1. What is white label exactly?

With white label, you work with existing base products that you sell under your own brand name. Think of T-shirts, hoodies, sweaters, or other clothing items that already exist as models, but that you provide with:

• your own labels
• your own branding and prints
• your own packaging

So you don't develop new fits or patterns, but choose from existing fits and sizes.

At Atelier Jungles, for example, we offer white label clothing production with low MOQ, fully produced locally. More about this: White label clothing production in the Netherlands and Starting your own clothing line with sustainable white label T-shirts.

2. What does custom design mean?

With custom design, you develop your garment from scratch: your silhouette, your fit, your details. This requires:

• design (sketches, technical drawings, or references)
• pattern development
• samples and fittings
• any second sample rounds

The result is a completely unique style that no one else has, but this requires more time, money, and technical knowledge.

3. Advantages and disadvantages of white label

Advantages

• Quick start: you don't have to develop patterns.
• Less risk: you can test smaller quantities.
• Lower development costs: you pay no or much lower sample costs.
• Focusing on branding & sales: your energy goes to brand, marketing, and customers.

Disadvantages

• You are limited to existing fits and sizes.
• You are less distinctive at the product level.
• You can't always adjust every detail as you wish.

White label is ideal if you want to test first whether there is demand for your brand and story, without immediately entering a very technical development process.

4. Advantages and disadvantages of custom design

Advantages

• Full creative freedom: you determine fit, details, and construction yourself.
• Distinctive product: you have a truly unique silhouette.
• Strong brand identity: form and story are closely related.

Disadvantages

• Higher development costs (patterns, samples, fittings).
• Longer lead time for your first collection.
• More risk if the fit or style does not resonate.

Custom design is interesting if you already have a clear target audience and demand, or if you are willing to invest in a longer startup phase.

5. What is smart when you are just starting?

For most new brands, a hybrid approach makes the most sense:

• You start with a few white label basics (for example, T-shirts, sweaters).
• You add one or two custom designs as hero styles.
• You test which products perform best before scaling up significantly.

This way you limit risk, can launch faster, and build step by step towards more custom designs once there is traction and revenue.

6. How Atelier Jungles works with white label and custom design

In our studio in The Hague, we help brands with both white label and fully custom design. Often it looks like this:

• We start with a introductory meeting about concept, target audience, and budget.
• We look at which white label options are suitable as a basis.
• We determine which pieces are suitable for custom design.
• We advise on materials, fit, and feasibility.
• We schedule samples and then production with low MOQ.

You can find more about our services at:

• White label clothing production in the Netherlands.
• Clothing production & starting a clothing line in the Netherlands.

7. Decision tree: white label, custom design, or both?

Ask yourself these questions:

• Do I already have proof that my target audience is waiting for my style?
• Do I have budget for patterns, samples, and multiple development rounds?
• How much risk can (or do) I take on inventory?
• Do I want to go live quickly, or do I have time to build up slowly?

In short:

• Low experience + limited budget + quick testing: start with white label.
• Clear question + more budget + long-term vision: combine white label with custom design.
  
  custom design is possible, but do it in phases.