Selling Online

How to start selling clothes online: what to prepare before your first listing

Last updated 2026-10-02From Plien Roob — AI model photography for online stores

You can start selling clothes online in six steps: choose what to sell and to whom, source the clothes, prepare product photos, pick a sales channel, write the name and description, then make your first listing. Photos are the first thing a customer sees on screen, and that is the part Plien Roob can help with. Tax and law this article does not answer; ask someone who can advise you directly.

A finger touching a phone screen showing a dress listing in a shopping app — An illustration: the product photo is the first thing a customer sees before tapping in for details.

Six steps before the first listing

Decide what to sell and to whom, for example T-shirts, workwear, Thai dress or secondhand clothes. Start with a few items; you do not need every style.
Source the clothes: make them, order from a supplier, or resell secondhand. Each has different things to watch for in photos.
Prepare the product photos: shoot them yourself, hire someone, or use an image tool. See the table below.
Pick a sales channel: a marketplace, social media or LINE. Each asks for photos differently.
Write a name and description that match the real item: size, colour and material.
Make your first listing, then see what customers ask again and again, and use that to adjust the photos and description next time.

A clothing rack with just a few garments in matching neutral tones, neatly arranged — An illustration: start with a few items — you don't need every style from day one.

How many ways are there to get product photos

Shoot it yourself on a phone
Suits
Starting with a few items on a small budget
Watch out for
The photo has to be sharp, well lit and show the shape of the garment; see the guide to shooting clothes on a phone
Use supplier photos
Suits
Only people with clear permission
Watch out for
Supplier photos only with clear permission, and some carry a watermark or another brand's logo
Hire a photographer and models
Suits
Shops that want high-end brand photos
Watch out for
The cost comes back every time there is a new item
Make photos with Plien Roob
Suits
You already have product photos and want photos of a model wearing them
Watch out for
Check the result against the real item before you list, and check each platform's rules for AI-made images

Option	Suits	Watch out for
Shoot it yourself on a phone	Starting with a few items on a small budget	The photo has to be sharp, well lit and show the shape of the garment; see the guide to shooting clothes on a phone
Use supplier photos	Only people with clear permission	Supplier photos only with clear permission, and some carry a watermark or another brand's logo
Hire a photographer and models	Shops that want high-end brand photos	The cost comes back every time there is a new item
Make photos with Plien Roob	You already have product photos and want photos of a model wearing them	Check the result against the real item before you list, and check each platform's rules for AI-made images

Prices and rules for each channel can change; check that channel's own pages before you decide.

A woman with long dark hair in a cream belted jacket, standing in a corridor with dark green wallpaper patterned with cranes — Examples of AI model photos wearing clothes, made in Plien Roob. The clothes, the model and the scene are different in all three. They are example work, not photos from a customer's shop.

Examples of AI model photos wearing clothes, made in Plien Roob. The clothes, the model and the scene are different in all three. They are example work, not photos from a customer's shop.

A phone photographing an outfit laid out on a bed — An illustration: shooting it yourself on a phone is the lowest-budget place to start.

Shoot it yourself on a phone: start with this guideShooting clothes on a phone, sharp enough to actually use

If you are thinking of using supplier photos, read what you can and cannot use firstThe supplier photos you can't actually use

Choosing where to sell

Each sales channel asks for photos differently: sizes, aspect ratios and rules about images, all of which change. So we do not print any platform's numbers here. Open the guide that has its sources checked, then take the numbers from the platform where you will actually list.

See what each channel wants and how far the rules goProduct photos for an online shop: what each channel wants, and what the rules are

What this article does not answer

This article does not answer tax and law questions, such as whether you have to register a business or when you owe tax, because they depend on your own status and income, and the rules change. Ask an accountant or the agency responsible directly.

If you use AI-made photos

If you already have a product photo and want a photo of a model wearing it, Plien Roob's product-to-model tool takes a single product photo with no prompt to write. Signing up gives you 10 credits, once, with no card needed. Your first free-plan image has no watermark; the images after it do. Check every result against the real item before you list it.

Want to know where AI helps a small shop? Read on hereWhat AI can do for a small online shop

Frequently asked questions

How do I start selling clothes online?

In six steps: choose what to sell and to whom, source the clothes, prepare product photos, pick a sales channel, write a name and description that match the real item, then make your first listing. Start with a few items, then widen once you know what sells.

What do I need to prepare to sell clothes online?

You need the clothes, product photos that show the shape and colour clearly, a sales channel, and a name and description that match the real item. Photos are the first thing a customer sees and the part Plien Roob helps with. Tax and law this article does not answer; ask someone who can advise you directly.

Do I need model photos to sell clothes online?

Not always. A garment laid flat or hung up can be listed if its shape and colour are clear. Photos with a person wearing it help customers see the shape on a body, which can be done by shooting it or by making an image from a product photo. Check any photo against the real item before you list it.

Can I use my supplier's photos to sell?

Only with clear permission, and you should check that the photo carries no watermark or another brand's logo. If you are unsure, shoot it yourself or make photos from your own real item.

Do I have to register or pay tax to sell clothes online?

This article does not answer tax and law questions, because they depend on your own status and income, and the rules can change. Ask an accountant or the agency responsible directly.

Photos by Anete Lusina · Letícia Alvares · Marcus Aurelius on Pexels