Before you starting a clothing line, you should think about how your collection will be manufactured unless you plan to sew every garment you sell yourself.
A clothes manufacturer is more than a service provider; they are the ones who will actually make your designs a reality. Consequently, picking a reliable garment maker is essential.
This is true whether you’re just getting your feet wet in the fashion industry or already have a successful label and are looking to expand into a new line.
It’s possible that your current clothes manufacturer isn’t the best option for the new line. This is common if you have been making t-shirts and are now planning to expand into the cut-and-sew market.
It’s recommended that you schedule multiple interviews with potential garment manufacturers before settling on one. Keep in mind that production costs in manufacturing will eat up a sizable chunk of your budget and you must watch your margins carefully to keep your organization afloat.
Steps to take before selecting a manufacturer
Finding the proper partner or vendors to assist you to produce and manufacture your clothing line is essential if you want to sell your products at the pricing point you’ve set for them. Your apparel company’s future success or failure will be directly related to your product costs.
Be aware that not all of your manufacturers will be able to supply you with fabric for every single garment in your collection. It’s possible that you’ll have to source from a wide variety of manufacturers to meet the needs of your new apparel line.
You need to have your own company in shape before approaching possible clothing manufacturing for small business. The following “To Do” list and should be completed prior to contacting manufacturers.
- Create a trustworthy and reasonable plan of spending. It’s not a good idea to spend more than you have.
- Find out how long production takes so you know when to expect your order.
- Gather your design materials in advance (fabric swatches, sewn samples, and tech packs or renderings).
Once you’ve finished that checklist, it’s time to start looking for suppliers
You should be ready to address the manufacturer’s inquiries when you contact them for the first time. You’ll be well prepared for them if you take the time to determine a price range, plan out a schedule for production, research the manufacturing procedure, and become intimately familiar with your designs.
Put your best business foot forward when you first start meeting with potential manufacturers.
Naturally, if you come to the meeting well-prepared, you will impress the manufacturer. Having done both design and production work in the fashion sector, I can say that manufacturers appreciate a designer who is well-versed in the industry.
Equally frustrating for a manufacturer or supplier is a designer who is brimming with ideas but has little practical knowledge of the manufacturing process.
Try to find a clothes company that also employs a fashion designer. If you’re just getting started in the fashion industry, having an expert fashion designer look over your tech pack (a blueprint of your designs) and point out any issues could be a huge help in getting your brand off the ground.
If you get the chance, you should go to the factory and check out the size, the workforce, and the production procedure. If you are unable to visit a possible manufacturing partner’s facilities in person, you should request a brief video instead.
You should order samples from multiple suppliers to compare their prices, turnaround times, and quality before committing to a large order. In case you’re using a quality DTF printer to decorate certain garments, make sure the design quality is good. Examine the labels to ensure they contain all the information you need.
Choose the best manufacturer for your company after carefully considering all of your options and testing out samples.
