Finding the Right Alibaba Manufacturer Clothing Brands Can Trust

How Alibaba enables your clothing brand? Alibaba provides access to thousands of clothing suppliers but it also creates problems when you are doing sourcing. Product images, low prices, and a seemingly perfect shop only provide a fraction of the information needed. Comparing an alibaba manufacturer clothing supplier, the factors are:

Begin With the Product

The first source on each sourcing project must be on the garment.

The requirements of a heavyweight hoodie differ to those of a light weight T-shirt as a lot more fabric, machinery and experience are needed to make it. Other garments such as denim, activewear, workwear, jackets and streetwear need quite different skills also.

When the product is determined by the brand, the search for a supplier is more targeted

Use Alibaba as the Starting Point

Alibaba provides buyers with suppliers in various apparel categories and manufacturing countries.

According to Alibaba‘s apparel sourcing platform buyers can connect with over 2,000 verified manufacturers from 35 countries.

Allows brands to make apples-to-apples comparisons of production capabilities, MOQs, materials, prices, and finishing options before narrowing down the field.

Look Beyond the Supplier Profile

Can supply information, but buyers should verify.

Ask about the location of the manufacturing, what items is it producing on a daily basis, which processes are being carried out in the factory directly and what processes are not.

A T-shirt Vendor may not be experienced in Denim, Outerwear or advanced streetwear.

Understand What Verified Supplier Means

3rd party inspection companies are cooperating with Alibaba to inspect Verified Suppliers. The inspection is as follows, contents covering company information, production capacity, products, process control etc and Alibaba now also offers participants’ assessment report and verified production video.

Knowing this information can help potential buyers filter their search.

However, a verification report alone won‘t show a particular item is comfortable to wear, as you might hope. Physical samples and spoken words lead a step further.

Let Samples Answer the Hard Questions

Photos document façade but samples tell you what is really going on.

Sample can provide information about fabric weight, hand feel, size, construction and quality of stitching, the shape of the neckline, quality of printing, embroidery, labels and finishing.

Companies should make their own specifications for each sample and compare that with the samples rather than comparing the supplier by looking at online pictures.

Treat MOQ as a Starting Number

MOQ may appear simple to view on a supplier‘s page:

Nevertheless, for stock items a supplier may have one MOQ and have a different one for custom colors, fabrics, labels, patterns, or packaging.

Is the MOQ spoken of on the quote the MOQ per style, per color, per size or per fabric? Variations in this will affect smaller clothing brands.

Custom Development Requires More Skills

One can be involved in a custom clothing project and not have sew a stitch.

The brand may require fabric sourcing, pattern development, interpretation of the tech-pack, sample revisions, printing, embroidery, garment washing, labels and trims, packaging and quality control.

The greater the detail a brand is looking for, the more the manufacturer development capacity should be carefully assessed.

Compare the Complete Cost

Knowing the unit price supplies only half the story on where the stuff comes from.

The end price can change depending on sampling, custom made, labels, packaging, shipping, tax, duties and others.

Alibaba‘s sourcing advice suggests that one should talk to a supplier about the following: volume pricing, certifications, units available, where shipped from, and weight and size of packaging.

A complete cost comparison provides a much clearer view for brands than just a cost per piece comparison.

Pay Attention to Communication

The initial suppliers chat can give you an idea about the level of knowing the factory has of your product.

Ask detailed questions on fabric, sizing, construction, MOQ, sampling, production, packaging & shipping.

A less willing to provide specific answers supplier can reduce the confidence of the buyer. A supplier who responds to all questions with specific, well-defined answers will instill more confidence in the buyer than a supplier who constantly responds with bean drawings.

Put Important Terms Into the Order

Alibaba offers a Trade Assurance program that will protect paid and placed eligible orders. These areas include but are not limited to product quality, shipment in accordance to the order, and Alibaba provides dispute support services.

Below the specifications intended for the buyers’ use should be inserted into the order.

In addition, Alibaba suggests that buyers should pay on the platform if they used Trade Assurance.

Set a Clear Production Standard

A manufacturer must have a clearly defined target in mind when the bulk production begins.

The brand is able to supply an approved sample with the measurement chart, fabric specification, color reference, placement of artwork, label detail and packaging instructions.

Clear specs will prevent mistakes and in turn, keep the production team consistent.

Price Does Not Tell the Whole Story

The min quotation is tempting when the initial comparison is»

Another supplier may have a more robust fabric, more advanced sample making, more effective communication, and more dependable manufacturing at a marginally higher cost.

The more appropriate question would be which provider supplies the lowest cost garment.

Which supplier can make the needed product at a sustainable total cost is the more appropriate question.

Alibaba Can Simplify Supplier Discovery

Alibaba is an effective source as the first channel for many clothing companies.

A new label can like –Several suppliers can be compared and can ask for samples and discuss for MOQs, customization options and cut short the list step by step.

Marketplace assists with discovery but, the brand still needs to evaluate each supplier for the long haul.

Build the Relationship Beyond the Marketplace

A successful clothing order requires more than just the initial quote.

Fabric choices, sample revisions, production planning, quality control, packaging, repeats all need to be communicated to different people in different places at different times.

If brands are organizing multiple collections, the development team and production awareness of a manufacturer might be more relevant than its online store front.

Direct Manufacturing With JiuvelWear

Buyers wishing to deal directly with an apparel manufacturer may do so by working with a non-marketplace factory.

JiuvelWear offers fabric sourcing, pattern development, sampling, printing, embroidery, apparel washing, labels, quality control, and bulk production. Dongguan Jiuzuo Clothing Co., Ltd. specializes in T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, jackets, pants, denim, streetwear, and other custom apparel.

Start either with a sketch, reference garment, tech pack or existing product. The team then works on the fabric, pattern, sample, decoration and production specs before starting the bulk production.

Alibaba may help and facilitate the sourcing process; however, it shall only be its initial phase, when specifying the product, sample quality, production capacity, communication, minimum order quantity, final cost and long term consistency should determine further decision.