How do I do proper market research before launching?

Talk about something you must do before you even produce your first T-shirt – market research.

Why?

Because making a product without market research is like cooking for guests without asking if they’re vegetarian or non-vegetarian. You may put in all the effort, but they might not even taste it.

So, how do we actually do market research for a clothing brand? Let’s break it down in a way anyone can follow.

First, understand who you are selling to.

Don’t just say, “My target audience is 18–35-year-olds.” That’s too broad. Are college students looking for budget-friendly, trendy tees? Are corporate employees who want premium polos for work? Are gym-goers who want performance fabric?

Pick one. The narrower you start, the easier it is to design, price, and market.

Second, study your competition like a detective.

Go to marketplaces like Amazon, Myntra, Ajio, and even the Instagram pages of clothing brands. Look at:

• Their designs, colours, and price points.

• Which products have the most reviews (and what customers are saying in those reviews)?

• How they run their ads (check their Facebook Ad Library).

Don’t copy them; instead, find gaps in what they offer. Maybe they never launched certain colours, maybe their sizing starts from M and misses XS buyers, maybe their product photos look dull.

Third, talk to your target audience before spending on inventory.

This is the most skipped step, but also the most powerful.

Show them mockups or samples and ask:

• “Would you buy this at ₹X price?”

• “What would make you choose this over your current favourite brand?”

Collect at least 50–100 responses. This gives you real-world validation before you spend lakhs on production.

Fourth, analyse demand vs. seasonality.

Search Google Trends for your product type (“Supima cotton T-shirt,” “oversized hoodie,” “polo t-shirt”) to see when interest peaks. For example, hoodies spike in November–January, while light cotton tees do better year-round. This helps in deciding launch timing.

Finally, test with small batches instead of going all in.

Many new brands make the mistake of ordering 5,000+ pieces before knowing if the product will sell. Start with 100-200 pieces per colour, run ads, get feedback, then scale. This is the safest way to avoid dead stock.

Market research is not about being perfect –  it’s about being informed enough to reduce risk. If you follow these steps, you’ll know what to make, who to sell to, and how much they’re willing to pay before you invest heavily.