Clothes needed in rising early (4)
I believe the answer is:
gear
'clothes' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'in rising early' is the wordplay.
'in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'GEAR' can be found hidden inside 'rising early'.
'needed' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for gear that I've seen before include "Equipment; dress" , "illegal drugs" , "Toothed wheel and youthful fashion" , "Clobber" , "often changed when driving" .)