Looking for Clothing Line Manufacturers? Start With These Questions

Getting the right clothing line manufacturers can make or break an up and coming collection but sourcing them is not just about price or MOQs:

On a clothing line that you are developing, you are never creating one Single Garment. For example, you may have a range of several T-shirts, hoodies, denim, jackets, shirts. etc to make one collection.

This is where it gets more interesting. So here is the defining factor then:

Start With Your Line, Not the Manufacturer

Think through exactly what you are trying to produce before talking to factories.

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What type of customer are you aiming for?

What kind of fabrics and how high a price point would be doable on the brand?

You don‘t have to have every detail worked out before approaching the manufacturer. However, knowing exactly where you‘re going makes it easier to judge if a factory is a good fit.

Otherwise, anyone can end up going for a manufacturer just because it has good looking brochure.

Can They Actually Make All Your Styles?

An example; the company could be which the manufacturer is a great maker of hoodie and not a very experienced maker of denim.

For example, one supplier might excel at producing simple T-shirts but have difficulty with more complex jackets.

If your clothing line will comprise multiple product categories check out a manufacturer with proven reputation for making those products.

You do not need one factory to make everything.

However if you are able to use a single manufacturer for the bulk of the collection everything else from communication, sampling, production planning and quality control can be much more straight forward.

Ask About Sampling Before Talking Too Much About Bulk Orders

It is tempting to jump in with a few questions about MOQ, and unit price.

Sample for a new clothing line may even tell you more.

Pay attention to how the manufacturer handles your first development:

How do you know that it understands your requirements?

What is the bias? i.e., are the measurements right?

Does it have the foresight to put a real-world solution on the table when one is obviously not going to work?

Request for Changes Degree. How simple or complex it is to make a change.

Any idea how long setting up the sampling takes?

A difficult sample process can get so much more frustrating with a few styles in process at one time.

Different Products Should Still Feel Like One Brand

A clothing line could not be all of one style.

One T shirt may be a large size while a jacket is rather shaped . A pair of jeans may have an individual silhouette.

But there should also be some link between the products.

Perhaps it is inspired by the proportions, colors, fabrics, hardware, branding or even the mood/attitude of the collection.

This is an important topic to talk about with your manufacturer early on.

Otherwise you will end up with several individually satisfactory products that feel like they come from different brands.

Ask How They Handle Fabrics and Materials

Materials can get complicated when we are working on several different products at the same time.

You might be required to have several different denim weights, sweatshirt fabrics, jersey, woven fabrics, trims, labels and hardware.

Everyone in the pipeline textile manufacturers, paper or other packaging providers should be able to tell where the material originated from. “Ask the manufacturer whether he can provide the material in consistent supplies.

This will be crucial if the product is very successful.

The material used in the first stock run, might not be available for a while. If it isn‘t, then another fabric may be substituted which could alter the final article in weight, colour, texture or fit.

Think About Reorders Before You Place the First Order

It can be false assumption that the order in which premises are listed reflects their importance.

If two patterns reach the end of the sales very quickly, you will need to schedule this style back into production.

That also means it is worth enquiring about production for repeat orders prior to introducing the first order.

Ääkki is this a repeat order?

Is the approved measurement replicable?

Can the identical colors and trims be matched?

How fast can I get another batch processed?

A producer who can always fulfill reorders is more useful than one who can only take the initial delivery.

Don’t Choose a Manufacturer Just Because the MOQ Is Low

Having a low MOQ can be advantageous, particularly if you are trying out a new range of clothing.

However, this should not the only factor in your selection of a producer.

A very low minimum helps little if samples are hard to produce, communication is slow, quality differs from style to style, or successful products cannot be duplicated reliably.

The better question is:

Is this production model ofthatmassproducer going to suit how my brand will evolve?

It is, however, of more significance than that to investigate how the value has been established.

What Should You Ask Before Choosing?

Before you select your solution you should be able to answer a number of simple questions:

Can they produce the same line of products?

Is it possible to produce samples correctly?

Are they able to to consistently hold together in the second style?

Can they meet the requirements for further orders?

Can they scale if their brand gets bigger?

You do not need a manufacturer which says it can do it all.

Few are only capable of doing what you want to build.

Building a Clothing Line With JiuvelWear

If you are interested in premium denim, street wear, hoodies, T-shirts, jackets, or any other custom apparel; JiuvelWear is here to support brands with product development and manufacturing.

Services might be determined by project ranging from sourcing and development of fabrics, sample, OEM, ODM, private label, other custom branding and packings to large bulk production.

The benefit for a clothing line is definitely not to have to find someone to make individual pieces.

It means having a production partner who is capable of understanding the collection, producing consistent details, and willing to continue producing those details as your brand develops.

Identify the right manufacturer for building your clothing line is much easier. Remember that the right manufacturer should help you on growing your clothing line, not giving you headache.