How to Dropship Streetwear in 2024

In 2023, streetwear made up the majority of the most in-demand products and trends. Drawing heavily upon the 80s and 90s era of skateboarding, hip-hop, and the golden age of Michael Jordan, streetwear allows shoppers to blend nostalgic cultural influence with modern fashion elements, creating statements that are not only comfortable but fashionable.

If you want to keep up with the latest fashion trends without the risk of holding physical inventory, dropshipping streetwear may be the perfect option for you. Our team of experts have created a comprehensive guide to empower you with the knowledge and strategies needed to excel in the streetwear industry and turn your online business aspirations into reality.

Is dropshipping streetwear profitable?

Clothing makes up 25.5 per cent of the online market share in Australia, so it’s no surprise that it is one of the most popular and profitable niches for dropshipping in 2024. But how do you ensure you are offering a fresh take to an already thriving industry?

Running a successful business using the dropshipping service in the streetwear industry requires more effort than simply listing products on your website. You need to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and be able to identify upcoming ones so you can offer your customers the most sought-after products of the moment. Implementing effective SEO and SEM strategies on your website and social media is also essential to ensure your business is visible to potential customers. Partnering with reliable suppliers who offer high-quality products with timely shipping is key to ensuring that you maintain a good reputation and keep your customers satisfied.

Creating an appealing and user-friendly website with clear product images and detailed sizing charts is also a must. This will help your customers make informed decisions when purchasing on your site, increasing the likelihood of repeat business. Additionally, providing exceptional customer service, a thoughtful return policy, and reasonable shipping fees can make your business highly profitable. It’s important to remember that achieving success while dropshipping requires consistent effort and attention to detail. By following our guidelines on dropshipping streetwear, you’ll be able to build a thriving business in an already booming industry.

How big is the streetwear market?

The global streetwear market was valued at AUD 292 billion and is projected to reach around AUD 361 billion in 2028. This represents a small portion of the global apparel market, which is expected to be worth over a trillion dollars by 2025. This shows that the streetwear niche is expected to see steady growth in the future.

The streetwear market has gained massive popularity over the years, with clothing making up the majority closely followed by sneakers. The industry is dominated by brands such as Nike, Adidas, Off-White, Stussy, and Supreme. These brands set the standard for global streetwear fashion, and their limited drops of clothing and accessories, as well as collaborations with celebrities or sporting legends, have generated much buzz and exclusivity around their products.

Consumers have started to become a lot more conscious of their fashion choices with the saturation of social media, buying clothes more frequently, and spending more money on them. This trend has created a potentially profitable venture for dropshipping streetwear in the future. The rise of online shopping has also had a significant impact on the success of the streetwear industry. Consumers can now easily shop from the comfort of their homes, especially those in remote areas where physical streetwear brand stores are not as easily accessible. As a result, the online streetwear market has expanded significantly, and we are expected to see continued growth in the future.

5 tips for dropshipping streetwear

Tip 1: Understanding your target market

Finding your target market is the first crucial step to having a successful streetwear dropshipping business. You can gain valuable insight into your customers’ needs and wants and improve their overall shopping experience through research. It also helps you figure out the things that customers value in an online retailer and the things they might not care as much about. This allows you to invest your time and money in the strategies that are going to have the most return profits.

Finding a target market requires market research so you can create audience profiles that will include things like the age, career, hobby, annual income, and gender of your consumers. This will ultimately help you make future decisions to do with your business like the kinds of products you sell.

The majority of streetwear consumers are young. Studies show that more than 60 per centof consumers are under 25 and that 84 per cent of consumers use social media to find clothing line inspiration. This research highlights the importance of staying connected with your customer base on social media to boost conversions. Understanding the age of your customers also allows you to understand their motivations for buying clothes, the brands they usually shop with, and the marketing techniques they are most likely to respond to.

Bonus tip: Identify a specific streetwear niche

Selecting a specific streetwear niche is an effective way to set yourself apart from the competition. With the help of your market research, you can determine whether a specific niche can garner enough popularity to support your dropshipping business in the long term. The advantage of dropshipping is that if you identify the perfect product niche but don’t get the level of sales you anticipated, you can modify your product selection without losing any profits because you don’t hold any physical inventory.

A useful method to identify profitable streetwear niches and trending products is by utilising Google Trends. By conducting keyword searches, you can observe their popularity over a period, which enables you to identify recent downward trends or seasonal products that may have predicted dips throughout the year. For example, the search term long denim skirt experienced a significant spike in popularity in January 2023, followed by an even bigger spike in April, with a steady level of interest thereafter. Additionally, Google displays related search queries, which can provide further inspiration for products to stock.

Some trending streetwear items in 2024 include:

• Cargo pants and skirts

• Satin fabrics

• Moto jackets

• Denim jackets

• Varsity-style t-shirts, hoodies, and knitwear

• Football jerseys

Tip 2: Provide accurate sizing information

One of the biggest driving factors for sales in brick-and-mortar retail is the fitting room. It’s also one of the main reasons customers choose to shop in-store versus online. When a customer tries on clothing, the likelihood of a sale increases and the return rate decreases. Unfortunately, online retail doesn’t have the added benefit of fitting rooms. This is why providing accurate sizing information is paramount in reducing returns and increasing customer satisfaction.

A sizing chart is the best way to offer customers the most accurate description of the fit of your clothing. The chart will show the sizes available for different products and their corresponding body measurements so customers can determine their most accurate size. This is especially helpful for new customers who are unfamiliar with your sizing and might not know how it compares to other brands they typically shop with. Sizing charts can also reduce the number of size-related inquiries you or your customer service team receive, allowing you to focus on more pressing issues. Sizing charts also keep customers on the product page for longer, increasing the likelihood of a sale. Without a sizing chart, customers may leave the product page to contact customer service about sizing, potentially causing them to lose their initial interest in the product and ultimately decide not to purchase it.

You may find that if you’re working with professional suppliers, you may not need to build a sizing chart from scratch, as is the case with traditional retailers. Your suppliers will likely have readily available sizing charts that can be easily imported into your website. However, it’s important to ensure that the supplier’s sizing is clear and easy to understand. If your business is based in Australia, it’s best to use Australian sizing and provide international size conversions to accommodate all customers.

To ensure customer satisfaction, we advise that you also provide alternatives to the traditional sizing chart measurements. Many customers are not familiar with how to measure themselves accurately. Many popular online stores integrate software that allows customers to input their age, height, weight, body type, and their usual size in other popular brands. This tool provides a percentage of the likelihood of the size that would fit them best. This is often the preferred method for shoppers as it helps them feel secure in their online purchases without trying it on first. To enhance the customers’ experience, be sure to also include details such as the fit of the item and whether or not customers should size up, down, or stick to their usual size in the product description. Remember, the more information you provide, the better the chance that the customer finds their perfect size.

Tip 3: Stay up to date with streetwear trends

As we discussed, to stay up to date with the latest streetwear trends, it’s important to keep track of Google Trends. However, since the fashion industry is constantly changing, it’s necessary to delve deeper to stay on top of the latest streetwear fashion trends.

Customers often turn to social media for outfit inspiration, so it makes sense that it’s also a valuable resource for retailers to follow fashion trends. We recommend following fashion experts like bloggers, influencers, and celebrities on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. Keeping tabs on major fashion brands and what they are posting can also provide insight into emerging trends. It’s important to focus on your specific niche and follow popular streetwear brands so you can become an expert at uncovering the latest trends. A great way to discover new social media accounts to follow is by exploring popular hashtags, and soon the algorithm will suggest even more accounts and images that align with your interests.

Attending fashion shows and events is a great way to network and stay up to date on the latest trends. Observing not only the models but also the styles of the attendees can provide inspiration. Reading popular fashion magazines is another effective, although traditional, way to learn about current styles and products. When it comes to fashion, keeping your finger on the pulse of the industry will be crucial to increasing your knowledge and being successful.

Tip 4: Finding streetwear dropshipping suppliers

When it comes to dropshipping, finding a trustworthy supplier is crucial, especially in the streetwear clothing industry where authenticity and quality are so highly valued. To begin your search for the best streetwear dropshipping suppliers, you can use Google for a quick search. Be sure to read reviews to identify the most reliable ones. You should avoid suppliers with no website or reviews, as they are likely to either be a scam or only offer low-quality products. Once you have compiled a list of the most professional suppliers that offer streetwear products in your niche, you can reach out to them and start building business relationships.

When you start to receive responses from streetwear suppliers, you can start to discuss minimum order quantities and negotiate other terms. It’s crucial to establish realistic standards at the start of your supplier relationship to prevent misunderstandings and disruptions in the supply chain. Make sure to check that your suppliers offer affordable shipping costs. You may consider offering free shipping to boost sales. It is also a good idea to consider a supplier’s return policy and ensure they have satisfactory measures in place to safeguard both you and your customers.

Tip 5: Building and marketing your streetwear brand and website

When building your dropshipping business, it’s important to give as much attention to your website’s design as you would when choosing your products. 75 per cent of a website’s credibility comes from its design. If you have little to no experience with web development, the easiest way to build a website is to use a popular ecommerce platform like Shopify or WooCommerce. These platforms offer visually appealing and user-friendly premade themes, saving you time instead of building a website from scratch. Through the platform’s dashboard, you can also import high-quality product images and write detailed descriptions. Since most online sales are made on mobile devices, it’s crucial to optimise your website for both desktop and mobile use. In fact, 72 per cent of consumers prefer to shop on their mobile devices over a desktop.

Now that you’ve got a website that showcases your products with accurate sizing charts and high-quality images, it’s time to market your online store to potential customers. Your market research and consumer profiles will come in handy as you determine the most effective marketing strategies. One great cost-effective option is to utilise social media. By keeping customers informed about sales, promotions, and new trending products through posts, Stories, and Reels, you can increase your conversion rates significantly.

Email marketing has become an indispensable tool for online clothing stores to boost their sales and keep customers informed on all things to do with their products and brands. One of the most effective ways to leverage this tool is by sending out exclusive discount codes, which not only helps to encourage repeat business but also helps build customer loyalty. Email marketing is another excellent way to notify customers about upcoming sales, and also remind them of items left in their carts or when particular items are back in stock.

Build your clothing brand with Dropshipzone

Looking for trustworthy dropshipping suppliers can be a hassle. Luckily, Dropshipzone gives you immediate access to thousands of SKUs from top Australian Suppliers with fast shipping times, so you don’t have to spend time finding a reliable supplier. All of our products have been approved by a team of experts, providing you with quality assurance you won’t get anywhere else at cheaper, wholesale prices. We understand how crucial it is to scale your business, which is why we offer an effortless way to update your products without having to manage physical inventory. Thanks to our in-house app, Sofortig, you can seamlessly import Dropshipzone products into your Shopify Store and apply product promotions with ease. The team at Dropshipzone is committed to helping you build the business of your dreams. Sign up today and get started on your dropshipping store.