Shopify 6 min read
21 Jan 2022

Here's Your Checklist For Creating A Fashion Ecommerce Website In 2023 (And 5 Examples To Inspire You)

Thinking of starting your own online clothing store? You're in the right place!

Because you'll be learning the uncomplicated steps on how to create an ecommerce clothing website.

You see, creating your ecommerce fashion website is not a walk in the park.

There are bumps and rocks along the way, especially if you're starting an online clothing business from scratch.

And I feel you!

There are so many details we need to keep an eye on. And sometimes, we tend to overlook them.

But that's what this blog is about...

That's why if ever you're wondering how you can start an online clothing store from the comfort of your home, you might want to read this blog!

Because we're going to discuss some important things you need to add to your checklist— from choosing an ecommerce platform to optimizing the checkout process!

Are you ready? Let's start!

Why You Should Start An Online Clothing Store?

An online clothing store isn't exactly new to the market. In fact... in 2020, 29.5% of fashion retail sales were from the ecommerce fashion industry!

And it was projected that the value of the US market would reach $100 billion in 2021.

Yep, billions! Online shopping is on a roll. ?

So, while it's a good thing to start an online clothing store because of the demands... we can't deny the competition is tough out there.

And the multi-million dollar question is... how can you stand out?

7 Things You Need To Have In Your Checklist

When you create your online clothing brand, you need to make sure you are not missing anything.

So, grab your pen and paper, and let's hop on the first thing you need on your list!

1. Choose An Ecommerce Platform

To start your online clothing brand, you first need to find the best ecommerce platform.

And by best, I mean... what's best for your needs.

When choosing an ecommerce platform for your clothing store, here are some things you need to look for:

Flexible plans
Costs
Customer support
SEO-friendliness
Mobile-friendliness
Analytics
Customization
Payment gateways

... and more!

It's not easy finding the best ecommerce platform that suits your needs. Because there are other platforms with features you don't even need and might be out of your budget.

So, what's the best ecommerce platform for your clothing store?

While there are other ecommerce platforms out there, like WooCommerce and Wix, Shopify can also be a good start. It's a commerce platform that can help you launch your online store.

You can compare these ecommerce platforms yourself to find which one's the best for you.

You can also purchase your domain on Shopify, which means you don't have to use third-party websites. It probably has almost everything you need to build and manage your online business.

And speaking of which...

2. Choose Your Domain Name

As I mentioned... since Shopify is an all-in-one solution for your ecommerce concerns, you only need to choose the domain name you like and purchase it within the platform.

The domain name should represent your clothing store. And make sure it's easy to remember and makes you stand out.

And as much as possible, choose a .com (dot com) domain.

Why? Because if your customers would type in your website name manually, they might use the .com as it's the most common one.

And it makes you more credible, too.

So, remember these three things:

Don't infringe on other brands' trademarks.
Think of a unique name that represents your online store.
Make sure it's for the long term.

Bonus tip: Shopify has a business name generator tool that might help you!

Now, after choosing the domain...

3. Build Your Branding Strategy

What comes to your mind when you see this logo?

Nike Logo

(Source)

Hmm... Nike, right?

It's because Nike built a strong brand identity. So, it's easy for their customers to associate them with any checkmark.

And it's essential for you to build your brand identity, too.

Once you've finalized your business and domain name, the next step to creating an online clothing store is to create a branding strategy.

Now, listen...

For this, you can either hire a professional branding studio or do it yourself. It can be expensive to hire one, but they know for sure the ins and outs of branding.

But if you don't have the budget yet, you can do it yourself in the meantime.

You can use these tools to help you start with building a brand strategy (both with free and paid plans):

Hatchful. Free logo maker by Shopify.
Canva. Create logos, posters, social media posts, etc.
Coolors. Color palette generator.

Again... when creating your brand identity, make sure not to infringe on other brands' trademark or copyright claims. You can visit USPTO's trademark database and consult a legal expert.

Now, after creating your brand strategy... it's time to...

4. Choose A Great Theme

Once you've chosen your brand elements, palettes, and logos... you need to select a theme.

For this part, you can hire a website designer or download templates. There are templates from the ecommerce platforms themselves.

Or, you can choose from third-party themes.

There are free and paid themes you can choose from. But remember, you get what you pay for. So, it might still be better to invest some money in a premium theme.

So, what are some of the factors you should look for in a theme?

Highly-customizable
Mobile-responsive
Fast-loading
Customer support
Good design

Luckily, there's an answer for you!

Debutify is an all-around ecommerce theme. It's perfect for your online clothing store as the theme is great for any industry.

And the best part? You can try Debutify for FREE for 14 days!

Now, the next step after choosing a theme is...

5. Create Essential Pages

You need to have essential pages on your ecommerce website. This is for your customers to see what they're looking for easily.

So, you're probably asking yourself now... What are the examples of pages I should put?

Worry not, because I've got you covered! ?

Homepage
About
Blog
Return and Refund Policy
Privacy Policy
Disclaimer
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Product page
Contact page
Reviews

These are just 10 out of more pages you can put on your fashion ecommerce website!

But these are essential pages that will make your customers' lives easier in the long run.

And after this step, the next thing you need to do is...

6. Add Important Features

When you choose a theme for your online clothing brand... it needs to have the important features that will help your ecommerce store make sales.

These features will make your ecommerce website easy to navigate and conversion-friendly.

So, what features am I talking about?

These features include some significant ones... such as your product photos, call-to-actions, essential pages, and user-friendly website design.

But there are the nitty-gritty features you need to take note of as well.

Some examples are navigation placement, product descriptions, buttons, categories, social media links, and more.

These details are just as important because they play a vital role in the user-friendliness of your ecommerce site!

And last but definitely not least...

7. Optimize Checkout Process

The checkout process is an essential part of your ecommerce site.

It's so important because you won't get sales without an optimized and easy process!

Did you know that in 2021, 18% of the cart abandonment rate was due to a long and complicated checkout process?

That's why here are some things you need to remember when optimizing your checkout page that will help you gain more customers:

Allow guest checkouts
Provide multiple payment methods
Add a summary of orders
Include security badges
Don't overwhelm your customers with the design

Remember, don't make it too complicated! Make sure they will buy from your online clothing store with a simple and fast checkout.

Since you already learned some tips on starting an online clothing brand... let's see some examples to inspire you!

5 Incredible Ecommerce Clothing Stores To Inspire You

1. Lavish Alice

Lavish Alice is an online clothing brand for women. Its ecommerce website is fully-functional, with links redirecting to different categories.

It's easy to navigate, and the website design is simple and not overwhelming. But its simplicity also screams elegance, which is a perfect way to present their brand to their target market.

Every website also needs essential pages, such as FAQs, cookie policy, privacy policy, terms & conditions, returns, and more.

So, it's no surprise that this brand is a great online clothing brand example.

Another one we have here is...

2. SIR

As you can see, SIR is a clothing brand that offers products for both men and women.

The overall website is straightforward... it's easy to find whatever you need! It's all in their navigation bar, from the new arrivals to best sellers.

And again, SIR didn't forget the essential pages for their customers to access easily!

The following example we have is...

3. Salt Surf

Another excellent example of a fashion ecommerce store is Salt Surf.

The website is simple but effortlessly stylish. You can easily browse the products, and the web design is not trouble-free to navigate!

You can see the products easily. And when you click on them, you'll see a well-written product description and an uncomplicated product page.

Now, the next one is...

4. 3Sixteen

3Sixteen is an incredible fashion brand and example because the product images are very captivating.

Aside from the clean website design, the product photos capture the details of their products. Different images are available per product, so it's easy to see the features.

And this is what I meant when I said your fashion ecommerce website should have these details.

Pay attention to these things because these "small" things make a big difference. ?

And the last great example is...

5. Reserved

Like our other examples, Reserved is a fashion ecommerce store that shows simplicity as well.

But Reserved shows some boldness through adding the red color in their palette. And it makes it easier to notice over the other neutral colors.

And again, there are the essential pages as well! And there's also a delivery and returns policy under product pages, which is convenient for their customers.

See? These fantastic online clothing stores are so inspiring.

Create A User-Friendly Fashion Ecommerce Store!

I know that building an ecommerce store is not easy since the fashion industry is expanding more.

You have to stand out.

But once you find the best ecommerce theme with features that matter and fast-loading, everything will slowly fall into place.

It wouldn't be that troublesome anymore.

And you can achieve this with Debutify!

It's an ecommerce theme that will help you create a user-friendly, wonderful, and functional online clothing brand. It's also highly customizable, so your brand will be more noticeable.

The best part? It has 50+ Add-Ons to help you optimize your profits and conversions, such as: