengaluru:) to Delhi. I have my t-shirt and box put together weighing .450g.
I have assumed the charges for the courier is Rs 55 for .500 grams

But my box dimensions are 25CM LENGTH X 25CM WIDTH X 5CM HEIGHT.

Volumetric weight = (L in CM X W in CM X H in CM )/5000

Volumetric weight for my box = ( 25CM X 25CM X 5CM )/5000 = 0.625g

Now it clearly seems that my parcel total weight is .450g but volumetric weight is .625g
Courier partners will take whichever is higher. accordingly, charges will be levied.

Now I am shelling out ₹110 in place of ₹55.
This is because the courier partner will charge a price for 1 kg as the volumetric weight is .625g

So, Make sure that when you design your corrugated design box by keeping volumetric weight in your mind.
Your entire parcel weight and volumetric weight has to be lesser than .500g for courier charge of .500g slab to be applied.

For a single tshirt to be shipped: this might optimal calculation. But play with your numbers and choose what works for you.
make sure, you discuss with the account manager or aggregator for these details of calculating volumetric weight.

Take this with a pinch of salt with Ads:

when you are building your brand. Ads are the only go.
Facebook Ads have both bad and good things.

On my experience of spendthrifts on Ads,
Ads will bring traction, customers. but as soon as you stop the ads,
Your sales figure will plunge. Get ready to accept it and spend wisely.

Learn FB Ads ( Campaigns, Ads, Ad sets, carousal, Ad-copy, Target segment, target group, affinity score, Competitor Research, CPA, CPC, ROAS & Go on….)

Analyze ROAS with COD. Check if your ROAS has brought quality leads.
Measuring KPIs & ROI are so important for the marketing spend on every single campaign even if it is optimized.

Validate ROAS Data
Different Niche! Different Results. Act sensibly!

Target age group & Target area is so much important to optimize your ad campaign.
If you need any help on these. I recommended DigitalDC Facebook Ads Agency in Bangalore “A bangalore based performance marketing facebook ads agency”

OH KNOW!!! COD – Cash On Delivery:

In a country like ours, Cash On Delivery works for e-commerce giants as they do have validation SOPs in place whether to provide COD for a particular customer or reject. & having their own logistics arm makes it less chaotic.

Few Customers in INDIA change their minds all of a sudden with less or no value to their earlier actions.

You will end up allocating manpower just to call & follow up with these mindless customers who place a COD order & don’t pick calls or just disappear.

COD might look like an attractive option if you run the show with huge margins but def not for a t-shirt startup if it might be an inventory model or drop-shipping model.

it’s better & wise to create & nurture a loyal fan base who can trust & opt for Prepaid Payment.
Logically prepaid order gets delivered faster than a COD order.

The puzzle is not many talks about COD Pain points. the few mindless COD customers who don’t realize that startups take immense care about their product in providing quality & offering consumers “A great value”

RTO means “Return to Origin”
if the courier partner couldn’t deliver your shipment for any reason to the customer.
They mark it RTO and the parcel comes back to the origin “Your pickup warehouse”

RTO is very painful. You will lose at the tentative Rs 150 on COD-RTO per shipment.
The amount of RTO in COD orders is comparatively very high than the amount of RTO in prepaid orders.

WHY COD might be a pain?.

Take it with the grind of salt if you are offering COD. Be very careful on offering COD.

SEE THE COST INVOLVED ON COD ORDER IF MARKED RTO.

Note: We had a verification SOP in place for COD orders. We verified twice before shipping a COD order.
We verified once via IVRS verification & the second time, we had a person in real to call & confirm,

Considering the legal infrastructure of the startups, Most would be in the situation of pain when RTO happens for no reason & you cant do something about it aggressively.

I don’t say that this is a final mantra but it helped us to an extent to arrest the RTO’s on COD orders on our own retail channel & startup brands that we work with as well.

Keep this as a Layman’s KPI for COD orders:)

1. We have strong IVRS & follow-up Calls placed as a mandate.

2. We check for proper address or address-related information with Gmaps & make decisions for approval.

3. We have put compulsory verification of OTP up on placing COD Order.

4. We provide less preference or cancel the COD orders placed from a village or interior parts unless we find it logistically acceptable. We make sure that manual calls & WhatsApp order verification are placed if we find the above checkpoints unsatisfactory.

& Finally, we process COD orders with the above criteria & we get less than 10% RTO.

You can also use tools like Know https://logisy.tech/product/ to cut down RTO problems

RETURNS & REFUNDS POLICY FOR PREPAID ORDERS:

Be extremely customer-friendly. Show them that their payments are protected.
When you are in the service industry with loyal customers, it is beautiful to address their concerns with so much courtesy & content. Fortunes are built only this way, not with loads of marketing money.

Providing return pickup at the doorstep is mandatory

The refund policy should not cause any panic to the customer.
Offer refunds to customers on their original mode of payment.

VALID CRUSHED-BITS :

HOW CAN YOU DO ONLINE MARKETING FOR TSHIRTS?

1. If you are a B2C Company. You got to be in INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK

2. Social Media – Giveaways works like magic.

3. Engage with social influencers

4. USER GENERATED CONTENT – Increase BRAND IMAGE – Ask big influencers to write about your brand & T-shirts.

5. They are a ton of chaps and rookies – Youtube Marketing – bring that additive wow factor

6. B2C Business Ask for a testimonial. Earn trust (WOM – Word of mouth)

7. PR AGENCIES – Even in 2050 it works – Gains traffic – healthy for your brand.

8. Don’t Spendthrift – Fix a spending budget – Promote via Ads.

9. Pinterest is evergreen, a great linker, and a traffic generator across the globe. Know “PINTEREST LENS“

10. Write blogs for the consumers – Say it sharp & clear. Don’t be a wordsmith. Steve Jobs spoke “Simple English”

11. The main thing is to provide your Name of the company, address, phone number clearly accessible to the visitor. (NAP Factor on conversions)

12. Learn Advertising / Promotions / Branding

13. Get Visual. Learn to know the emotion of spendthrifts. ” Buy 2 Get 1 Free or Up to 50% Off or any other strategy″

14. Focus on Customer Retention – Get Loyalty Programs by offering personalized coupons & targeting.

15. Whatsapp Marketing, Facebook Ads, Google Ads.

How should I tax my t-shirts in GST?

Before knowing about how to tax for the t-shirts.

HSN CODE FOR TSHIRTS: 6109

610910	T shirts, singlets and other vests, of cotton, knit
610900	Garments
610990	T shirts, singlets etc, of material nes, knit

DONT BELIEVE in less than 40 lakhs turnover, “GST not required cliche”
You are losing money on INPUT TAX CREDIT for no reason.

SUBSCRIBE TO GST BUT FILE RETURNS PROPERLY EVERY MONTH.
It is always good to register your firm under GST as it will directly impact your bargaining power with banks during loans.

ITC – INPUT TAX CREDIT
Tax paid by you to the manufacturer will be rebated while you file the purchase bill in GST

There are two slabs.

Slab 1: Garments sold less than Rs 999 Garment will incur 5% GST
Slab 2: Garments sold more than Rs 1000 and higher will attract 12% GST

How should I tax my customers?

Let’s say. As tshirts manufacturers in tirupur.

If I sell t-shirts to buyers “Inside Tamilnadu“, I will have to use CGST 2.5% and SGST 2.5% and pay a total of 5% GST.

Let’s say I sell t-shirts to buyers “Outside Tamilnadu“, let’s say I manufacture custom tees to ship it to Mumbai or Delhi or Bangalore. I will have to use only IGST 5%.

All the above changes to be done on the invoice.

If you selling tshirts within your respective state, then CGST & SGST.
If you are selling tshirts outside your respective state, Then you got to use IGST.

Hope you enjoyed the article, Write a comment to encourage me to write more.

IT GIVES GREAT STRENGTH TO BRING MORE AUTHORITATIVE CONTENT TO THE TABLE
SHARE ON LINKEDIN

How to start profitable tshirt business in IndiaDinesh MJ2024-11-01T21:52:02+00:00

How to find Fabric Manufacturers & Suppliers in India

A step-by-step guide to sourcing fabrics for fashion brands and designers:

When turning idea into a garment, one of the major decisions all fashion designers face is what type of fabric to use and where to find it.

Fabric is a term that refers to the material that is composed of yarn or fibres and is used in the manufacturing of items such as clothing, homeware, bags, and shoes. Due to the fact that various fabrics each possess their own unique properties, there are literally hundreds of different qualities and varieties available.

Finding the appropriate fabric when you’re first starting out as an entrepreneur with your own clothing line or fashion brand can be difficult. When there are so many fabric suppliers all over the world, it can be difficult to find the ones that sell the perfect fabric for your project.

This is our comprehensive step-by-step guide to locating and purchasing the ideal fabric for your project.

The impact of the material on the design:

Your choice of fabric will have a significant influence, both in terms of the quality and production of the finished garment you create. Before you approach fabric suppliers & fabric manufacturers,you need to finalise important details of your clothing line such as design, functionality.

The following are some of the ways in which the fit, functionality, and technical construction of your garment can be affected by the fabrics:

• Weight – Once you have an idea of the approximate dimensions of your garment, you will be able to calculate the width of the fabric that will be required to make it.

• Drape refers to the way in which a piece of fabric hangs and falls from the body. The greater the drape, the greater the fabric will hang after it is draped. On the other hand, fabrics with less drape will have a fall that is more see-through and liquid-like.

• Stretch – The amount of stretch a fabric has will determine how well it fits and how it feels. It is possible to express it in either a horizontal (two-way) or vertical (four-way) stretch (horizontal and vertical).

• Shrinkage is something that will have an impact on how well the garment holds up over time. If the fabric has not been pre-washed before production, there is a possibility that it will shrink when the end user washes it.

One of the most common challenges that young designers face is figuring out how to differentiate their brand from the competition. To achieve this, do plenty of market research and find your niche. Put your attention on the ways in which you can make a difference, highlight your core values, and describe how you would like your customers to appear and feel.

Formulate the appropriate questions:

After you have decided on the purpose of your brand and the path it will take creatively, it is time to construct a tech pack. This is a document that outlines the proper construction of your garment and can be found here. It includes essential details such as the type of fabric, the trims, the dimensions, the constructions, and the components. These specific design details and technical specifications are absolutely necessary for the production of your garment.

Confirming all of these essential particulars before beginning the process of sourcing fabric will help you save both time and money. In the end, it will assist you in selecting which supplier to collaborate with based on your timeline, quantities, sizing, and any other requirements that you have.

Before you choose your provider, here is a checklist of the nine most important criteria that you should always take into consideration:

Fabric construction:

The functionality of the garment you are designing will have an effect on the ideal fabric that you source. The following is a list of the most common types of fabric structures, along with some examples of how they are utilised:

One of the most important aspects of the design process is having a solid understanding of how different types of fabric are constructed as well as which type of fabric will work best for the final product.

• Woven fabric is one of the most common types of fabric and is created by interlacing two or more sets of yarn at right angles to create a checkered pattern. Woven fabric is one of the most common types of fabric. Jeans, suits, and collared shirts are typically woven fabrics because of their durability and versatility.

• Knitted – Knits are an additional well-liked choice of fabric, particularly for the construction of lightweight garments. T-shirts, leggings, and sweaters are all great examples of items that would benefit from the use of these interlooped yarns, which are created by interlacing two or more strands of yarn.

• Non-woven materials are manufactured by laminating, felting, or other processes that involve mechanical, chemical, or thermal bonding of fibres. Because of its ability to wick away moisture, this type of fabric is frequently used for athletic wear as well as swimwear.

Find high-quality fabrics that have the best possible composition for the garment you’re making by basing it on its intended use. You should also pay attention to the content and composition of the fabric you are using, as well as mention any specialised finishing treatments, such as washing and waterproofing, that you require. If you are unsure what to do, your provider will be happy to offer their recommendations and guidance.

Minimum order quantity (MOQ):

To put it another way, the minimum order quantity (MOQ) refers to the smallest quantity that can be purchased from a supplier for each individual order. When determining the minimum order quantity (MOQ), price and fabric measurement are typically two factors that are taken into consideration. This is something that will most likely happen to you when you are sourcing from fabric mills, jobbers, or trade shows; however, the specifics will vary depending on who you approach. The minimum order quantity (MOQ) required by each supplier will vary depending on the materials, total manufacturing costs, and location of the supplier.

If you are a designer just getting started, you probably do not want to place an order for a large quantity right away. It is important to keep in mind that the minimum order quantity (MOQ) can be influenced by a variety of factors, which can sometimes leave room for negotiation. For example:

• Alternatives (e.g. colour, size, and material)

• Lower minimum with a greater increase in price

• Combined orders with another buyer

• Sourcing closer to home

You also have the option of requesting a minimum order quantity that is lower. It is possible that you will find a supplier who is willing to accept your offer based on the fact that they are eager to take your order at some point. In most cases, the cost of a smaller order will be greater than the cost of an order placed in bulk.

Payment terms and conditions:

Always determine the terms and conditions of the payment method before committing to placing an order. This includes for the purposes of production and sampling.

When ordering bespoke fabrics, you should make a deposit of fifty percent and then pay the remaining fifty percent when the fabric is ready to be dispatched. Any fabric that is currently available for purchase can be paid for in advance.

Price per metre/yard:

The price per metre or yard of a fabric will vary depending on the market and how much it costs to make the fabric.

After taking into account the cost of any trims and fastenings, the total retail price of your final product, and the fabric yield (the number of garments you get from a yard/metre), the price that you pay per metre or yard of fabric will depend on your budget.

Width of the fabric

There are two measurements: the overall width, as well as the width at which it can be cut. Only take the cuttable width from your supplier because this is the measurement from side to side minus the selvedge, which is an outer border that shouldn’t be used because it is woven to protect the rest of the fabric from damage.

To get a rough idea of how much fabric you will need to order, you should first create a lay plan of your pattern pieces.

Weight of the fabric

The grams per square meter measurement is used to determine how heavy or light your fabric is (GSM). Nevertheless, this almost always refers to the thickness of your fabric, with the GMS indicating the density and increasing with it as the number increases. The design, functionality/durability, and fit of your garment will determine the GSM of the fabric you use.

The following are some examples of fabrics that have different weights:

Mesh, chiffon, lace, and lightweight cotton are examples of lightweight fabrics.

• Fabrics with a weight somewhere in the middle: satin, velvet, linen, polyester, and cashmere

• Fabrics with a substantial weight, such as denim, canvas, wool, tweed, and flannel

Stock levels

It is possible that some fabrics will only be produced in a limited quantity or will be phased out entirely, whereas other options will continue to be available for a number of years. As a result, it is essential to make sure that you always check the availability of the fabrics that you are interested in purchasing. If you are just starting out as a designer, it is highly recommended that you begin by sourcing fabrics that have a guaranteed availability for any reorders.

lag time or lead time

When it comes to custom orders, the lead time for the development of the fabric can range anywhere from one month for the sampling phase to several months for the bulk production phase. Always get an estimate of the lead time before production begins, and stay in contact with the vendor throughout the process to make sure the delivery date can be stuck to.

Another thing to keep in mind regarding this situation is continuity, as well as the lead time for any reorders that may be necessary. This can ensure that you continue to place orders for fabrics in a timely manner for any restocking that may be necessary.

Origins as well as long-term viability:

The fashion industry is responsible for ten percent of all greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans and twenty percent of all wastewater produced worldwide. Because manufacturing is the primary source of pollution, you should always investigate the origins of the fabric you’re purchasing as well as the manufacturing process involved.

Start by being conscious of the choices you make and the impact they have on the world around you if you want your fashion brand to become more environmentally friendly. Investigate the supply chain and insist on full disclosure from the vendors in order to learn more about the origins of the raw materials that are incorporated into the fabric. Pick environmentally friendly materials like organic cotton or pia fabric for your projects, and make sure the factories you buy from are fair to their employees. In an effort to reduce waste and pollution, the fashion industry should transition toward circular design, in which materials can be recycled and reused without risk of harm. Your clothing line has the potential to make a positive impact on the environment if you take the time to understand the implications to the environment.

Check out this article on five innovative fabrics made from sustainable materials to learn more about environmentally friendly fabrics.

Research the various types of fabric suppliers available:

Your choice of fabric is important not only for your collection but also for your fashion brand as a whole. Your choice of fabric will ultimately have an effect on the appearance, comfort, fit, and function of the garment you create. Before choosing a fabric supplier, it is important to consider all of your sourcing options in order to find fashion fabric of the highest possible quality at an affordable price.

Fabric mills:

Fabric mills, also known as textile mills, are the facilities responsible for the transformation of raw materials into thread for the purpose of fabric production. Weaving and knitting are the most common methods, and then the fabric goes through the printing and dying processes before it is sent to a factory to be made into items of clothing such as t-shirts, jackets, leggings, and other items. Because fabric mills are typically wholesale suppliers that specialise in certain textiles like cashmere, silk, and leather, we strongly recommend that you conduct a significant amount of research prior to contacting one of these establishments. Fabric mills are excellent places to go to in order to purchase bespoke fabric. However, as a result of this, the minimum order quantity (MOQ) is frequently quite high, and the lead time is significantly longer.

Converters:

Some textile mills do not handle the full process of transforming raw materials into a finished fabric. This can be frustrating for customers. Before selling it to you, a converter will first process the unfinished fabric by dying, bleaching, and printing it. You will then purchase the finished product.

Fabric sales agents and representatives:

You can order fabrics from agents and reps if you are interested in buying fabric in bulk or placing orders to buy fabric in wholesale quantities. These suppliers act as a liaison between you and the mills or manufacturers they represent. They do so by gaining an understanding of what it is you require and streamlining the ordering process. Some agents and reps work with multiple fabric mills and specialise in sourcing across the world, which will save you time and maximise your efficiency. These agents and reps work with multiple fabric mills. Keep in mind that they frequently work on commission, which means that the prices may be higher than the going rate.

Fabric stores as well as jobbers:

Fabric mills, clothing manufacturers, and fashion designers all sell their scraps to jobbers, who then buy and resell them. They keep a stock of fabric in order to sell it to new designers, start-up businesses, entrepreneurs, and other manufacturers with the added benefit of having a low order minimum. A similar system is used in fabric stores, where customers can peruse hundreds of fabric swatches in order to purchase a small quantity of fabric that is within their financial means or to find inspiration for their own fashion design. Because it may not be possible to reorder the same fabric from jobbers and stores, these types of businesses are best suited for one-off projects.

Events such as trade fairs and expos:

These are recurring occasions that take place in different parts of the world every year. Trade shows and expos are ideal for sourcing all kinds of fabrics, including embellishments and trims, because there are so many fabric suppliers present at these events. In the vast fashion industry, exhibitors are always looking for new business; as a result, they will have more time to devote to working with smaller businesses; as a result, new designers are encouraged to attend trade shows and expos.

How to find Fabric Manufacturers & Suppliers in IndiaDinesh MJ2023-01-19T04:50:17+00:00

What is a SINGLE JERSEY FABRIC?

Single Jersey is a knitted fabric with a soft stretch with front-facing a single rib pattern knit and backside of knitted loops (Moon Shape). As fabric manufacturers in Tirupur, Single Jersey Knitted fabric are manufactured mostly with 100% Cotton. with the current innovation in manufacturing the fabric, there is a host of fabric composition is being used by fabric manufacturers. In General, the single fabric is manufactured like a light to medium weight category.

A single jersey is a weft-knitted fabric that is formed by one set of needles. Tshirt manufacturers use mostly single jersey for making High-Quality Crew Neck T-shirts across the globe. This fabric is much warm, flexible, stretchy, & comfortable to wear

What are the types in JERSEY FABRIC MANUFACTURING?

There are various types of fabric knit, Manufacturing single jersey fabric is the most cost-friendly fabric

Single Knit Jersey Manufacturing.
Single knit jersey is made using one set of needles and appears smooth on the front side and looped at the backside.
Double-knit jersey Manufacturing.
In other names known to be Interlock fabric, Interlock fabric is manufactured to provide smooth surfaces on both sides.

CHARACTERISTICS of SINGLE JERSEY FABRIC:

Face side and back side of fabric are different.FRONT SINGLE JERSEY FABRIC:

front-side-single-jersey-fabric

BACKSIDE SINGLE JERSEY FABRIC:

backside-single-jersey-fabric
Curl or roll of fabric occurs at the edges.
Single jersey is less expensive for fabric manufacturers than comparing to double jersey fabric manufacturing.
Wales are clearly visible on the face side of the fabric.Verticals are called WALES(FRONT SIDE):

Verticals-wale-single-jersey-fabric

Horizontals are called COURSES(BACK SIDE):

Horizontals-course-single-jersey-fabric

What is a SINGLE JERSEY FABRIC?Dinesh MJ2023-01-19T04:57:35+00:00

How to calculate volumetric weight for your tshirts

DO NOT LOOSE MONEY!!!

Know-How to calculate the volumetric weight for your t-shirt courier:

MANY ASPIRATIONAL NEWBIE APPAREL ENTREPRENEURS LOSE THINGS HERE.
PAYING A USELESS EXTRA CHARGE FOR THE COURIER IS A MINDLESS THING TO DO.

Dimensional accuracy plays a crucial role with the shipping partners.

Know why.
Let’s say you got your brand ready for shipping. You make a good quality attractive cardboard box without checking the measurement of it & you only check the total weight. which leads to the scenario where you shell out your profits uselessly by paying extra for the courier partner.

whenever you calculate in all the shipping rate calculators, you will find only the total weight, not the volumetric weight.
But volumetric weight is important.

Note: Most of the shipping partners will not make it visible & transparent. you will mess it up after investing the money. I reiterate.

Watch this very carefully, The formula for volumetric weight:

let’s say I ship my products from Lovely Bengaluru to Delhi. I have my t-shirt and box put together weighing .450g.

I have assumed the charges for the courier is Rs 55 for .500 grams

But my box dimensions are 25CM LENGTH X 25CM WIDTH X 5CM HEIGHT.

Volumetric weight = (L in CM X W in CM X H in CM )/5000

Volumetric weight for my box = ( 25CM X 25CM X 5CM )/5000 = 0.625g

Now it clearly seems that my parcel’s total weight is .450g but the volumetric weight is .625g
Courier partners will take whichever is higher. accordingly, charges will be levied.

Now I am shelling out ₹110 in place of ₹55.
This is because the courier partner will charge a price for 1 kg as the volumetric weight is .625g

How to calculate volumetric weight for your tshirtsDinesh MJ2023-01-19T04:56:46+00:00

How to set IGST SGST CGST in shopify GST Settings

HOW TO SET IGST SGST CGST IN SHOPIFY GST SETTINGS:

Its been while all the small startup that we work with coming up this complicated yet simple doubt about setting GST slab in the columns of taxes under Shopify.
So we took some time to write

Shopify is an amazing e-commerce engine that leverages doing an e-commerce business at a breeze.
But at the same time – Shopify is used worldwide so one might find the words complicated which are not any different.

For setting TAXES under Shopify Engine in India

1. Go to settings.
2. Select TAXES option
3. Under TAX REGIONS. You will get INDIA
4. then on the “EDIT” Option that is available parallel to INDIA.
5. Under TAXES column of INDIA

You will see words like ” COUNTRY TAX, FEDERAL TAX and so on”

Country Tax:
Country tax is nothing but tax applicable for a particular product in compliance to the country’s tax system.

Federal Tax:
Federal tax is just another name for the country tax to understand. which is not any different but a different word used in the columns for country tax

HOW TO SET CGST, SGST AND IGST FOR THE T-SHIRTS IN SHOPIFY:

Before which you should know what is CGST, SGST & IGST and how can I apply it on the invoices generated.

CGST & SGST – Intra state tax:

CGST – basically in INDIA “its central government’s share of tax that people pay”
SGST – basically in INDIA “its state government’s share of tax that people pay”

For Tshirts having MRP less than ₹999 is GST 5% SLAB

so,
the break up of CGST is 2.5%
the break up of SGST is 2.5%

IGST – Interstate tax: INTEGRATED TAX
For other states – IGST of 5% Applies.

As I said before country tax and federal tax option in Shopify has the same meaning.

Now you got to understand,

1. Added to % of federal tax – Added to the existing tax bracket
Lets say if you have set the country tax to 2.5% – Then if you select ” ADDED TO 2.5% OF FEDERAL TAX”

It basically means you are adding 2.5% + 2.5% as the total tax.

2. Instead of % of federal tax
Lets say if you have set the country tax to 2.5% – then if you select “INSTEAD OF 2.5% OF FEDERAL TAX”

It basically means that you are not applying the general country tax ( Say 2.5 %) but a new tax % that you have mentioned columns for each states

NOW LET’S SEE HOW TO EXACTLY SET TAXES FOR MY T-SHIRTS IN SHOPIFY:

Let’s say – I am doing a t-shirt business in “NAMMA BENGALURU:)” – When I tend to invoice for all the orders inside KARNATAKA
Then CGST & SGST has to be applied

SET COUNTRY TAX TO 2.5%

FOR KARNATAKA:
THE CHOSEN AND MY REGISTERED GST BILLING STATE IS KARNATAKA

If you notice, only with state you are operating – SGST will be shown.

FOR REST OF THE STATES:
FOR OTHER STATES APART FROM KARNATAKA: IGST HAS TO BE APPLIED

How to set IGST SGST CGST in shopify GST SettingsDinesh MJ2023-01-19T04:52:10+00:00

Various Classes of Trademark – Intellectual Property

These are the various classes in trademarking your brand.

PRODUCTS:

	Class 1	Chemicals used in industry, science and photography, as well as in agriculture, horticulture and forestry; unprocessed artificial resins, unprocessed plastics; manures; fire extinguishing compositions; tempering and soldering preparations; chemical substances for preserving foodstuffs; tanning substances; adhesives used in industry.
	Class 2	Paints, varnishes, lacquers; preservatives against rust and against deterioration of wood; colorants; mordants; raw natural resins; metals in foil and powder form for painters, decorators, printers and artists.
	Class 3	Bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use; cleaning, polishing, scouring and abrasive preparations; soaps; perfumery, essential oils, cosmetics, hair lotions; dentifrices.
	Class 4	Industrial oils and greases; lubricants; dust absorbing, wetting and binding compositions; fuels (including motor spirit) and illuminants; candles and wicks for lighting.
	Class 5	Pharmaceutical and veterinary preparations; sanitary preparations for medical purposes; dietetic substances adapted for medical use, food for babies; plasters, materials for dressings; material for stopping teeth, dental wax; disinfectants; preparations for destroying vermin; fungicides, herbicides.
	Class 6	Common metals and their alloys; metal building materials; transportable buildings of metal; materials of metal for railway tracks; non-electric cables and wires of common metal; ironmongery, small items of metal hardware; pipes and tubes of metal; safes; goods of common metal not included in other classes; ores.
	Class 7	Machines and machine tools; motors and engines (except for land vehicles); machine coupling and transmission components (except for land vehicles); agricultural implements other than hand-operated; incubators for eggs.
	Class 8	Hand tools and implements (hand-operated); cutlery; side arms; razors.
	Class 9	Scientific, nautical, surveying, photographic, cinematographic, optical, weighing, measuring, signalling, checking (supervision), life-saving and teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus and instruments for conducting, switching, transforming, accumulating, regulating or controlling electricity; apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images; magnetic data carriers, recording discs; automatic vending machines and mechanisms for coin-operated apparatus; cash registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment and computers; fire-extinguishing apparatus.
	Class 10	Surgical, medical, dental and veterinary apparatus and instruments, artificial limbs, eyes and teeth; orthopedic articles; suture materials.
	Class 11	Apparatus for lighting, heating, steam generating, cooking, refrigerating, drying, ventilating, water supply and sanitary purposes.
	Class 12	Vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air or water.
	Class 13	Firearms; ammunition and projectiles; explosives; fireworks.
	Class 14	Precious metals and their alloys and goods in precious metals or coated therewith, not included in other classes; jewellery, precious stones; horological and chronometric instruments.
	Class 15	Musical instruments.
	Class 16	Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials, not included in other classes; printed matter; bookbinding material; photographs; stationery; adhesives for stationery or household purposes; artists’ materials; paint brushes; typewriters and office requisites (except furniture); instructional and teaching material (except apparatus); plastic materials for packaging (not included in other classes); printers’ type; printing blocks.
	Class 17	Rubber, gutta-percha, gum, asbestos, mica and goods made from these materials and not included in other classes; plastics in extruded form for use in manufacture; packing, stopping and insulating materials; flexible pipes, not of metal.
	Class 18	Leather and imitations of leather, and goods made of these materials and not included in other classes; animal skins, hides; trunks and travelling bags; umbrellas, parasols and walking sticks; whips, harness and saddlery.
	Class 19	Building materials (non-metallic); non-metallic rigid pipes for building; asphalt, pitch and bitumen; non-metallic transportable buildings; monuments, not of metal.
	Class 20	Furniture, mirrors, picture frames; goods (not included in other classes) of wood, cork, reed, cane, wicker, horn, bone, ivory, whalebone, shell, amber, mother-of-pearl, meerschaum and substitutes for all these materials, or of plastics.
	Class 21	Household or kitchen utensils and containers; combs and sponges; brushes (except paint brushes); brush-making materials; articles for cleaning purposes; steelwool; unworked or semi-worked glass (except glass used in building); glassware, porcelain and earthenware not included in other classes.
	Class 22	Ropes, string, nets, tents, awnings, tarpaulins, sails, sacks and bags (not included in other classes); padding and stuffing materials (except of rubber or plastics); raw fibrous textile materials.
	Class 23	Yarns and threads, for textile use.
	Class 24	Textiles and textile goods, not included in other classes; bed and table covers.
	Class 25	Clothing, footwear, headgear.
	Class 26	Lace and embroidery, ribbons and braid; buttons, hooks and eyes, pins and needles; artificial flowers.
	Class 27	Carpets, rugs, mats and matting, linoleum and other materials for covering existing floors; wall hangings (non-textile).
	Class 28	Games and playthings; gymnastic and sporting articles not included in other classes; decorations for Christmas trees.
	Class 29	Meat, fish, poultry and game; meat extracts; preserved, frozen, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables; jellies, jams, compotes; eggs, milk and milk products; edible oils and fats.
	Class 30	Coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar, rice, tapioca, sago, artificial coffee; flour and preparations made from cereals, bread, pastry and confectionery, ices; honey, treacle; yeast, baking-powder; salt, mustard; vinegar, sauces (condiments); spices; ice.
	Class 31	Agricultural, horticultural and forestry products and grains not included in other classes; live animals; fresh fruits and vegetables; seeds, natural plants and flowers; foodstuffs for animals, malt.
	Class 32	Beers; mineral and aerated waters and other non-alcoholic drinks; fruit drinks and fruit juices; syrups and other preparations for making beverages.
	Class 33	Alcoholic beverages (except beers).
	Class 34	Tobacco; smokers’ articles; matches.
SERVICES:
	Class 35	Advertising; business management; business administration; office functions.
	Class 36	Insurance; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs.
	Class 37	Building construction; repair; installation services.
	Class 38	Telecommunications.
	Class 39	Transport; packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement.
	Class 40	Treatment of materials.
	Class 41	Education; providing of training; entertainment; sporting and cultural activities.
	Class 42	Scientific and technological services and research and design relating thereto; industrial analysis and research services; design and development of computer hardware and software.
	Class 43	Services for providing food and drink; temporary accommodation.
	Class 44	Medical services; veterinary services; hygienic and beauty care for human beings or animals; agriculture, horticulture and forestry services.
	Class 45	Legal services; security services for the protection of property and individuals; personal and social services rendered by others to meet the needs of individuals.

Various Classes of Trademark – Intellectual PropertyDinesh MJ2023-01-19T04:52:49+00:00

Raja M. Shanmugam elected as the new president of Tirupur Exporters’ Association (TEA).

Mr., Raja M. Shanmugam elected as the new president of Tirupur Exporters’ Association (TEA) after Padma Shri Dr. A shaktivel stepped down as TEA President to leave way for youngsters on Aug .

M. Velusamy and K.M. Subramanian were elected as vice-presidents
T.R. Vijayakumar as the new general secretary.

The change of guard was seen in the industry as the result of a group of younger and progressive entrepreneurs, who floated “Team for Change”.

Below is an interesting article from http://www.theweekendleader.com on Raja M Shanmugam.

Defying every established business principle, a garment export company in Tiruppur has served a single German client for 16 years – without seeking new clients – and increased its turnover from around Rs 7 crore in 2000 to Rs 80 crore in 2015-16.

“I know they say ‘don’t put all your eggs in a single basket’, but it worked for us,” asserts Raja M Shanmugam, 52, founder of Warsaw International, a company that was started with Rs 5 lakh in 1989.

Raja Shanmugam started Warsaw International along with his brother and mother as partners in 1989 with an investment of Rs 5 lakh (Photos: H K Rajashekar)

Shanmugam’s success story might inspire youngsters standing at the crossroads of life after facing successive failures. If you think you have hit a dead end, this story will give you a different perspective of life – that every loss is for good, and every disappointment is for your betterment.

A first generation entrepreneur, Shanmugam hails from an agrarian family. His father was primarily a cotton farmer, but also cultivated other seasonal crops in the good old Tiruppur – which until the 1970s was more like an overgrown village and had little of the urban characteristics it boasts of now.

Shanmugam, the second among four siblings, has fond memories of his childhood. His family owned an Ambassador car and they had a couple of horses at home.

“My father loved horses, and we had a horse cart which we rode to places as far as 50 to 60 km from Tiruppur

“We used to travel in the Ambassador on long pilgrimage tours during school holidays. Around 11 to 12 people – including cousins – would squeeze into the car and go on those trips. It was great fun,” he reminisces.

Between then and now, Tiruppur has grown into India’s textile and knitwear hub. About 2,000 garment factories and hundreds of printing, dyeing, and embroidery units are located here and the cluster’s turnover is estimated at Rs 36,000 crore.

Shanmugam studied at Bishop Ubagara Swamy School in Tiruppur. When he didn’t get an engineering seat, he decided to do BA with the ambition of cracking the IAS.

After graduating in history from St. Joseph’s College, Trichy, Raja left for Delhi in 1987 to join a coaching centre there to prepare for the UPSC exams.

He enrolled in the three-year LL.B course at Delhi University planning to acquire a law degree while preparing for the UPSC exam. He cleared the UPSC prelims in his first attempt, but failed in the mains.

Warsaw International which was started with 25 workers, now employs around 1,000 people

The next year, he sailed past the mains, but failed at the interview stage. However, in his third attempt he could not clear the prelims itself. That’s when he decided to put a full stop to his IAS dream and return to Tiruppur.

“All others who were preparing with me got into one of the services. Some like Sylendra Babu and M Ravi are now senior IPS officers in Tamil Nadu,” he says.

It seemed like his whole world was falling apart and nothing was going right for him. Both his engineering and civil services dreams had come to nought and he could not complete his law degree either.

The year was 1989 and his younger brother M Ramaswamy too had returned to Tiruppur after completing his graduation from Loyola College, Chennai.

It was in this scenario that the brothers decided to venture into business and started ‘Warsaw International’ – named after the Warsaw Pact nations, which Shanmugam was fond of as a student of history.

Warsaw is a partnership firm. Both the brothers and their mother hold equal stakes in it. “We made an initial investment of Rs 5 lakh; we raised Rs 2 lakh by selling some land and got a bank loan of Rs 3 lakh by mortgaging our property.”

“We faced a lot of challenges initially since we were first generation entrepreneurs. We learned each and everything by experience,” shares Shanmugam.

T Shirts made from Warsaw International’s factory at Tiruppur are exported exclusively to Tom Tailor, a German company

They started with 12 sewing machines and about 25 workers, and their first business was a sub-contract to make T Shirts from a local export company.

They would procure the yarn, get the fabric done outside, then give it for dyeing, printing, embellishment work like embroidery, and do the final stitching at their factory, a 4,000 sq ft shed that belonged to their family.

“We achieved a turnover of around Rs 20 to 25 lakh in the first year. Right from the first year it was a profitable venture. But we kept ploughing back the money into the business adding new equipment,” says Shanmugam.

Soon, they took another sub-contract from a Mumbai client and by 1991-92 their turnover crossed Rs 50 lakh.

In 1992, they bagged their first export order from Textile Puttemans, a Belgian company. “In those days, it was difficult to get direct access to clients. We used to send fax or telex messages seeking appointments and then visited the clients in Europe.

“The first order itself was a huge one and worth around Rs 75 to 80 lakh. It was a good break and we started getting more orders,” says Shanmugam.

By 1995-96, the turnover touched Rs 4.5 crore. That’s when Shanmugam took a critical decision to slow down the growth rate, put the reverse gear and just cater to two customers – Textile Puttemans and Tom Tailor.

Standing tall: Raja Shanmugam took the decision to cater to a single client in 2000

“We took the decision when we found that we had not managed our finances well and the company’s liquidity position was not good. We had made investments in some non-productive areas,” says Shanmugam.

Within two years they achieved a healthy balance sheet. But instead of ramping up, Shanmugam chose to focus on a single client – Tom Tailor. “At that time Tom Tailor was a promising and growing company,” he says.

Warsaw’s turnover then was Rs 7 crore – in the year 2000. From that time both companies have grown together, with Warsaw’s turnover increasing year on year.

“Some years the growth has been slow, some years it’s been steep. 2004-05 has been the best so far when our turnover jumped from Rs 35 crore to 50 crore.

“Tom Tailor procures from other companies as well, but we supply only to them; it was not a condition that they imposed, it was our choice,” clarifies Shanmugam.

However, the company is now set to cater to two more clients in order to increase its turnover to Rs 130- 150 crore in the next financial year.

That’s because Shanmugam who recently took over as the president of Tiruppur Exporters Association (TEA), has set a target of Rs 1 lakh crore turnover for the Tiruppur cluster by 2020 – from the current Rs 36,000 crore.

“I want to lead by example and increase our company’s turnover by at least three times before 2020,” says Shanmugam, who had also served as chairman of NIFT – TEA, a fashion technology institute promoted by TEA, from 2007 to 2013, and in his tenure had constructed a 1.65 lakh sq ft building for the institute.

Shanmugam also holds 25 per cent stakes in Alphine Knits India Private Limited, a Rs 225 crore turnover company – started in 2003 – that owns a spinning mill and is into trading of industrial sewing machines. His brother Ramaswamy holds another 25 per cent stakes in Alphine.

In 2013, Warsaw and Alphine along with five other companies launched a joint venture, Apex Clothing Company India Limited, which set up a 30 MW captive solar plant to meet the power needs of the promoters.

Raja Shanmugam, in front of TEA office, where he spends most of his afternoons

The company is also getting into an integrated coconut project that includes manufacture of coir, coir pith products, and virgin coconut oil.

Shanmugam devotes the second half of each day for TEA activities as he believes it is part of his service to the community.

On Sundays he remains at home, just lazing around, watching TV and relaxing with his wife Sujhetha, a homemaker, and son Vishal who has joined Apex after completing automobile engineering from PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore.

Finally, looking back, does he regret not getting the IAS? “Not at all. In fact it’s my friends who are IPS officers now who are regretting. They say I am blessed, and lucky to be on my own,” he says, laughing.

Raja M. Shanmugam elected as the new president of Tirupur Exporters’ Association (TEA).Dinesh MJ2022-07-13T11:24:15+00:00

Dinesh