How to Find Good Clothing Manufacturers for Your Brand

Meeting good clothing manufacturers is more than finding a factory that states it can produce a long list of products with a cheap price. An impressive factory in the beginning may turn out to be difficult to work with in the end.

For a clothing brand, the more relevant question is generally: Is this manufacturer able to deliver the value I seek to bring to customers? This question is typically divided into a critical evaluation of the manufacturer’s feasibility as a global supplier: Can this manufacturer reliablyproduce the clothing I amlooking to bring to market?

That information isn‘t determined by any single aspect it‘s determined by combining many aspects.

Start With the Product You Want to Make

Be specific about your clothing.- Before making the call, differentiate what kind of clothing you are working on.

It is important to remember that a producer that is well familiar with basic T-shirts is not necessarily the ideal partner for a more complex jacket. Similarly, a ready-to- wear producer focusing on heavy street clothing is unlikely to be the most suitable supplier for light weight knitwear.

Think about the product itself:

What fabric does it take?
The fit is neither standard nor oversized.
Does it have any special construction?
Printing and/or Embroidering?
Is it custom labelling it?
Do you need several colors? Are several sizes necessary?

The more specific the product, the more useful it is to find a manufacturer who have relevant experience.

A Good Sample Tells You a Lot

A factory will be able to demonstrate he has good quality control.

So the sample is a way for you to observe this.

Pay closer attention to the item I rather than taking a brief glance at its appearance. Inspect the stitched areas, what the weight of the material is, measure the garment, seams, trims, labels, and hems.

Enjoy the fitting as much as you can.

The photograph may not be a true indication of the fabric. It may appear fine in a photograph but turns out to be differently textured when worn.

This is also the phase where communication is crucial. When you request a modification, does the factory comprehend you and actually perform the tweak?

That speaks volumes more than even the most sophisticated presentation we bring out of the factory.

Communication Is Part of Quality

Manufacturing is a decision intensive task.

It may be necessary for a measurement to change. A fabric to change. A color to require a second approval. A logo may want to shift a small step.

Such changes are easier to cope with if there is good communication.

You need to be able to talk about the technical stuff so that you don‘t have to keep reiterating the problem itself.

A good manufacturing partner should be honest about what may not work rather than simply going along with everything.

There are times when the definitive answer from a manufacturer should be “no.”

It may be:

That kind of construction is not going to lead you to the result you‘re looking for. Here‘s another way to do it.

It kind of feedback can avoid problems to production later.

Don’t Choose a Factory Only Because of Price

It is clear that price is a factor, particularly for a brand that is still expanding

However, the cheapest quote does not always produce the cheapest cost of production.

The more the quality can be compromised such as inconsistent sizes, poor finishing, substitution of material, late delivery or repeated sample modifications the more appealing a lower price appears.

Endeavour to compare the whole procedure rather than just the unit price.

What is the expected duration of development?

Just how reliable is communication?

Do we test for reliability?

How readily is the manufacturer able to accommodate change?

The true measure of manufacturing costs is not the number specified on a quotation, but

MOQ Should Make Sense for Your Brand

Minimum order quantity is a key factor.

Thus, taking large MOQ may be right for building long-term volume base for an existing product, although it might be more challenging for a new brand trial who are still experimenting their designs.

Having a smaller production run can also let a brand test a product before moving onto higher quantities.

But smaller orders can also result in higher unit costs.

Each business is unique so you need an MOQ that is suitable.

The more correct question is whether the production model that the manufac- turer believes that the manufacturer-following production model is appropriate for;

Look Beyond One Good Product

An output of a very good sample a can be A producer producess one decent sample a can be

That is promising, but it is insufficient.

And you‘d like to be able to keep that same standard over a larger batch of production.

Inquire as to the process of checking what is produced, how measurements are controlled and how materials are controlled.

Consistency is critical when a product is destined to be a repeat.

If you rerun the same hoodie after a few months, you would not want it to feel significantly different than the first time produced.

Production Capacity Is Not Everything

The factory can have great capacity for production.

That sounds impressive, but doesn‘t inherently mean the factory is a better partner for your brand.

You also need to check if it will be able to process your style of order efficiently.

A volume manufacturer of thousands of simple garment styles per month might not be the most suitable partner for a brand working on smaller collections with complex, bespoke detail.

The right capacity is the capacity that suits your needs.

Pay Attention to How Problems Are Handled

Almost all manufacturing projects could have problems.

A fabric could show up to the customer in a peculiar way. A measurement could require an adjustment. An inspection detail could be not quite right.

What is important is the behavior of the manufacturer.

You just need to have a successful manufacturing relationship. “If things are not running smoothly, then it is not a good relationship”.

It requires problems to be identified and addressed before they become enlarged to new problems.

This is why having communication during sampling is so important.

Ask About the Production Process

One of the most important things to remember is that you don‘t require a garment production specialist to work with a manufacturer.

However, it may be useful if we try to understand the basic process.

Depending on the product, production may involve:

MaterielSourcing>pattern development >Samppling>approval >cutting >Sealking>printing or Embrodering>finishing inspection packings

Additional processes may be required if the item is: (Knitwear/outerwear/denim/technical garments)

Knowing how your product fits into the process makes it easier to pose the appropriate questions.

A Manufacturer Should Understand Your Brand

A good production is not only about making a garment with the measurements.

The style of a brand is also specific.

One company might stick to the bare bones.Might be heaving geared toward over-sized streetwear andanother to concoct a collection of high-end fabrics and construction.

The manufacturer doesn‘t have to copy the creativity of a branded one but it should be aware of the demands of the product behind it.

This assumes added significance when several styles are created concurrently.

Think About the Second Order

It is important to note that selecting a manufacturer for the initial order is only one aspect of the decision.

What if the product is a real hit?

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Is it possible that the original manufacturer always uses the same fabric? What about the fabric construction?.

Is it possible to increase the production quantity?

Is it possible to create new colors or variations?

The questions are important because what is the right long-term production partner, that is a manufacturer that works well for one sample, may not be appropriate in the long run.

A good relationship will also need to allow the brand to grow.

Good Manufacturers Make Development Easier

The most apparent manufacturing experience (i.e. The most beautiful presentation) isn‘t needed to forge the best one.

It is most often the one in which we feel that this process is well organized.

You send the specifications.

The manufacturer is aware of the items.

A sample is designed.

And you make the changes.

Is signed off.

The production has (fit of the ready design).

That sounds straightforward, but it is beneficial to be consistent for the whole process.

Finding the Right Manufacturing Fit

A good clothing manufacturer does not have one definition.

The best decision will also depend on your products, order levels, target markets, development requirements and plans for expansion.

Could be right for one brand A manufacturer with strong small batch capabilities is the right solution for that brand. For the other mass production capability is more important.

It’s crucial to compare the manufacturer with your real needs, rather than the needs of someone else.

Working With JiuvelWear

JiuvelWear is the apparel manufacturing business of Dongguan Jiuzuo Clothing Co., Ltd., based in Dongguan, Guangdong, China.

The company collaborates with apparel brands for custom apparel development, sampling, private label projects, and apparel manufacturing in various categories.

For brands, this is not just about finding a factory to make the clothing; it‘s about finding a manufacturing partner that understands the product, communicates well throughout the development process and can deliver the quality required at production stage.

This is, in the end, what differentiates the good clothing manufacturers from the bad: not what they offer up front, but how well they deliver the whole deal.