How to start a dancewear brand
Start with a few pieces your dancers will wear, one sample of each and a first order your budget can carry. At Sharknits, a first order starts at 25 pieces per design in adult sizes, with sizes mixed. Bulk takes about 4 to 6 weeks after you approve the sample.
- 9 steps
- From 25 pieces per design
- Samples $150 to $500
Nine steps to your first order
- Pick your first pieces. Two to four designs keep a first order small: a leotard, a crop top and shorts, say. Each design starts at 25 pieces.
- Choose the fabric by fiber. Nylon and spandex or polyester and spandex for leotards and practice wear. Name it by its fibers on your labels and listings.
- Make a tech pack. Sketches, measurements, fabrics, trims and labels, in one file. Use our free template, or send a sketch and we make the tech pack with you.
- Order one sample. One physical sample of each design, $150 to $500 depending on the design. Check the fit on a dancer, the seams and the logo.
- Plan the size run. Pick your sizes and how many of each. Sizes can be mixed within each design.
- Order bulk. From 25 pieces per design in adult sizes. Bulk takes about 4 to 6 weeks after you approve the sample.
- Add the labels. The fiber content, the care, "Made in Pakistan" and your company name or RN, the number the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) registers to your company.
- Check the kids rules. In the US, sizes for kids 12 and under are children's products: lab tests, a certificate and tracking labels. Kids sizes start at 50 per design, quoted FOB Karachi.
- Launch. Count back from your launch date: shipping, then about 4 to 6 weeks of bulk, then the sample.
Your first order, in numbers
Our numbers for a first dancewear order. Lab tests for kids sizes come from your lab.
- Minimum25 pieces per design in adult sizes, 50 in kids sizes
- Example3 designs of 25: 75 pieces in all, with sizes mixed
- SampleOne for each design, $150 to $500 depending on the design
- BulkAbout 4 to 6 weeks after you approve the sample
- PaymentIn full when the order is ready to ship
- Shipping termsAdult sizes: FOB (free on board) Karachi, or DDP (delivered duty paid) to your door. Kids sizes: FOB Karachi
Name the fabric by its fibers
US labels and listings name fibers by their generic names, such as nylon, polyester and spandex.
- Spandex or elastane: both names are allowed for the stretch fiber. Fiber brand names belong to other companies, so keep them off your labels and listings.
- Claims need proof: words like moisture-wicking, quick-dry, squat proof or UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) need test results before you use them.
- Green claims: skip eco, sustainable and antibacterial unless you hold the proof the rules ask for.
- Recycled: only with the mill's papers and the exact percentage.
Mistakes new dancewear brands make
Each one costs time or money on a first order.
- Other brands' names. Keep other companies' brand, fiber and product names out of your product names, listings and ads.
- Copied prints. A print or a costume design can belong to someone else. Use your own art.
- Skipping the sample. The fit on a dancer, the stretch and the seams need a real piece to check.
- Too many designs at once. Each design and color has its own minimum and sample. Start with a few.
- Kids sizes without a plan. Kids sizes need lab tests, a certificate and tracking labels before they sell in the US.
Where your brand goes
Plan your marks with your tech pack.
- Logo: a heat transfer, a print, embroidery or stones.
- Labels: a woven or printed neck label, a care label and a permanent "Made in Pakistan" label.
- Hang tags: with your brand and the product name, if you want them.
- Packaging: every order ships in our standard packaging. Custom bags and boxes are a separate order.
Questions buyers ask
How much does it cost to start a dancewear brand?
It depends on the designs and the fabrics. Plan for one sample for each design, $150 to $500 each, and a first order of 25 pieces per design in adult sizes. Add shipping and import costs, and your lab's fees if you sell kids sizes.
What is the minimum order for dancewear?
25 pieces per design in adult sizes and 50 in kids sizes, with sizes mixed.
What fabric is best for leotards?
Leotards are usually nylon and spandex or polyester and spandex. Send a leotard you like, and we confirm the fabric with your quote.
Do I need a tech pack?
It helps. Use our free template, or send a sketch or a piece you like, and we make the tech pack with you.
How long does it take to launch?
Plan a few months for the tech pack, one or more sample rounds, bulk and shipping. Bulk takes about 4 to 6 weeks after you approve the sample.
Can my first order include kids sizes?
Yes, from 50 pieces per design. Kids sizes are quoted FOB Karachi, so your brand imports them, has the samples tested and issues the Children's Product Certificate.
Can you help with the design?
Yes. Send a sketch or a photo of the cut you want. We turn it into a tech pack and a sample, the way we made our own ADAGIO leotard.
Your request is ready
Send it to us on WhatsApp, or copy it into an email to contact@sharknits.com.
Want to talk sooner? Book a 15-minute call on Google Meet.
What happens next
- We reply with questions and a quote.
- We make one sample for you to check.
- You approve it, and we make your order.
contact@sharknits.com · +1 647 501 5424
Sharknits is a custom clothing manufacturer for brands in the US, with factories in Lahore and Sialkot and a US corporate office near Chicago.