What I Learned from Starting My Own Brand at 16

“From Canva to chaos — building a brand at 16 was the best teacher I never asked for.”

Starting a brand as a teenager sounds exciting — and trust me, it is. At 16, when most of my friends were busy with schoolwork and scrolling through Instagram, I launched my own custom merchandise brand, Drip & Doodle.

What began as a creative experiment soon turned into a crash course in entrepreneurship. From late-night Canva sessions to discovering what actually works in the market, I learned far more than I expected Here’s what building a brand at 16 taught me:

🔹 1. Creativity is a Superpower

Ideas don’t have to be perfect — they just have to be yours. I spent hours designing graphics, experimenting with colors, and turning simple doodles into something people wanted to wear.

This journey taught me that your creative voice matters. There’s no age limit on self-expression.

🔹 2. You Don’t Need to Be an Expert to Start

I had zero business knowledge when I began. I googled everything — how Printify works, how to price products, how to make mockups. And honestly? That was enough to begin.

Starting before you feel ready is scary, but that’s where real learning begins.

🔹 3. Half-Knowledge Can Lead to Hard Lessons

I dove in headfirst, excited by trendy videos and success stories. But I soon realized that business isn’t just about design, marketing, and money. It’s also about the legal side — policies, terms, and geography.

I was following U.S. trends while living in India. Printify’s system didn’t support Indian sellers the way I expected. I had no choice but to shut down my account and look for alternatives.

🔹 4. Market Research Is Everything

Printify is just a mediator — to sell, I needed to connect it to Etsy or Shopify. Shopify required a paid subscription, and Etsy changed policies in 2023 that limited Indian seller access.

I had mockups, branding, and motivation — but no working platform. That’s when I learned: market research isn’t optional — it’s the first step of success.

🔹 5. Nothing Is Ever a Waste of Time

I spent dozens of hours figuring things out — while others were watching Netflix, I was exploring how to launch a brand.

“I didn’t make money, but I made something more valuable — experience.”

I didn’t just dabble — I did my own crash course in entrepreneurship, and I’d never call that a waste.

🔹 6. Failure Isn’t Final — It’s Feedback

What I learned through this process is more valuable than anything a classroom could’ve taught me. Mistakes didn’t break me — they taught me how to rebuild better.

Printify didn’t work out, but I didn’t stop. I discovered Redbubble, started over, and even though the brand is still in progress, I’m confident it’s growing into something special.

And if that doesn’t work? I’ll keep going. Because the world doesn’t end at Redbubble — and neither does my dream.

🔚 Conclusion: You’re Never Too Young to Build Something

“Age doesn’t limit ideas — mindset does.”

You don’t need funding or degrees to start something real. You just need curiosity, courage, and a little chaos.

Drip & Doodle isn’t just a brand — it’s proof that creativity and resilience can take you anywhere. Got an idea? Start. You never know where it might lead.

Written by Rijul Mathur — a 16-year-old creator, student, and dreamer behind the brand Drip & Doodle. Sharing stories from the startup lane and teenage life. Follow for more!