If you want to run a successful fashion dropshipping business, you have to find a reliable supplier. Being able to trust the people who deliver products to your customers makes a huge difference—not only does it keep your stress levels down, it keeps shoppers happy.
Choosing the right dropshipping clothing supplier isn’t easy. Quality of items, shipping times, and customer support are major factors that can deter or attract small businesses when partnering with a clothing wholesaler.
But with global apparel market revenue on the rise (it was valued at$1.53 trillion in 2022), there’s never been a better time to get started. And, with ecommerce accounting for a large chunk of retail market share,dropshippingclothing can be a lucrative option.
Factors to consider when selecting a dropshipping clothing supplier
Choosing a supplier for your clothing brand is a big decision. Get it wrong, and you might struggle with sales. But if you find the right wholesale partner, your brand can quickly take off. Look at these criteria when selecting suppliers:
- Membership fee:Is there a subscription cost alongside any dropshipping fees?
- Quality:What materials are used? Where are products made? How easy is it to order samples?
- Shipping times:Where are warehouses located? How quickly does the supplier deliver to customers?
- Reviews:Does the supplier have lots of positive reviews from other dropshippers?
- Return policy:What is the supplier’s return policy? Is it convenient for you?
- Service and support:How quickly can you get help?
- Product range:How many products are available to choose from? How many can you list at a time?
15 best dropshipping clothing suppliers
1. My Online Fashion Store
Shopify app?Yes
Fulfillment location:US
Membership fee:From $9 per month (after free trial)
Niche:Women’s clothing
Key features:
- Guaranteed 5–7 day delivery
- Free returns
- Items shipped from Los Angeles warehouse
- Large catalog of products
- Most new items restocked twice per week
2. AliExpress
Shopify app?Yes
Fulfillment location:Mostly in China, but has warehouses in the US and Europe
Membership fee:Free
Niche:All product categories
Key features:
- Huge selection of products
- Supplier reviews and feedback data
- Expedited international shipping withePacket
3. Trendsi
Shopify app?Yes
Fulfillment location:US
Membership fee:Free
Niche:Women’s clothing
Key features:
- Great reviews from Shopify merchants
- Access to thousands of women’s clothing products and accessories
- Branded invoices
- Training courses for new dropshippers
4. Printful
Shopify app?Yes
Fulfillment location:North America and Europe
Membership fee:Free
Niche:Custom and personalized clothing
Key features:
- Great reviews from Shopify merchants
- Print-on-demandproducts available
- Fulfillment warehouses in multiple countries
- Same-day shipping for orders placed before midday
5. Syncee
Shopify app?Yes
Fulfillment location:Global
Membership fee:Free (for starter plan)
Niche:All product categories
Key features:
- Range of global, pre-vetted dropshipping clothing suppliers
- More than 12,000 brands in the marketplace
- 汽车matic product updates and uploads
6. BrandsGateway
Shopify app?Yes
Fulfillment location:Europe and US
Membership fee:Tointegrate with Shopify, it costs $157 per mont,h if billed annually
Niche:High-end fashion
Key features:
- 超过100的奢侈品牌,包括教练,Gucci, and Dolce & Gabbana
- Warehouses in Florida, Italy, Germany, and Sweden
- Stocks accessories such as watches, bags, and jewelry
7. Modalyst
Shopify app?Yes
Fulfillment location:Global
Membership fee:Free (for basic plan)
Niche:All product categories
Key features:
- Catalog contains millions of products
- Fulfillment centers in the US and internationally
- Print-on-demand productsavailable
8. Kiyonna
Shopify app?No
Fulfillment location:US
Membership fee:Free
Niche:Plus-size women’s clothing
Key features:
- Most orders shipped within 48 hours
- Convenient returns policy
- Access to thousands of products in plus sizes
9. BDroppy by BrandsDistribution
Shopify app?Yes
Fulfillment location:Italy
Membership fee:From $99 per month if integrated with Shopify
Niche:Major fashion brands
Key features:
- More than 120 designer fashion brands
- Shipping from Italy to more than 50 countries
- Supports 20 languages and 24 currencies
10. AnnLoren
Shopify app?No
Fulfillment location:US
Membership fee:Free
Niche:Clothing for children and babies
Key features:
- Products for children aged 3 months to 12 years
- Wholesale and dropshipping opportunities
11. Simplee
Shopify app?No
Membership fee:Free
Niche:High-quality women’s clothing, children’s clothing, and swimwear
Key features:
- Discounts for bulk orders
- Custom garment labels available
12. Bellewholesale
Shopify app?No
Membership fee:Free
Niche:Women’s clothing
Key features:
- Priority order processing for dropshippers
- International warehouse space
- Plus sizes available
13. LA Showroom
Shopify app?No
Fulfillment location:US
Membership fee:Free
Niche:Wholesale clothing only
Key features:
- Established wholesaler directory
- Discounts for frequent buyers
14. Style Centre
Shopify app?No
Fulfillment location:UK
Membership fee:Free
Niche:Men’s clothing
Key features:
- UK and European delivery
- Catalog of premium, well-known brands
15. FashionTIY
Shopify app?No
Fulfillment location:China
Membership fee:Free
Niche:Wholesale clothing and accessories
Key features:
- Flexible shipping methods
- Order tracking online and through a mobile app
What clothing products should I dropship?
Much of your success hinges on your products. Whendeciding which products to dropship, it’s important to answer the following questions:
- Which clothing items and accessories do I like?Choosing products youlike will make them easier to sell. You can narrow down your product selection by material, style, and color, or type of use (e.g., fitness clothing).
- Of the items I like, which have enough demand to be worth it?It’s not good to choose a product for which there’s little demand, because you must sell at scale to be successful at dropshipping.
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How to find the right clothing items to dropship
1. Google Trends
UseGoogle Trendsto 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 assume it’s a bestseller.
3. Product analytics
Product analytics tools 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.
How to start a dropshipping clothing business
1. Choose your product
Use the tips above to choose your product range. For best results, employ a mixture of competitive analysis, 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 small and limited potential market size (unless you’re going for an extremely niche market). Instead, opt for a market that has potential for growth, 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 learn your audience’s size and desires.
- 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
Theprofit marginis the difference between total revenue and total costs of your business, expressed as a percentage of the total revenue:
(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 during winter?
6. Plan how you’ll drive traffic
More traffic can bring 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社会ads?
- Offer a first-time buyerdiscount?
- CreatePPC campaigns?
- 汽车mate email flows?
The strategies you choose will depend on your customer base and the products you’re selling. Try researching how similar brands generate traffic and engage with customers to get a head start.
Start your clothing dropshipping business
Starting a dropshipping businesscan be a good move for fashion entrepreneurs. Ecommerce sales are on the rise, with clothing and footwear taking the market share of revenue. But, if you want to get in on the action, it’s important to pick the right clothing supplier. They will be a partner in your business, so it’s crucial you choose one that has the features and products you need the most.
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Dropshipping clothing suppliers FAQ
What is a clothing dropshipping business?
Clothing dropshipping businesses sell clothes via third-party suppliers that handle stock storage and shipping. Without the need to store products ormanage inventory, businesses can work with very little overhead. When an order is received, the information is sent to a dropshipping supplier (the third party) that will fulfill the order on your behalf.
The dropshipping supplier makes its money by taking a cut of each sale. Dropshipping fees are usuallybetween 10% and 15%, depending on the type of product you’re selling. They may also charge monthly fees.
Is it possible to dropship clothing?
Yes, there are a wide range of third-party manufacturers that dropship clothing, meaning there are many styles to choose from if you’re looking to build an online clothing brand.
Is it profitable to dropship clothes?
With dropshipping, costs can be kept very low, since you don’t need to store stock and only pay for items after you’ve sold them. This makes it a low-risk business venture that can be very profitable with a strong brand and the right marketing strategy.
How do you start dropshipping clothes?
- Choose your product
- Research the potential size of your market
- Work out your profit margin
- Decide what you want to be known for
- Consider the seasonality of products
- Plan how you’ll drive traffic