Hi everyone,

I'm looking in to getting my clothing manufactured, and am wondering what questions I need to ask before I do this?

Any help will be fantastic

Thanks,

Staci:)

Hi you need to ask loads - remember if you dont then something will go wrong. I have been a member here for a few years now and if you go onto the tools of the trade sedtion there is loads of paperwork in there that will help you stop makingmistakes. I use the docket and progress sheet all the time and it helps me make sure I think of everyting. it would be a good idea to have a business chat wtih the team at fashioncapital too theyh elp you and you can ask any question they like. doyou knowt that fashioncapital has its own factory too and because its not for profit the prices are cheap,. thats where i get my clothes made now.

Hi Staci.

I advise and source production options for production.

Patrick.

patrick@thetailorsgallery.co.uk

Hi,

I wonder what kind of clothes you are going to make? I mean knitwear? T-shirt? or Dress? I've worked in a knitwear manufacturer in China for several years and if you need more info. Pls feel free to contact me.

jh_nikky@hotmail.com

I am a manufacturer
And the issue for new players is that understand the difference between ordering from a trader and a factory. In the word trader I include wholesalers of various kind.

Traders: Have fixed items and a price list. If you want let say a T-shirt you select from perhaps 10 different styles and the prices are given (may differ depending on quantity). Its easy but you get what other has made.

If you want your own design, your own neck label, etc, then you need to talk to people like me a manufacturer.

Manufacturer: Can make almost any design limited by equipment etc that is installed in the factory. Fine you say, but that means it is much more complicated. Much. You must tell everything:
Style: What kind of garment. It’s good to know also for whom you are targeting it so that we can advice. A T-shirt can have long or short sleeves, it can have round neck or V-neck or --- there are many variants. Then it can be a slim fit design, normal or loose fit.
Fabric: Can be woven, denim, knitted … and then sub groups like for T-shirts in Knitted it can be Single Jersey, Double Jersey, 1x1 rib, 2x2 rib, Interlock, Pique, … etc. A fabric also have a weight –measured in GSM – gram per square meter of fabric. For some fabric you also give the count (normally how many treads of yarn per inch – in each direction). Then you have the colour. To this come the finishing like extra things like stonewash, enzyme wash, … etc etc. And then there is Organic and other such special variants.
Stitch: There are overlock and single stitch and … many variants.
Print etc: Then perhaps you want print or … There is many different types of print like pigment print, plastisol, metal print and many others. You also have different kinds of embroidery. Your request must tell the size and colours etc and an image should be attached. Printing etc can be done straight on the garment or it can be done on the fabric before cutting – so called all-over-print. Then there is rhinestones and appliqué and …
Then you may have other extras like buttons, zips, …
Neck label, size label … packing ….
Sizes: How many or how many % in each size. And then measurements.
Also quantity: Quantity is important for HOW a garment can be produced. Is it possible to set up a proper production line (minimum 500 pcs normally) or is it tailoring or something in between. In my factory as an example the cutting machine needs minimum 12 layers hence 12 of each variant is minimum unless you go for a much more costly hand cut method.
When you want the deliver, where and how (by air or ship or …) al is important.

So ordering from a factory demands much more of you. You can send samples to make it more easy and the factory can “fill in the blanks” but only if its possible to understand what you want. Myself has introduced online forms to make it faster and more easy.

I say: You must know what you want and then tell the factory that. And advices can only be given when understanding your product. Let say that you want to make a maternity garment and select a fabric that is stiff in its behaviour its possible to advice about a more stretchable fabric if its understood that its for that audience.

And after starting a process and until you have your shipment – be contactable all the time because often many questions may arise, not at least when in experienced people order and have made designs that are very difficult to produce. I say - communicate with your factory when you design so that the production becomes optimal, i.e. also cost you less.

Have a nice day, Per

Hi Peroberg...where is your factory based?