White Label Clothing Manufacturers for Growing Brands

Launching a clothing brand does not necessarily mean being dedicated to designing each individual piece of clothing from the ground up. An entrepreneur might know exactly what style they are aiming for but would rather dedicate more resources to marketing, branding and sales than to pattern making for each item. This means readymade clothing could be a tempting starting point for a product line – and this is where white label clothing manufacturers can come in.

A Faster Way to Build a Collection

White label is a pre-existing garment.

The manufacturer has the product, and the brand puts its identity into it by means of labels and hangtags, packaging and printing or embroidery, or any other finishing details.

In addition, FS100 has a similar process through its private label program: different brands choose from existing blank apparel and decorate it with labels, hangtags, and packaging, instead of developing an apparel through full cut-and-sew process.

Ache will model can alleviate the amount of development work involved in new clothing range.

The Terms Do Not Always Match

Another problem is when there are discrepancies in the way brands compare suppliers, as manufactures have not used “white label” and “private label” uniformly;

Comprehensive Made sets the parameter more clearly. It defines private label as a product, which is is a single generic product that will be rebranded by a number of different sellers, as opposed to its private label program that develop garments around a brand specifications for fit, colour and fabric.

Other companies use ‘private label’ for pre-made clothes which simply get a private label on them. There is a very complex process ZN Apparel offers: “private label” production, including private labels, tags, packaging, cut-and-sew production, decoration and quality control.

The practical lesson is equally straightforward: it is best to ask what the supplier actually modifies instead of selecting a factory based on the service name.

Ask One Question Before Ordering

A useful first question is:

Am I ableto alter the actual garment or can only the label be altered?

If the supplier will (a) provide a standard T-shirt, and (b) allow you to change the neck label, add a hangtag and print your artwork, this provides an quite straight-forward white-label way forward.

When you have the option to customize fabric, trim, measurements, pattern, construction, colors and so on, you‘re getting closer and closer to private label or custom production.

That difference is what can bring a product into your brand identity or just your brand name.

Existing Products Have Advantages

Prepared clothing may be logical when time and ease are the key characteristics.

If you are coming in as a new brand you could just take an existing T-shirt, a hoodie, sweatshirt, jacket or a pair of pants, and just focus on colors, graphics, branding, photography and sales.

There are more decisions to be made with a full custom development. The brand must determine fit measurements, fabric, construction, trims etc. to begin production.

White label then offers a brand a means to trial a product idea prior to committing significant resources to the creation of new original products.

Product Control Has Limits

The same simplicity can still be a problem.

A stock garment can have set measurements, fabric options, colors, and blocking details. If the brand wants a totally different silhouette or fabric weight, the supplier will have to go into custom development.

For instance, a streetwear company may require a certain type of oversized fit and heavyweight fabric. The regular blank hoodie maybe isn‘t quite control.

That point is important because the quick and easy first product might not continue to be the right thing when the brand builds up a stronger personality.

Branding Creates the Difference

However, the finished product itself is much more than just the article of clothing.

Custom woven labels are an alternative to neck branding. Hangtags provide a place for product information and brand messaging. Embroidery, screen printing, patches and packaging are additional options to change the presentation.

The group now merged with several. FS100 is one of them. It still under a single program for blank apparel sourcing plus decoration, custom labels and finishing. While ZN Apparel is showing custom labels, hangtag, packaging and decoration as white-label services.

So, a brand needs to look at entire branding process rather than just asking if a factory can do a stitching for a new label.

Quantity Still Matters

White label does not always signify a very small order.

The manufacturers have different MOQs. For ZN Apparel ‘s white-label program it is 100 pcs per style (calling it a minimum order is a bit unfair!), for other suppliers they are different quantities and terms depending on the type of product and service.

Previously before submitting an order, inquire if any applies to one style, color, size, or one item of personalization.

A supplier may also set different requirements to the stock garments and the custom production.

Samples Protect the Brand

Product shots may not be able to describe a piece fully.

Sample allows the brand examine fabric weight, feel of hand, fit, measurements, stitch, color, applied logo or placement, label quality and decoration.

All of this becomes even more critical when the intention is to sell the garment at a premium. The customer will be paying for the product and not the supplier‘s picture.

Labels Require More Attention

Reapplying the factory label is not a way to mitigate the manufacturer‘s liability for knowing about labeling requirements.

According to the U. S. Federal Trade Commission, most textile and wool products subject to legal regulation require labels listing fiber content, country of origin, and the name of the manufacturer or another responsible company.

Other provisions of the FTC‘s Textile Fiber Rule mandate that both consumer and industrial products that are covered by the rule and that are marketed within the U. S. show the following information:

Care information counts too. The FTC’s Care Labeling Rule mandates that manufacturers and importers place suitable care instructions on garments within its scope.

If a brand intends to overseas selling, it is necessary to communicate these information to supplier.

Reorders Can Become More Important Than the First Order

Suppose a hoodie turns out to be among the popular Top Products of the brand.

Perhaps in 6 months time the customer will want the same garment again but this time in different colours and/or sizes. So this in the stages where accuracy and uniformity (helping to provide consistency) is desired.

The brand should inquire if the supplier is capable of reproducing the same measurements, fabric specs, colors, labels, and decoration.

A good first order makes a product reference. A good supplier relationship utilizes that reference again.

Know When to Move Beyond White Label

White label can be a good fit for the testing phase, but certain brands will eventually require more control.

A new label aquirered would be looking for a distinctive design, out of the ordinary fabric, an altered wash, alternative pocket construction, altered trims, or an entirely different garment silhouette.

That extra control can be achieved through private label manufacturing or custom manufacturing. The company can take a reference garment, sketch, or tech pack as its starting point and create the product based on it.

That transition can occur once the brand knows which products are worth a further investment.

Custom Apparel Production With JiuvelWear

JiuvelWear helps brands in fabric sourcing, sample development, private label info, bespoke apparel manufacturing, printing, embroidery, labels and bulk production. Dongguan Jiuzuo Clothing Co., Ltd. is in T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, pants, jackets, streetwear and additional tailor-made apparel.

Having an established reference when a body of product is required is a good stepping stone for a brand. Where a product requires more control the existing product can then go into fabric selection, patterns development, sampling, changes made, branding, and custom manufacturing.

When a brand is using white label clothing manufacturers, the most crucial question they need to ask is not who offers the lowest price, but ‘what level of control is necessary, how fast is time to market needed, and will the supplier be able to meet the demands of a growing clothing line?’