Getting Started with Custom Activewear
How to Start Your Custom Activewear Project
Whether you have a complete tech pack or only reference images, CozyActive helps you choose the right development route, define fabrics and colors, confirm branding details, and prepare for sample development.
This guide explains the decisions and information needed before your project enters pattern making and sampling.
Step 01
Choose the Development Model That Fits Your Brand
CozyActive supports both original product development and faster customization based on existing styles. The right route depends on your design requirements, launch schedule, budget, and desired level of product control.
Full Custom Activewear Development
Best for brands developing original silhouettes, specific measurements, unique construction, or a fully customized collection.
You can start with a tech pack, sketches, reference images, measurements, or an existing garment sample.
Our team supports pattern development, fabric recommendations, fit review, sample revisions, custom colors, private label branding, labels, and packaging.
Ready-to-Order Styles with Customization
Best for brands seeking a faster and more efficient route using existing CozyActive styles as the product foundation.
Depending on the selected style, customization may include logos, colors, labels, packaging, measurements, and selected design details.
Available customization options, MOQs, and development requirements vary according to the selected product and requested changes.
Step 02
Define the Performance, Hand Feel and Color Direction
Fabric selection affects fit, support, comfort, opacity, durability, and the overall positioning of your activewear collection.
Performance Requirements
Define the intended activity, compression level, support, breathability, stretch and recovery, opacity, durability, and preferred fabric weight.
Material Direction
Suitable options may include nylon-spandex, polyester-spandex, recycled materials, organic cotton, cotton-elastane, bamboo blends, modal, Tencel™, and other natural-fiber fabrics.
Certified material options may be available depending on the fabric, supplier, certification scope, and project requirements.
Color Development
Available stock colors can usually support faster sampling and more flexible planning.
Custom shades may be developed using Pantone references, physical swatches, supplier shade cards, or approved lab dips.
Custom dyeing may require a separate fabric MOQ, additional cost, and extra development time.
Step 03
Confirm the Details That Make the Product Yours
Brand identity is created through more than the garment design. Logo application, labels, print artwork, hangtags, and packaging should be confirmed before sample development.
Logo & Branding
Available methods may include heat-transfer logos, silicone logos, embroidery, screen printing, sublimation, printed labels, woven labels, and custom elastics.
Custom Prints
We can work with original artwork, client-supplied files, or properly licensed designs for all-over prints and selected placement graphics.
Before sampling, we review artwork resolution, repeat size, print scale, colors, placement, printing method, and compatibility with the selected fabric.
Labels & Packaging
Customization may include care labels, size labels, hangtags, barcode stickers, standard bags, and custom packaging.
Packaging options and minimum quantities vary according to the selected material and specification.
Step 04
Prepare the Information Needed for Sample Development
Providing clear project information helps our development team review feasibility, recommend suitable options, and prepare an accurate sample proposal.
Ready to Develop Your Activewear Collection?
Send us your tech pack, sketches, reference images, measurements, or existing sample. Our development team will review your project and recommend the next practical step.
Activewear Development Routes
Choose the Right Development Route for Your Activewear Brand
CozyActive offers three flexible development routes for activewear brands with different design requirements, launch schedules, budgets, and levels of customization.
Choose the option that best matches your project, then share your preferred styles, fabrics, colors, branding details, estimated quantity, and target timeline. Our team will review the information and prepare a project-specific quotation.
Full Custom Development
Create an Original Activewear Product from Your Own Concept
You can begin with a tech pack, sketches, reference images, measurement charts, or an existing garment sample.
Our development team can support pattern making, fabric recommendations, construction review, sample development, fit revisions, custom colors, logos, labels, trims, and packaging.
Quotation is based on Design complexity, pattern development, fabric selection, trims, branding methods, sample requirements, and production quantity.
Ready-to-Order Private Label
Launch Faster with Existing Activewear Styles
Select suitable styles from our available collection, then confirm the fabric, color, size breakdown, logo, labels, hangtags, and packaging requirements.
Available options depend on the selected product, material availability, order quantity, and requested customization.
Please note Sampling may still be recommended when fabric, color, measurements, logo placement, or other product details are changed.
Semi-Custom Development
Modify an Existing Style Around Your Brand Direction
Start with an existing CozyActive style and request selected adjustments to details such as neckline, straps, garment length, seams, pockets, waistband, support level, measurements, colors, or branding.
The required development process depends on the extent of the requested changes. Significant fit or construction changes may require new pattern work and sample development.
How Is Your Activewear Quotation Calculated?
Final pricing depends on the selected development route, garment design, fabric and color requirements, order quantity, size range, logo technique, labels, trims, packaging, quality requirements, and shipping arrangements.
We review these details before providing a quotation so that the price reflects your actual project requirements rather than a general estimate.
Not Sure Which Development Route Fits Your Project?
Share your designs, reference images, preferred products, customization requirements, and estimated quantity. Our team will recommend the most practical development route.
Handover and Mock-Up Example
Here’s an excellent example of a client handover. The client provided clear screenshots and notes detailing the fabric, color, and print they wanted for their designs. They also included their custom logo and design layout for the heat press application. This thorough approach ensures we can accurately produce their vision and meet their specific requirements.
After we provided the pricing and received payment for samples, we created a 2D mock-up of the collection in their selected colors and print. This mock-up allowed for greater visualization of the collection’s final appearance, ensuring that the client could see how their designs would look once produced.
Points to Consider When Requesting Prints
1. Efficiency: Printing is often faster and simpler than plain dyeing, allowing for quicker turnaround times and more intricate designs.
2. Cost and Time: Creating custom prints can be both expensive and time-consuming. To save on these resources, consider exploring websites like Shutterstock for ready-made prints. This approach can provide a wide variety of high-quality designs at a fraction of the cost and time needed for custom creations.
Ready? Let’s build your custom activewear ideas together.
If you’re ready to launch your own activewear brand and have any questions, our team is here to support you. Contact us, and one of our activewear specialists will provide expert guidance every step of the way. Learn more about 2024 women’s activewear trends: the latest activewear fashions.