Test designs with print on demand, then make a small first collection with a garment manufacturer once something sells. Steps: pick one product and one customer (say, oversized cotton tees for college students); test designs on print on demand, where Qikink prints only after an order, dispatches in 2 to 3 business days to 29,000+ pincodes and accepts COD; when a design sells, find a manufacturer on IndiaMART or in a garment cluster and pay for samples before a bulk order; register for GST, noting that since 22 September 2025 garments up to ₹2,500 a piece carry 5% GST and those above carry 18%, so your price points decide your tax; file your trademark (₹4,500 a class e-filed); put the Legal Metrology declarations on every label and listing; then sell on Instagram and your own store, and on Flipkart, which charges 0% commission across fashion, and Meesho. The rule: sell out a small first drop before ordering a bigger second one.
Part of D2C brand on eChai Explore.
9 resources, 8 India-specific, 9 link-checked.
An Indian walk-through of starting a T-shirt brand with print on demand, from design to store to first orders.
On youtube.com by Nishkarsh Sharma 24 min
The government's own note on the September 2025 GST changes for textiles: readymade garments up to ₹2,500 a piece now carry 5% GST (the earlier limit was ₹1,000), and man-made fibre and yarn rates fell to 5%.
From pib.gov.in by Press Information Bureau, Government of India 5 min
Open static.pib.gov.in →A clear 2026 explainer of the garment GST rule after 22 September 2025: 5% up to ₹2,500 a piece and 18% above it, by HSN code, with input tax credit notes.
From busy.in by BUSY 10 min
A current, India-specific breakdown of trademark costs and timelines - the ₹4,500-per-class government fee and 6-18 month uncontested timeline every Indian founder should know before naming feels final.
From Cashfree Blog by Cashfree
Specifically frames Legal Metrology as an e-commerce/D2C compliance issue, including the online-listing disclosure requirement most founders don't know applies beyond the physical label.
From Cashweta
Flipkart's own fee page: 0% commission on products under ₹1,000 and on the whole Fashion category, a fixed fee set by your seller tier, and the payment cycle.
From seller.flipkart.com by Flipkart 5 min
A thorough 2026 walk-through of starting a clothing brand: niche, designs, production models (print on demand, cut and sew, private label), pricing and launch.
From shopify.com by Shopify 15 min
An Indian print-on-demand partner: you upload designs to 350+ products (tees, hoodies, mugs), it prints only after a customer orders, supports COD, dispatches in 2 to 3 business days and charges no RTO fee.
From qikink.com by Qikink 4 min
The default starting point for finding Indian manufacturers by category; filter by Manufacturer type, GST-registered, and Verified/Star supplier badges to build a first shortlist fast.
From indiamart.com by IndiaMART
The same ground, over in Build the product, our Starting Up track.
