If you want a successful fashion dropshipping business, then having a reliable supplier is a must. Trusting who makes your products and delivers them to your customers makes a huge difference—not only does it keep your stress levels down, it keeps shoppers happy too.
Choosing the right supplier isn’t easy. Criteria such as the quality of fabric, shipping times, aesthetics, and accessibility are major factors that can deter or attract potential small businesses when it comes to partnering with a clothing supplier.
But with the global apparel and clothing market revenue on the rise (it was valued at $1.5 trillion in 2020 and is set to reach $2.25 trillion by 2025), there’s never been a better time to get started. And, with ecommerce in general taking a large chunk of the retail market share, going online seems like a lucrative option—especially when fashion and footwear account for the largest revenue share in ecommerce, at 24.71%.
The proof is in the figures. This person made $6,667 in eight weeks selling pineapple-shaped jewelry, this person makes $44,000 a month dropshipping clothes in various categories, and this brand generated $27,000 in extra revenue a year from dropshipping.
What is a clothing dropshipping business?
Clothing dropshipping businesses (or fashion dropshipping) sell clothes via third parties that handle stock storage and shipping. Without the need to store products or manage inventory, businesses can work with very little overhead. When an order is received, the information is sent to a dropshipping company (the third party) that will fulfill the order on your behalf.
The third party makes its money by taking a cut of each sale. Dropshipping fees are usually between 10% and 15%, depending on the type of product you’re selling.
What clothing items should I dropship?
Much of your success hinges on your products. Choose a dud, and you’ll struggle to generate the kind of sales that will make a nice profit. When deciding which products to dropship, it’s important to answer the following questions:
- Which clothing items and accessories do I like? Choosing products you like will make them easier to sell. You can narrow your product selection down by material, style, color and pattern, or type of use (e.g., fitness clothing).
- Of the items I like, which have enough demand to be worth it? It’s no good choosing a product there’s very little demand for, since dropshipping successfully often requires it selling at scale.
Free Guide: How to Find a Profitable Product to Sell Online
Excited about starting a business, but not sure where to start? This free, comprehensive guide will teach you how to find great, newly trending products with high sales potential.
How to find the right products to dropship
1. Google Trends
Use Google Trends to see what items are popular. The handy tool can show you what people want, as well as what’s trending in different markets around the world.
2. Competitor research
Researching similar brands will give you insight into what sells well. For example, if you notice that a product is regularly sold out or it has a lot of reviews, you can safely assume it’s a bestseller.
3. Product analytics
There are a vast number of product analytics tools that track the sales of different items in different categories. This can help you discover bestsellers in a matter of minutes, as well as explore the current and historic pricing of said products.
Starting a dropshipping clothing business
Dropshipping businesses are an easy entry point for entrepreneurs and budding merchants. The lack of storage and physical product management means you can be hands off while still generating a tidy profit.
1. Choose your product
Use the tips above to choose your product range. For best results, employ a mixture of competitor research, product analytics, and Google Trends research to make sure you’ve left no stone unturned.
2. Research the potential size of your market
It doesn’t make sense to choose a product that has a very small, very limited potential market size (unless you’re going for an extremely niche market). Instead, opt for a market that has potential, so you don’t have to keep researching new products and starting from scratch. There are two ways you can do this:
- Primary market research: ask shoppers what products they’re interested in, send out surveys, and use feedback forms on your site to determine how big your pool of customers is
- Secondary market research: dig into second-hand data, such as competitor sales, social media insights, and analytics tools to forecast how big your audience could be
3. Work out your profit margin
The profit margin is the total revenue minus the total costs of your product:
(total revenue - total costs) / total revenue = profit margin
If your products are expensive to make and you’re selling them cheap, your profit margin will be a lot lower than if they were cheap to make and you were selling them at a higher cost. Work out how much profit you’d ideally like to generate and work backward from there.
4. Decide what you want to be known for
The most successful dropshipping businesses have a strong brand. They might lean heavily on sustainability or they might be well-known for their spunky language or retro style. Decide what you want your brand to be known for and create a personality around that. This will impact:
- The look and feel of your website
- The copy and language you use
- The marketing of your products
5. Consider the seasonality of products
Dropshipping can be a great way to drive thousands of sales quickly, but consider whether the time of year will impact your customer base and revenue. For example, if you sell winter scarves, what will you do in the summer? Or if you sell bikinis, how will you continue to create a consistent profit in winter?
6. Plan how you’ll drive traffic
More traffic equals more sales. One of the biggest challenges of running a clothing dropshipping business is getting enough eyeballs on your products. Consider your marketing strategy and how you’ll reach more people. Will you:
- Run social ads?
- Offer a first-time buyer discount?
- Create PPC campaigns?
- Automate email flows?
The strategies you choose will depend on your customer base and the products you’re selling. Try researching how other similar brands are generating traffic and customers to get a headstart.
Important factors to consider when selecting a clothing dropshipper
Choosing a dropping supplier for your clothing brand is a big decision. Get it wrong, and you might struggle to get sales. But get it right, and your brand can take off quickly.
- Price: how much is the dropshipping fee?
- Quality: what materials are used and how are the products made?
- Shipping times: how quickly does the supplier deliver products?
- Reviews: do they have plenty of positive reviews from past customers?
- Return policy: what does the returns policy look like, and is it convenient?
- Service and support: how quickly can you get help?
- Product range: how many products are available to choose from?
19 best dropshipping clothing suppliers
1. My Online Fashion Store
Location: US
Price: From $29 a month; after a free trial
Niche: Women’s unbranded clothing
Key features:
- Fast shipping and free returns
- Huge catalog of products to choose from
- Responsive customer support
- Automatic inventory count update every four hours
2. AliExpress
Location: China
Price: Free
Niche: Products in every category
Key features:
- Huge selection of products to choose from
- Quickly ships to over 200 destinations
- Regular flash deals
- Easy refunds and returns policy
3. BrandsDistribution
Location: Italy
Price: 100 products for 69 euros + VAT per month; complete catalog for €99 + VAT per month
Niche: Original fashion brands
Key features:
- Access to 500,000 products from top brands such as Nike, Adidas, Levi’s, and Gucci
- Products offered at a range of different price points
- Personalized support and exclusive offers
4. Trendsi
Location: US
Price: Free
Niche: Women’s clothing
Key features:
- Access to thousands of branded women’s clothing products
- Branded invoices
- Training courses for new dropshippers
5. Modalyst
Location: US
Price: Free for up to 25 products; prices start at $35 per month after that
Niche: Fashion clothing in more than 3,000 categories
Key features:
- Easy-to-use app with access to thousands of products
- Branded products and private label products
- Curate and customize products to fit your store
6. Syncee
Location: Hungary
Price: Free for up to 25 products; prices start at $29 per month after that
Niche: Products in multiple categories
Key features:
- Access to more than 5 million products
- Automatic product updates and uploads
- Pre-vetted dropshipping suppliers
7. Printful
Location: Canada
Price: Free
Niche: Custom and personalized products
Key features:
- Offers print-on-demand services
- More than half a dozen warehouses worldwide
- More than 230 products in a range of clothing categories
8. BrandsGateway
Location: Europe and US
Price: Prices start at $118 per month
Niche: High-end fashion
Key features:
- Automated plug-in with Shopify
- Thousands of products from brands like Versace, Armani, and Dolce & Gabbana
- Potential for high profit margin with luxury items
9. ModeShe
Location: US
Price: Free
Niche: Women’s clothing and street fashion
Key features:
- 10% to 25% discount on products
- Uses express shipping methods for fast delivery
- Flexible returns policy
10. Handshake
Location: US
Price: Free to use
Niche: One-of-a-kind brands and unique products
Key features:
- Shopify’s official wholesale marketplace
- More than 150,000 products from unique, high-quality brands
- Ability to forge connections with product creators
- New brands added every week
11. Kiyonna Clothing
Location: US
Price: Free to use, with a $5 handling fee per item
Niche: Plus-size women’s clothing
Key features:
- Shipping within 24–48 hours
- Convenient returns policy
- Access to thousands of products in plus sizes
12. FashionTIY
Location: US
Price: Free
Niche: Fashion and accessories
Key features:
- Ships and delivers within two to six working days
- Handy mobile app that makes it easy to manage on the go
- Thousands of fashion and accessory products for kids, women, and men
13. AnnLoren
Location: US
Price: Free
Niche: Clothing for children and babies
Key features:
- Huge range of products for kids aged 3 months to 14 years
- Good refund and returns policy
- Well-made products with high-quality materials
14. Simplee Apparel
Location: US
Price: Free
Niche: High-quality women’s clothing
Key features:
- Competitive discounts for bulk orders
- Label customization services
- Access to professional images and product visuals
15. LAShowroom
Location: US
Price: Free to use
Niche: Women’s clothing
Key features:
- Access to a huge range of clothing for every body type
- Competitive prices across multiple lines
- Convenient refunds and returns policy
16. Bellewholesale
Location: US
Price: Free
Niche: Women’s clothing
Key features:
- Ships worldwide with express shipping
- Access brands including SportySpace and MissDenim
- Ability to visit showroom and negotiate prices in person
17. Dresslily
Location: US
Price: Free
Niche: Clothing for men and women
Key features:
- Huge range of products, including plus-size lines
- Personalized advice about bestselling products and categories
- Good refunds and returns policy
18. Style Centre
Location: UK
Price: Free
Niche: Men’s clothing
Key features:
- Inventory is restocked and renewed weekly
- Convenient and personalized support
- Access to a huge range of men’s clothing and accessories
19. Nordstrom
Location: US
Price: Free
Niche: Fashion and accessories
Key features:
- Dropship products from a well-known brand
- High-quality products and materials
- Convenient and personalized support
Start your clothing dropshipping business
Starting a dropshipping clothing business can be a good move for entrepreneurs. Ecommerce sales are on the rise, with fashion and footwear taking the market share of revenue. But, if you want to get in on the action, it’s important to choose the right clothing supplier. They will essentially be your partner in business, so it’s crucial you choose one that has the features and products you need the most.
