You are likely very familiar with brand collaborations: two companies, a company and a celebrity, or two other parties that join together to create something new. It could be an exclusive product, a new line, or just different variations of an existing product.

This new idea could be something fun, functional, or completely whimsical. These collaborations generate excitement and boost sales for both parties. They are a great way to get people excited about your products and draw in new audience members.

Particularly for a clothing brand, co-branded apparel is a great way to generate excitement and sales for your company. Here is a look at the benefits of a collaboration to get you excited and inspired.

Expand Your Audience

Brand collaborations are great because they not only excite your consumers — they also get customers from your partner excited about the products. This exposes your brand to another existing audience.

Getting your products in front of new eyes not only makes them aware of the products from the collaboration — it also makes them aware of your existing and future products. This gives you much more of an opportunity to draw in additional customers.

By putting your collaborator’s name in front of your existing customers, you also give them a boost, creating a win-win situation.

Get People Talking

Whether your co-branded apparel is conventional, artistic, quirky or something else, collaborations get people talking. It garners interest as people share the collections by word of mouth, on social media, through messaging, and more. That is often why they are so successful. 

This free advertising for both brands can be an excellent way to build your audience for future marketing efforts. The excitement and conversation generated by collaborations can create a sense of anticipation and drive sales.

Form Connections in Your Industry and Build Your Network

Co-branding is not only about joining forces with another clothing brand but can also involve partnering with a company from a different industry. As a clothing retailer, you could form connections with your industry by partnering with a different apparel brand to create something unique.

This presents an opportunity to form connections and build your network, both within and outside your industry. You could also build a line co-created with artists, showcasing their artwork as prints on colorful zip-ups, or neutrals like brown hoodies in bulk, or a variety of other garments.

Each partnership you form opens the door to build and grow your network. Many brands love the possibility of staying connected and may refer you to others in the future. You can do the same for your collaborator. Additionally, partnering with a company from a different industry can expand your reach and introduce your brand to new audiences, opening up new marketing and business possibilities.

Create Something Exciting and Showcase Your Products

Collaborations are also popular because they give you an avenue to develop something exciting and showcase your products. When creating products for your own target audience, you may feel limited with being creative, so as not to shock your audience. 

After all, it is important to keep your niche market interested. However, when collaborating with another brand or artist, you can feel more inspired to conceive something that deviates from your typical product offering.

Maybe you design exciting new prints and colors of clothing. Perhaps you add a new kind of garment that you have never sold. A collaboration could also mean bringing fresh life to wholesale items, by simply changing up the printing or embroidery that you already do on them. 

The sky’s the limit when it comes to co-branded apparel. Now is definitely the time to get creative. Work with your collaborator and brainstorm different ideas that will benefit both your businesses – and enjoy the new incoming sales. 

Successful Collaborations in Action

Let’s take a look at a few examples of successful brand collaborations in action:

1. Louis Vuitton and BMW

Luxury brand Louis Vuitton partnered with German car manufacturer BMW to create an exclusive suitcase set for the launch of the BMWi8. The suitcase set was a set of four pieces in a sleek carbon fiber.

Why it worked: The suitcases were specifically designed to fit together and sit perfectly inside of the BMW. Both brands cater to similar audiences, drawing in lovers of luxury and getting them excited about the new car, as well as the complimenting luggage set. While each brand had its own product, the two were designed to complement each other and fit together.

1. Loewe x Howl’s Moving Castle (Studio Ghibli)

Spanish luxury brand Loewe partnered with Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli to create a capsule collection inspired by the 2004 film Howl’s Moving Castle. The collection of co-branded apparel featured bags, shirts, and more – all created to look like characters and elements from the film and to capture the fantasy world.

This was the third collaboration with Loewe and Studio Ghibli — the first two collections being in 2021 and 2022, inspired by the films My Neighbor Totoro (1988) and Spirited Away (2001), respectively.

Why it worked: Studio Ghibli films have a bit of a cult following, and Loewe creates fun, playful clothing that mimics the feel of the films. The partnership resulted in fun, character-inspired garments, many of which sold out quickly.

1. Target, La Linge, Sergio Hudson, and Kika Vargas

Retail giant Target partnered with designers La Linge, Sergio Hudson, and Kika Vargas for its annual designer collaboration. They created a collection of over 100 items, each capturing the creativity of the designer who created them.

Why it worked: The items were affordable, ranging from $7 to $70, and brought fresh, different items to Target. Bringing in higher-end designers and making the products accessible got consumers from the designers and Target excited to shop the joint collection.

Entice Your Customers With Fresh Co-branded Apparel

Collaborations work well because they excite your existing audience, draw in new customers from your collaborator, and give you the chance to create something new.

There are many paths to joining on with other brands, celebrities, artists, and others to create clothing that draws in a wide range of customers. The excitement of an exclusive co-branded apparel collection also gets people talking, which gives both brands a boost.

If you are looking for the best wholesale apparel for your next collaboration, look no further than Bella + Canvas. Let our wholesale styles serve as the canvas for your next co-branded collection. We have a wide range of styles that are perfect for printing, embroidery, and more. 

Whether you choose zip-up or pullover hoodies, a range of colored t-shirts, or a mix of different garments, we have the selection of styles that your customers seek. Explore our full collection of wholesale clothing  — available in over 300 colors across all products — and get inspired for your next collaboration.