Intro

Starting a clothing brand is one of the most popular business ideas—but also one of the most misunderstood.

A lot of people jump in using print-on-demand platforms, thinking that’s the full picture… but there’s a completely different level to this business when you understand manufacturing, branding, and positioning.

In this episode of The Side Hustler’s Society, Elijah Bilel sits down with fashion designer and entrepreneur John Thomas to break down how to actually build a clothing brand from the ground up.

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Intro to John Thomas

• Fashion designer and entrepreneur with experience dating back to 2014  
• Founder of clothing brands including Fly Forever and Jacob & John
• Holds an associate degree in fashion design and a bachelor’s in merchandising design
• Also earned a master’s degree in finance
• Opened his own physical clothing store and built a growing fashion brand
• Featured in major publications like Vogue
• Website: https://jacob-john.com/ 

Episode Overview

This episode dives into what it really takes to go beyond basic merch and build a legitimate clothing brand.

Elijah opens by explaining the difference between:

• Print-on-demand (like Teespring or Spreadshop)
• And building a full-scale clothing business with manufacturing and higher margins  

While print-on-demand can be a great starting point, John Thomas represents what it looks like to take things to the next level.

John shares how his journey started with a passion for fashion at a young age—customizing clothes with friends—and eventually led him to pursue formal education in design.

Over time, he built his first brand, Fly Forever, but ran into a major challenge:

👉 It wasn’t differentiated enough in the market

That realization led to a pivot—and the creation of his current brand, Jacob & John, which is built around a more personal and intentional identity.

Elijah Bilel highlights this as a key entrepreneurial principle:
👉 Sometimes your first idea isn’t the final version—it’s just the starting point.

Listen to the Episode

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Quick Takeaways

• Elijah explains the difference between print-on-demand and full clothing brands
• John Thomas built his brand by combining education with real-world experience
• Your first business idea may not be your final one
• Elijah Bilel emphasizes the importance of evolving your approach over time
• Knowing your target market is critical in both fashion and business
• Product placement can make or break your success
• Learning the business before investing heavily can save money
• Networking and environment play a huge role in growth
• Multiple income streams (like Airbnb) can support your business journey
• Success comes from consistency, not perfection

How He Built His Clothing Brand

1. Started with Passion, Then Got Educated

John’s journey started with creativity—but he took it further by learning the technical side of fashion.

He explains that while school helped him:
👉 You don’t have to go to school—you just need knowledge

You can learn through:

• YouTube
• Books
• Internships
• Hands-on experience

2. Pivoted When the Market Gave Feedback

One of the biggest turning points:

👉 His first brand wasn’t standing out

Instead of quitting, he:

• Rebranded
• Made it more personal
• Built a stronger identity

That’s how Jacob & John was created—named after himself and his son.

3. Focused on Target Market

John emphasizes:

👉 If you don’t know who you’re selling to, you won’t sell

This applies to:

• Clothing brands
• Airbnb
• Any business

Elijah connects this to his own Airbnb strategy—designing properties specifically for business travelers.

4. Learn Before You Spend

One of the most practical lessons:

👉 This business can get expensive fast

John recommends:

• Learning materials and fabrics
• Understanding manufacturing
• Knowing how to communicate with suppliers

Before investing heavily.

5. Placement Matters More Than You Think

A powerful concept from the episode:

👉 Your product needs to be in the right environment

John shares how being featured in Vogue helped elevate his brand and reach the right audience.

Elijah Bilel connects this to a classic business principle:
👉 It’s not just about what you sell—it’s where you sell it

Key Lessons from the Episode

1. Your Environment Can Accelerate Your Growth

Both Elijah and John highlight how being around the right people:

• Creates opportunities
• Provides insight
• Speeds up learning

2. Multiple Income Streams Give You Flexibility

John shares how Airbnb income helped support him during uncertain times.

This reinforces a major theme:

👉 Side hustles can fund your bigger vision

3. Document Your Journey

A key insight from John:

👉 People want to see the process—not just the result

Sharing your journey:

• Builds trust
• Grows your audience
• Creates opportunities

Who This Episode Is For

• People interested in starting a clothing brand
• Entrepreneurs looking to move beyond print-on-demand
• Creators building a fashion or product-based business
• Side hustlers looking to scale into a full business

Key Topics Covered

• How Elijah Bilel approaches product-based businesses
• Building a clothing brand from scratch
• John Thomas’ journey into fashion design
• Target market and product placement strategies
• Scaling beyond basic merch

Watch The Podcast On Youtube!