If there is one thing that practically everyone looks for when purchasing clothing, it’s quality craftsmanship. While many people are looking for clothes that are priced competitively they are also seeking values for their hard-earned money. After all, nobody wants to buy something that won’t last them for a reasonable amount of time. This is where it pays to have reliable manufacturers who produce quality clothing. Still, navigating the veritable sea of manufacturers can prove to be quite a daunting task. Where do you start? Is the manufacturer established within the fashion industry? Are their services competitively priced? Better yet, should you call off you’re search and manufacture the garments yourself? That’s exactly why I’m here too answer these questions for you.
To manufacture clothes for your fashion business:
- Establish a manufacturing budget and stick to it.
- Decide whether you want to go with a domestic manufacturer, or if you want to choose one from overseas.
- Find your manufacturer by researching directories and through the internet.
- Ask insiders in the fashion industry for their recommendations.
- Select a manufacturer that has a combination of good prices and great quality; fast and dependable shipping, and adequate experience.
Lets read along to see how you can follow each of these steps to determine whom is the best manufacturer for your clothing business. In will break your down each of these five steps to give you the a clear understanding of not only how to find the best fit for your brand, but also show your how detrimental it can be to your business if you make the wrong decision. Finally, I will include a short section regarding how to manufacture clothing for your business, should you choose skip this process altogether and manufacture your line yourself.
Establish your Manufacturing Budget and Stick To It
Perhaps the most significant aspect of your any business (including your clothing business) is the business’s financial health. After all, nobody goes into business with the intention of losing money. I am fairly certain that you didn’t either. This is why planning, establishing, and adhering to a reasonable budget is essential to both your professional and personal life. Now, this is one area in which you will have to practice some self-discipline. When interviewing potential manufacturers, you will have to stay firm regarding the amount of money you will be able to spend on manufacturing costs.
Decide On a Foreign or a Domestic Manufacturer
When it comes to deciding who will be making your line, you have options. At this point, you will have to decide whether you are going to seek out the services of a domestic manufacturer, or if you want to look for one overseas. Pleases don’t be mistaken when I say that this will not be an easy choice for you. This decision will undoubtedly require you to opt with a domestic manufacturer based on national pride and a desire to provide your country with employment opportunities, or if you want to choose the lower prices and quick work of overseas manufacturers. However, your rate will probably be significantly less if you select a foreign manufacturer over a domestic one.
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Research Directories and Online
Searching for the right garment manufacturer is quite similar to shopping for most other goods or services. While the manufacturing process can be somewhat complicated, it all starts with doing your due diligence and researching manufacturers. One of the more old-fashioned ways to conduct your research would be to obtain a directory and call each manufacturer separately. However, we are now fortunate enough to live in a time when doing your research online is easier, and much more common. People of all walks of life post reviews for just about any business you can imagine, and there are bound to be a host of reviews on several different manufacturers available to you by simply clicking a button.
Ask Around the Fashion Industry
I know that I can’t be the only person who grew up hearing people regularly say that word of mouth is the best form of advertising. Although we hear that saying a little less often these days, it is still every bit as true now as it was then. No matter what industry you find yourself inquiring about, there is bound to be at least one individual who will talk at length about either a good experience or a bad experience they had. I want you to take something into consideration for me. I want you to think about your favorite restaurant, and then think about how you heard about it. Chances are that somebody you know (and whose opinion you trust) told you that it was a great place to eat. The same concept applies to most other businesses, including manufacturers.
Look For Good Prices, Great Quality, and Fast Shipping
What are three of the most important qualities you would look for in your garment manufacturer? I’ll give you a hint. Two of the qualities would probably be the same things you would look for when shopping for clothes for yourself. Those would be good prices and great quality. When searching for a manufacturer that is a good fit for your clothing business, it helps to think like a customer would think. This is possibly one of the biggest mistakes that clothing entrepreneurs make. They stop thinking like customers. If you are happy with the end result of your clothing, your customers will be happy as well. Of course, quality and prices won’t mean much if your manufacturer can’t deliver the goods on time. You will have to find somebody who is able to balance all three of these aspects at once.
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Do It Yourself
If you plan to manufacture garments for your clothing business, clearly defining this process is probably the best place to start. Simply put, manufacturing as it pertains to clothing is defined as “the numerous operations it takes to make a garment, per the Techpacker website. Garment manufacturing includes all of the individual processes that go into making the garment, although skills, equipment, and materials will usually dictate what processes are involved. For example, the process of manufacturing a t-shirt is much less complicated than the process of making a dress shirt. Therefore, there will be fewer steps (or processes) involved in making a t-shirt or an undershirt.
To gain a better understanding of garment manufacturing, it is important that you understand that there are five essential steps of manufacturing clothing. While there may be more steps involved in making some garments than others, they will all have the same basic steps. These steps include the following:
- Pre-production – This is the initial step done before mass production.
- Production Planning – This is the planning that takes place to ensure that everything is finished at the same time.
- Cutting – This step takes place when the factory cuts the material into various shapes before sewing them together.
- Quality Control – This step is where the finished product is checked to make sure that it meets the customer’s requirements.
- Delivery – This is when the final, approved product is shipped to the customer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, finding a garment manufacturer that is a great fit (pun intended) for your clothing business doesn’t have to be a difficult task. It helps to think of this process the same way you would shop for anything else you need. First, you need to be sure that you understand the definition of manufacturing. Simply put, this is all of the processes required to make an article of clothing. Next, you have to decide whether you want to employ a domestic manufacturer or a foreign manufacturer. Once you arrive at that decision, do as much research as you can. Don’t be afraid to ask your Connections in the fashion industry if they have any recommendations they can offer. Finally, you need to try to find a garment manufacturer that has good prices, great quality, and can deliver your product on time.
If you are having difficulty arriving at a decision, or if you have an operation small enough, you always have the option of doing your own manufacturing. However, this is not something that I would suggest for a large-scale operation. Again, this is we’re having a good understanding of how manufacturing works will benefit you. There are five essential steps to any manufacturing process. These include pre-production, production planning, cutting, quality control, and delivery. While each of these steps may be self-explanatory, it is of the utmost importance that you remember to follow these steps in the order I have presented them to you. Manufacturing depends on one step leading you to the next step. Failure to follow these steps in order will be disastrous for you and for your customers.
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Related Questions
Who are some of the world’s most renowned clothing manufacturers?
While there are many reputable clothing manufacturers throughout the world, there are some companies that set themselves apart from the others. Here are the world’s ten best clothing manufacturers as of this year:
- Fashinza
- Pineapple Clothing
- Good Clothing Company
- Billoomi Fashion
- Arvind Limited
- Portland Garment Factory
- Cone Mills Corporation
- Euphoric Colors
- Zega Apparel
- DSA Manufacturing
Is it better to hire American manufacturers or foreign manufacturers?
The answer to this question will depend on what you consider to be the most important for your clothing business. Prices will be significantly higher in the United States (two or three times higher) than those in China. However, the quality will generally be much better and your customers will probably appreciate the fact that you hired American labor.
To learn more about how to start your own fashion clothing line check out my startup documents here
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a legal expert to address your specific needs.
Meet Shawn Chun: Entrepreneur and Fashion Business Fan.
I’m a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a designer or boutique owner at a craft fair, farmers market, retail location or anywhere else I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Fashion Business Boss: I want to help fashion business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.