Clothing manufacturers help!

[Anniejyoung]

I'm hoping someone can help me. I'm looking to start my own clothing brand but I don't know much about it. Im trying to find a manufacturer to make my clothing and brand it with my labels and logos. I'm happy to send designs and what materials I want them to use. Preferably uk based but over seas is an option.
Also do do I have to hold the stock or can someone do it for me and send it straight to the customer ? Thanks!

 

[Mr D]

The holding stock bit is up to you as to whether you do it or farm that out.
Google 'fulfilment service' for getting someone else to store and send when buyers order.

The expensive bit may well be the marketing of your unknown brand.

 

[Anniejyoung]

Do they make the clothing you want? I've looked on their website and it seem so to be just clothing you can by and get things printed on ?

 

[g]

I'm looking to start my own clothing brand but I don't know much about it.

A Google-search for 'how to start a clothing brand' is probably a sensible start.

 

[Anniejyoung]

Yes well obviously I've done that.

 

[g]

Yes well obviously I've done that.

Annie... not so obvious, or I wouldn't have posted.

Appropriate research from the links from such a search provide answers to the questions you asked - and likely also many things you haven't yet considered.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

What do you understand about the rag trade

Have you done a design course in clothing

Can you make up deigns into cut panels etc and various sizes

Do you know the limitations of fabrics

Assuming you know above

Plenty of cut and sew factories in UK, most will look for a minimum of about 100 pieces to open the door, they will not search for you as you have to be able to provide them with all knowledge on where to buy fabric and any attachments

For small orders on 100 expect to have three month delivery time and same time frame for when you run out of one size and still need to 100 minimum order even if out on just one size

Extra cost for packaging

Then start selling by advertising

My suggestion is to go to night school and learn the basics and have a 900% better chance of it all working

 

[Gecko001]

I would have thought you would need to see the finished product so that you could check for faulty stitching etc. before sending it to customers, which would rule out drop shipping.

 

[g]

I would have thought you would need to see the finished product so that you could check for faulty stitching etc. before sending it to customers, which would rule out drop shipping.

With appropriate suppliers, that needn't be so.
A similar concern might be 'I'd better have someone at the dropshippers, to ensure they do it right.'

 

[Gecko001]

With appropriate suppliers, that needn't be so.
A similar concern might be 'I'd better have someone at the dropshippers, to ensure they do it right.'

I was thinking in terms of a faulty batch from the manufacturers. If they are being drop shipped from the manufacturers, several dozens of faulty goods could sent out before it was detected.

 

[g]

I was thinking in terms of a faulty batch from the manufacturers. If they are being drop shipped from the manufacturers, several dozens of faulty goods could sent out before it was detected.

It's a valid point, and beyond 'ensure your supply chain is appropriate' can't add anything useful. Thing is though, increasing 'supply chain' is determined by cost rather than quality.

 

[LiveNetworks Ltd]

I'd have expected firms able to manufacture clothing for you would be geared up bulk shipping. I can't see them wanting your stock on their shelves for weeks on end to be picked and packed individually.

 

[Iain Hill]

Hi,

I work at a fulfilment company, we have customers who sell clothing. My tip is that I would definitely ensure that you check the first batch before dispatching to customers. We have had a number of customers who were sent "samples" by the manufacturer but when the stock arrived the quality of the stock was very different.

Good luck and if you have any fulfilment questions just let me know.

Thanks,

Iain

 

[titanlist]

What you're after here is an "affiliate marketing" arrangement. While explaining what affiliate marketing is, is grounds for another answer itself, it's basically where you sell other companies' products - they take care of everything from warehousing to payment processing to order fulfillment, and you just collect your commission for making the sale. Many clothing and accessory brands do this - including luxury ones.

 

[AW Swindon]

Hi Annie, similar to Iain's post above. We hold clothing stock for a customer and fulfil orders direct to consumers on their behalf. But quality can be an issue, we had certain product lines that we have to inspect prior to sending out to make sure there are no faults. Choosing a 'quality' supplier is critical.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

There are a few companies on this forum who can provide quality control checks at the production facility in the far East to ensure they meet specifications prior to shipment

With clothing so many items are tied into a fixed colour especially in say Workwear , you will find shirts, blouses, tie's, Trousers, Aprons, Tunics, Polo and sweatshirts all in exactly the same shade of a colour, in the old days it was impossible to match different batches, now days its expected, but from many companies you still get replacement orders in a different shade unless you are on top of them