How to Create Colorways for Your Clothing Line
How to create colorways for your clothing line — selecting colors, building cohesive palettes, and specifying colors for production.
What are colorways
A colorway is a specific color combination applied to a garment design. Each colorway represents the same garment in different color treatments. Offering multiple colorways lets you reach more customers from a single design investment.
Most brands offer 2-5 colorways per style. Too few limits your market. Too many increases inventory complexity and minimum order quantities.
Building a cohesive palette
Your color palette should work across your entire collection, not just within individual styles. Choose colors that complement each other so customers can mix and match pieces.
- Start with 2-3 neutral base colors (black, white, grey, navy, cream)
- Add 2-3 seasonal accent colors that define the collection mood
- Test colors together — display all colorways side by side
- Consider your brand identity — colors should reinforce your aesthetic
- Research color trends but do not follow them blindly
Specifying colors for production
Color specification must be precise for production consistency. Use standardized color systems:
- Pantone TCX: The fashion industry standard for textiles. Specify the exact Pantone code
- Lab dip: Request a lab dip from your fabric supplier to match your target color before production
- Color tolerance: Specify acceptable color deviation from the standard
- Supplier references: If using a specific supplier's stock color, reference their exact shade code
Managing colorway production
Each colorway adds to your minimum order quantity. If your manufacturer requires 200 units per color per style, three colorways means 600 units of that style. Plan your colorway strategy with your MOQ constraints in mind.
Consider which colors are most likely to sell and weight your production quantities accordingly. Core neutrals typically sell more than bold accent colors.