People say "clothing catalog" and mean very different things. A buyer at a store wants a price list with SKUs. A shopper on WhatsApp wants to scroll and tap. A brand launching a collection wants a mood. If you try to make one catalog that does all of that, you get one that does none of it well. This guide sets out the five kinds, what each needs and which to make first.
The five kinds of clothing catalogs
| Kind | Made for | What each entry needs | Usually shared as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lookbook | Showing a collection's mood to shoppers, press and followers | A few styled photos, a collection name, little text | A PDF, social posts, a web page |
| Wholesale line sheet | Retail buyers choosing what to stock | A clear photo, a style number, fabric, colours, sizes, wholesale price, minimum order | A PDF, sent by email or WhatsApp |
| WhatsApp catalog | Existing customers who want to scroll and order | One good photo, a name and a price per piece | |
| Website catalog | Anyone who finds you on Google | Several photos per piece, a description, sizes, price | Your website |
| Marketplace listings | Selling through an existing audience | Photos that follow the marketplace's size and background rules | Meesho, Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart |
Which clothing catalog should you make first?
- You sell to shops and wholesalers: a line sheet, then a WhatsApp catalog for repeat buyers.
- You sell to shoppers through WhatsApp or Instagram: a WhatsApp catalog, then a lookbook for each new collection.
- You sell through your own website: a website catalog with several photos per piece.
- You sell on marketplaces: listings first, since the marketplace sets the rules for the photos.
What the pages of a clothing catalog look like
- Cover
Your brand name, logo and the collection or season. One strong photo.
- Category divider
A title for each group (sarees, lehengas, kurtis), so a buyer can jump to what they sell.
- Product page
The photos, the name, the fabric, the colours, the sizes and the price. Keep every product page in the same layout.
- Size and care
A size chart and care notes once, near the back, instead of repeating them on every page.
- How to order
A phone or WhatsApp number, the minimum order and the delivery time. End on this page.
Make the photos once, use them in every catalog
The photos are the slow part of any of these catalogs. Drape Studio makes them from a flat photo of each piece: upload the piece, check the cut, pick a model, a background and the poses. For a saree, mark the pallu too. It covers saree, lehenga, salwar suit, kurti, anarkali, sharara, co-ord set and indo-western. Then the same set of photos goes into your line sheet, your WhatsApp catalog and your website.
Frames from one package in our library: the same garment in different poses. A batch gives you a set like this for every piece you upload.
What the photos cost
A worked example: 15 pieces with 3 shots each is 45 shots. Ordered at 2K that is 450 credits, about ₹450–₹563 depending on the credit pack. Because the same photos serve every kind of catalog, you pay for them once. Credits come in rupee packs from ₹250, and top-up credits never expire.
Mistakes that make a clothing catalog hard to use
- Mixing photo styles: a different model, background or crop on every page makes it look like several brands.
- No prices or sizes: a buyer who has to ask for them often does not ask.
- One catalog for every buyer: a wholesale buyer and a shopper need different pages.
- Never opening it on a phone: most buyers will.
What are the types of clothing catalogs?
Five common kinds: a lookbook for a collection's mood, a wholesale line sheet for retail buyers, a WhatsApp catalog for customers, a website catalog for anyone who finds you on Google, and marketplace listings. Most sellers need two or three.
What is the difference between a lookbook and a line sheet?
A lookbook shows a collection's mood with a few styled photos and little text. A line sheet is a buyer's working document: a clear photo, style number, fabric, colours, sizes, wholesale price and minimum order for each piece.
Which clothing catalog should I make first?
The one your buyers already use. Wholesalers and shops want a line sheet; shoppers on WhatsApp or Instagram want a WhatsApp catalog; sellers on Meesho, Amazon or Myntra start with listings.
Can I use the same photos in every catalog?
Yes. Shoot each piece once and reuse the photos in your line sheet, WhatsApp catalog and website. Keep the same model and background so they look like one brand.
How much do the photos for clothing catalogs cost?
A Create order is 8 credits a 1K shot or 10 at 2K, about ₹8–₹10 and ₹10–₹13. 15 pieces with 3 shots each is 45 shots, about ₹450–₹563 at 2K.
Does Vastralook make the catalog PDF?
No. It makes the model photos. You download them and put them into any layout tool, a WhatsApp catalog or your website.
Is there a free way to try it?
Yes. New accounts get up to 4 free 2K images after signing in and verifying a phone number, with no card. Use them on your hardest piece to judge the result.
