Everyone thinks starting a clothing brand costs $10k+. It doesn't.

I've helped people launch brands for under $500. Here's the actual breakdown:

Samples: $50-150

Most manufacturers will send you samples for cheap. Don't skip this — bad quality kills a brand before it starts. You need to feel the fabric, check the stitching, and wash it twice before you commit.

First production run: $200-400

Start with ONE design. Not five. Not a full collection. One fire piece that represents your vision. Order 24-48 units max. Prove the concept before you scale.

Website: $0-30/month

You don't need a $5,000 custom site. A clean Shopify store with good photos gets the job done. Spend time on product photography, not fancy animations.

Labels & packaging: $30-80

Woven labels, hang tags, and poly mailers. This is where cheap brands look cheap. Spend a little extra here — it's the difference between "cool brand" and "random tee."

Marketing: $0

Your first 50 sales should come from your own network, Instagram, and TikTok. If you can't sell to people who already follow you, paid ads won't save you.

Total: $280-660

The real cost isn't money — it's the time you spend finding the right manufacturer, perfecting your designs, and actually putting yourself out there.

Most people never start because they think they need more money. You don't. You need one good design, one reliable vendor, and the guts to post it.

If you're serious about building a brand, MB Collective is where we break all of this down step by step — from sourcing vendors to your first 100 sales.