Many students who take the Industrial Fashion Methods program at Philadelphia University are thinking about starting a clothing line. All these students are told that, although a few people make good money sewing at home, it is better to specialize in either manufacturing clothing or retailing clothing. Even if you are making just one garment at a time for one person, this is still manufacturing and retailing, and it is just too many hats. However, there are many niche businesses that, once one has knowledge of industrial skills, could be started and kept home-based, even when the business becomes very successful. Designing is done at home, work is contracted out. The problem is sold over the net, and sold at wholesale trade shows. Today, the internet and the phone make all this possible on a global scale. Students taking the IFM program are required to write a business plan if they want to receive the certificate of course completion. They are not required to start a business. But many do want to start a business.

 Here are some of the business ideas from the fall 2005 IFM class:

• start a line of clothing for Muslim women
• commissioned sewing for large women
• translating sewing instructions into foreign languages
• designing and manufacturing an upscale clothing line made from self-designed fabric
• producing pattern and samples for small clothing lines who do their own manufacturing
• designing and sewing dog coats
• retailing a line of clothing for ladies of the evening
• starting a sewing school
• manufacturing Victorian costumes
• a mail order website selling clothing to Spanish people living in the United States
• retailing a line of clothing purchased wholesale for a target market (such as people living in retirement communities)
• supplying boutiques with novelty items like baby clothing

As you can see, the ideas for starting a clothing business are practically unlimited.

There are excellent articles about all aspects of the fashion industry, including information about get rich scams that should be avoided on the shophotties.com web site.