Getting Into The Rhinestone Business
The Rhinestone Business
Look in almost any closet in America and you will find apparel decorated with Rhinestones, Rhinestuds or Nailheads. From high fashion camisoles to “Football Mom” t-shirts, the market for bling has never been better.
Many of the designs you see in retail stores were done in a cut and sew shop, where the rhinestones may have been applied before the garment is assembled, but the majority of rhinestone wear you run into was likely created using a rhinestone transfer. This is especially true if you saw that rhinestone t-shirt or bag in a local store, ordered it from online or saw it in the crowd attending a high school sporting event.
Rhinestone transfers are usually made by automatic rhinestone machines, like the CAMS product from ColDesi. The transfers themselves are created using transfer tape, Hotfix rhinestones, the automatic rhinestone machine, and specialty graphics software made specifically to create rhinestone designs.
Here’s a basic version of how the rhinestone transfer process works:
YOUR DESIGN IDEA – it doesn’t have to be completely original, you can start with vector art logos, animal designs, etc. that you find online or that a client gives you. However you start, it’s best to have an idea of what you want the completed design to look like before you start.
The process is the same whether you’re making a t-shirt, putting designs on a cotton dress or making a rhinestone decal. There’s a more detailed return on investment calculation here, but most rhinestone t-shirts cost between $4 and $8 to make and sell for $20-$35!
There are many factors to consider when you’re starting a rhinestone business in addition to the hardware you choose – leasing vs. buying, how to market your products, pricing your designs, etc. and you can find information on all those topics at www.rhinestonecamsmachines.com
