April 2022

There is a significant relationship between the clothing manufacturers and the designers. Clothing manufacturers and designers are the base of any fashion business because once the designers deliver their concepts of designs to the manufacturers, clothing manufacturers portray that design into the fabric as their expectation. A designer’s and a clothing manufacturer’s collaboration is challenging. It needs ongoing communication and cooperation from both groups. For a designer, this relationship will define the overall quality, whereas, for a manufacturer, it will determine the client’s business sustainability. In this article, we’ll look at how both sides should work together to achieve their objectives at three key stages of production.  For understanding the stages of collaboration between designers and clothing manufacturers let’s look at this infographic first:  Now let’s discuss the details…  The Product Development Phase The garment industry and clothing manufacturers are built on collaboration between designers and manufacturers. When you initially speak with each other, you should have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how each side will work together. The followings are the stages of product development:  Pre-production Procedures   There are several stages to a standard pre-production process:  Select the Right Manufacturer for You There are many reasonable alternatives, whether you are a small company looking to manufacture in small numbers or a large shop looking to mass-produce. However, it used to be difficult for a small business to find a manufacturer before, there is now a variety of them willing to help young artists.  A clothing business’s first step is to choose the correct type of manufacturer. As a result, finding a manufacturer that can support the concepts, is the next stage after a company has a factory-ready Tech Pack on hand and a clear picture of a design they want to build. The services provided by a factory are the most important consideration while selecting one. Meanwhile, there’s something to think about: are you looking for a factory that will create your product directly from your Tech Pack and Spec Sheets, or do you need a comprehensive production solution from product creation through construction?  Manufacturers of clothing fall into two categories: Share the Tech Pack with the Manufacturer  The designer will share the Tech Pack and supporting documents with the manufacturer after the right type of manufacturer we have chosen. This step informs a garment maker of the type of garment that we have made, the fabrics and trims that we used, and any other resources that we required for the project to go effectively. The Tech Pack may be simply shared if the designer adds the manufacturer to their product development platform.  Handling the Agreement By establishing a clear manufacturing agreement, many potential issues we can avoid. Whenever producing in another country, the procedure might become extremely complicated. Both parties will save time and resources by clearly laying out the deliverables, including as many specifications as feasible, and establishing payment arrangements. Payment conditions we agreed upon between a designer and an apparel manufacturer during the pre-production stage. Designers will be able to ask the clothing maker for a price quote. Because each agreement is unique and is based on the preferences of the designer and factory, it is critical to include every detail in the clothing manufacturing agreement to minimize delays and disappointments. To keep the production process on track, both sides benefit from a clear mutual understanding.  Communication Between Designer and Manufacturer  It is essential for the project’s success that the designer and the clothes manufacturer remain in constant communication once the partnership has begun. As a result, it’s critical to keep track of what’s being said. Without a fundamental knowledge of the textile industry language, effective communication is impossible.  Searching through your mailbox for emails and updates can take a long time. Important messages can potentially get lost in the spam bin or advertising emails. Keeping track of conversations between designers and manufacturers has been a breeze since Techpacker’s manufacturer platform launched!  Approval of the Pre-production Sample    The sample approval stage is crucial in the apparel manufacturing process. It’s also the last stage before bulk production starts. A designer can get a sense of how the final garment will appear and feel by making a sample. It is a way for a company to demonstrate its capabilities and begin a connection with a client. The sample we must have examined and authorized before the final manufacturing run. Factory samples are usually much more expensive than the finished product’s unit cost.  Many changes to the original design may occur before the final sample we have made. Fabric type, trimmings, sizing, and patterns are all examples of modifications. It’s critical to keep track of every modification made during the sample creation process.  Clothing Manufacturing Process  Managing the Production Process  The production planning includes:  Garment producers must ensure that everything runs smoothly; they cannot afford to waste time or materials. Missed opportunities might occur as a result of poor planning. If the manufacturer fails to meet the client’s expectations, the client will swiftly change companies and manufacturers. The garment sector operates in a highly competitive market. Fabric accounts for 60-70 percent of the garment’s cost. The capacity of the garment manufacturer to order the required amount of fabric for each run is critical to effective production management. To keep mistakes to a minimum, the cutting room processes must be tracked. Each piece that goes into production needs to have planned as precisely as possible. Handling Payments  In the garment sector, payment terms vary. The manufacturer traditionally receives between 60 and 70 percent of the total order value. This sum would be used by the maker to purchase raw materials and trims for the production run. Sometimes a buyer will offer the manufacturer a Letter of Credit, which guarantees the payment of a certain seller to a specific buyer. Increasingly, garment manufacturers are using sales contracts as a payment method. A clothes producer uses this approach to rely on the buyer’s Purchase Order.

Textile sourcing is the process of determining what and where manufactured items will be procured. In garments/fabrics sourcing, the main motivation is to provide the highest level of satisfaction at a low cost.  Trade Shows’ Importance for Small Business World-Chain Partners In One Place Trade exhibitions are known for bringing some of the world’s most talented supply chain partners altogether. This is for the fact that only a single person can not exhibit at a trade fair. Therefore, Exhibitors don’t need to pay a participation fee but they must need to apply and be authorized first. Companies that run a trade show are a business. Because of being a part of the business, they need to satisfy their customers. That’s why reliable and trustworthy exhibitors only participate in the trade show. As a result, The benefit of textile sourcing trade exhibitions is that they pre-screen suppliers for you. You know they’re serious about long-term business growth and not looking for fast cash only. Rather they are constantly pursuing new customers.  They Allow For Face time And Relationship Building Meeting people in person is more enjoyable than online meetings because it allows us to perform better.  It’s the gut feeling you get when you’re not sure if this is going to be a good partnership or not. We often ignore our gut instincts and that tiny voice in the back of our head asking us to think twice about something.  Though we call it anxiety sometimes, this is not anxiety. But, our strong gut feeling which is mostly right the first time helps us to make the right decision. And in a trade show, you get to meet many exhibitors that maybe you were thinking of working with for days. When you are meeting someone in person you can have more ideas about their business ethics as well. Thus, this face time and relationship building help a lot in a trade show.  Sourcing Textile Shows Dates Sadly, because the world is so predictable at this time, trade show dates change on a daily basis. If you want to know when you can see these shows in person, simply click the links to go to the show’s website for the latest information. While this may be frustrating, the good news is that almost all of these shows are now available on the internet. That means you can conduct all of your global sourcing from the security and convenience of your own home!  USA APPAREL SOURCING NEW YORK CITY / APPAREL SOURCING USA In this summer’s Apparel Sourcing at New York City, you can experience a unique way to the source. Moving to the Starrett-Lehigh Building, the Pop Up Showroom is an interactive showroom that will let buyers touch and feel samples sent by exhibitors from around the world. APPAREL TEXTILE SOURCING Men’s, Women’s, Children’s, Active Wear, Trims, Spring/Summer, Fall/Winter, Textiles, Yarns, Footwear, Accessories, Home, Machinery, Services… Apparel / Clothing, Men’s, Women’s, Children’s, Active Wear, Trims, Spring/Summer, Fall/Winter, Textiles, Yarns, Footwear, Accessories, Home, Machinery, Services are there…  EXHIBITORS: 250+ ATSM connects the Southeast United States, North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean to the global clothing, textile, and fashion market. THERE ARE 36 COUNTRIES There are guests from all over the world looking to network with and source from their large collection of multinational manufacturers. FUNCTIONAL FABRIC FAIR Performance days-Functional fabric fair is the premier marketplace in the United States where apparel entrepreneurs, designers, and product development executives find the most current innovations in high-performance functional fabrics, finishes, and trims. The accessories are all presented in a sustainable, minimal waste exhibit utilizing biodegradable, recycled, and reusable materials. LA TEXTILE SHOW  LA TEXTILE is the fashion industry’s best West Coast destination for textile, design, and production resources. Offering hundreds of international fabric collections and creative services, West Coast’s Contemporary & Lifestyle designers have been offered the best level of resources and trend direction.  PREMIERE VISION – NEW YORK  Premiere Vision New York has been a fashion trade show for North American professionals since 2000. Fashion industry leaders gather in New York for two days to supply products and services to the international fashion industry.  This is also something to pay close attention to. Smart Creation exhibitors are chosen using a global eco-responsible strategy based on three pillars: SOURCING AT MAGIC This is the largest and most well-known textile trade fair in the United States. If you’re thinking of going to a show, this is the place to go. A national and worldwide meeting of garment and footwear producers, suppliers, and service providers from textiles and materials to components, supply chain, and technology solutions.  TEXWORLD USA  Hundreds of foreign fabric manufacturers offer a wide range of products, from knits to denim and functional textiles, so you can find your next fabric supplier here.  Texworld New York City (previously known as Texworld USA) is a global marketplace for fabric and supplies for the garment industry. Global suppliers, fabric buyers, designers, and fashion professionals gather for three days of sourcing, learning, and networking at the East Coast’s largest sourcing event.  In all the top-rated trade shows for clothing, you will get Beautiful Connection Group which is one of the best clothing manufacturers in the USA. As different companies have different requests, they extend their product service offering by sourcing what they can’t produce. Based on their extensive global supply base, they can produce a high or low volume of all product categories within various levels of fabrications like apparel, trims, accessories, and packaging, while ensuring you have the most qualitative and effective merchandise.  They guarantee the combination of low-cost material with high-quality output to meet your requirements. They are optimized by high-developed manufacturing capabilities and technologies, their team ensures expert assistance and professional services.