• Lauren Smith posted an update 5 years, 1 month ago

    Important Questions to Ask Potential Clothing Manufacturers

    Working with clothing manufacturers either overseas or in the US presents its challenges. And, just like how you carefully try on clothes before you make your final purchasing decision, you need to select which manufacturer will produce your clothing line carefully and deliver the quality you’re looking for. As you start your search and get into contact with clothing manufacturers,keep these questions in mindto help identify if they will be a good fit for your brand.

    1. Who do they work with?

    Knowing the brands that clothing manufacturers currently work with can give you a feeling for the quality of their production. If they work with big-name brands that you’re familiar with, it says a lot about their quality of work. These relationships can also provide insight into their reputation within the industry and more.

    2. Will they work with your budget?

    As with any manufacturing endeavor, budgets start as immovable constraints placed on the project. But once the needle hits the fabric—especially if there are any snags in production—the final cost to manufacture can add up to be surprisingly high. For this reason, it’s crucial that you discuss your budget with the clothing manufacturer and make sure that they can realistically stay within it.

    It’s also worth keeping in mind that sometimes determining the final actual cost to produce the product isn’t always possible until you receive a prototype. Or at the very least, it might be easier to determine once a sample is made. Then the manufacturer can provide a more up-to-date estimate of the cost to produce based on how long it took, the materials used, and other factors.

    The best clothing manufacturers in the USA will work with you before production to help identify target manufacturing costs. They’ll take the time to give you an accurate estimate at the start rather than a flexible ballpark figure. You want your clothing manufacturer to be realistic and carry out every step of the process with a goal to hit costs.

    3. Do they have experts on hand?

    If you’re new to the clothing industry, you’ll likely need guidance as you get started. From designing the products to choosing the right materials and even how to promote them, finding and selecting consultants on your own can take time and their fees can be expensive.

    To help guide the way, you should look fora clothing manufacturing company that has a team of experts willing to work with you throughout the entire process. From conception to selecting the materials, and even marketing your new brand, having industry experts with experience will go a long way in ensuring your line is successful and scalable for the future. Most clothing manufacturers don’t offer this array of services, so be sure to look for an innovative company that serves as a full-service apparel manufacturer and fashion consultancy.

    4. What won’t they do?

    It’s easy to think that all manufacturers offer the same services, work with similar materials, and create all styles of clothing, but you’d be surprised by the number of things a prospective clothing manufacturer won’t or can’t do. In many cases, if they can’t do something, they’ll outsource it to someone else. You should avoid this as it complicates your supply chain and increases costs. Instead, look for manufacturers that do everything in-house and offer additional services like branding and marketing, so you only have to work with one company to launch your clothing line from start to finish, saving you time, money, and a whole lot of stress.

    About Indie Source

    Indie Source is among the top full-service US clothing manufacturers. They are a one-stop shop for new and established clothing brands and have experienced design, manufacturing, and marketing experts ready to help you every step of the way. Whether you are looking for a clothing manufacturer for your next line or have an idea but don’t know where to start, Indie Source will help bring your vision to life.

    To find out more about Indie Source, visit Indiesource.com