Where to Find a Clothing Manufacturer?

Starting your own clothing line is an exciting venture, but one of the most critical steps is finding the right supplier.

The right clothing manufacturer can really boost your brands’ success and conversely, a bad supplier can drastically impact your brand, resulting in unhappy customers, high return rates and a damaged reputation.

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In this article, we’re going to tackle how to find a clothing manufacturer, covering every aspect from sourcing, sampling, negotiating, building relationships and more.

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Define Your Needs

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The very first step of finding a good clothing manufacturer for your brand is to have a clear understanding of what you need for your brand.

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This includes:

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• A breakdown of your collection: styles, colours, sizes
• An idea on your design requirements: something visual - sketches, mock-ups, reference images, moodboards
• A basic understanding of technical requirements: fabrics, performance, use
• Order volumes and budget

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Your first hurdle is to clearly establish what your collection is going to look like. Depending on the brand you’re building, this may be anywhere from 3-20 styles and might include different product categories. For example, a mixture of loungewear, streetwear and headwear.

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You need to get granular with this so that when you start approaching clothing manufacturers, you’re able to clearly communicate your requirements. This includes knowing how many colours you want in each style, a rough breakdown of sizes and any specific details you need followed.

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Alongside this, you’ll need to provide something visual so the manufacturers can understand what you need from them. You may not require in-depth tech packs if this is a service they offer, but establishing whether you need a supplier to assist with this is the first step; you then need to provide any visual reference you have to showcase the design requirements.

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Next up, you’re going to need to have a basic understanding of fabrics and materials. The easiest way to learn about this is to either read helpful resources such as An Introduction To Fabric For Your Fashion Brand or check the fabric used by your favourite brands, or on items you own - this can be found on products care labels.  

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Lastly, you need to go into this process with a clear idea on what you’re willing, and able to invest into your collection. This can be difficult to establish without any idea on what products usually cost to make, so you can look at it like this:

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Step 1: estimate a retail price (i.e. how much you want to charge your customer)

Step 2: factor in a 60-75% gross margin using a margin calculator

Step 3: calculate how much you can afford to spend per item

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Example:

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T-Shirt: RRP - £50

Margin: £30 - £37.50 profit (60-75% gross margin)

Amount I can spend: £12.50 - £20 per item

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Now do this for every product and multiply the cost per unit by how many pieces you want to buy. Bear in mind that most manufacturers have minimum order quantities ranging from 50-300pcs per style and colour.

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Types of Clothing Manufacturers

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Once you’ve figured out exactly what you need in detail, the next step is to start opening up conversations with clothing manufacturers.

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However, there are different types of manufacturers and you have to be aware of what each means for your brand, the process that you’ll need to follow and the importance of picking the right fit for you.

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The first hurdle is the age old question - do I source locally, or do I go overseas?

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It’s not quite a black and white question, as there’s benefits and drawbacks to both - domestic production is generally faster, but often more expensive than overseas alternatives.

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We’ve created a graphic outlining the advantages and disadvantages of domestic / overseas clothing manufacturing to hopefully help you make a conscious decision on which is best suited for your brand.

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The next step in the process is to determine whether you’re looking for a full-service or a cut, make and trim (CMT) factory.

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Full-service (or full process production - FPP) factories handle everything from sourcing the raw materials, trims and hardware, as well as construction and branding of your garments. The name full process essentially means that everything is managed and goes through the factory.

CMT on the other hand, means the factory is only involved in the process of cutting the fabric, constructing it and applying trims (i.e. care and brand labels)

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Sourcing fabrics, applying prints, embroidery and folding / bagging will need to be arranged by yourself. In other words, the factory only handles the core component of production for you.

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Research Potential Manufacturers

The internet is a powerful tool for finding potential manufacturers. Start with these resources:

• Online Directories: Websites like Alibaba, Maker’s Row, and Kompass offer extensive lists of manufacturers worldwide. These platforms often include reviews and ratings from other businesses, as well as average order fulfilment times, information about their capacity, team size and location; all of which can provide insight into a manufacturer's reputation.
• Industry Forums and Groups: Join fashion industry forums, LinkedIn groups, or Reddit communities where designers and entrepreneurs share their experiences and recommendations on suppliers and resources.
• Google Searches: Use specific keywords related to your needs, such as “custom clothing manufacturer in [location]” or “low MOQ apparel manufacturer” to find potential fits for your brand.

In addition to online resources, trade shows and industry events are excellent opportunities to meet manufacturers in person. Attending these shows allows you to see samples, ask detailed questions, and build relationships with potential partners.

Whichever route you decide to go to source potential manufacturers, it’s crucial to vet them thoroughly before proceeding:

• Request Samples: Ask for samples of either your designs, or of previous work they’ve done
• Review their clientele: Request references from the manufacturer and reach out to their past clients. Ask about their experiences, including the manufacturer’s reliability, communication, and adherence to deadlines
• Read Online Reviews: Look for reviews on third-party websites to gather unbiased opinions

Let’s be clear - effective communication is key to a successful partnership. So you should always be paying attention to how promptly and clearly potential manufacturers respond to your enquiries. If they’re taking a long time to respond to your initial questions, it may be an indication of how long the process might take.

At this stage, you should be narrowing down your list and removing any suppliers who haven’t met your criteria.

Now is the time to request quotes from each manufacturer. Note, this may be difficult to get if you haven’t yet got your tech packs developed and if you’re looking for a clothing manufacturer who also assists with design, you should expect to work with them on the designs before they can submit detailed quotes. However, once you’re at this stage make sure you’re clear on what the quote includes (i.e. FPP or CMT) and then compare the quote with other manufacturers. Cost is always a consideration, but you should also look at overall service delivery - if a supplier has great reviews, their samples are good and their communication has been top notch, it might be worth going with them, even if they are slightly more expensive than alternative options.

Last but not least, if it’s feasible to do so, try and visit the manufacturer’s facility to see their operations firsthand. This allows you to verify their production capabilities, quality control processes, and working conditions. A site visit can also help build trust and strengthen your business relationship.

Negotiating and Finalising Contracts

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You’ve now ironed out your specifications, found a supplier, got a quote so the next step is to try and negotiate terms in your favour.

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It’s important to note that the relationship between a supplier and a brand should be a mutually beneficial one - both parties should feel like they’re winning and helping each other grow. That being said, for your own protection, there are some areas you should focus on negotiating in your favour:

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• Payment terms: try and get your supplier to offer terms which help your cash flow. Typically, you can expect a deposit and the balance paid on completion if you’re a startup, but once you’re established, you may be able to negotiate terms X days after delivery.
• Quality control: be clear on your tolerances (especially with measurements) and set clear standards and penalties for non-compliance.
• Deadlines: be clear on your expectations in respect to deadlines and negotiate penalties for late deliveries.

To be clear, these all sound great in theory but don’t be discouraged if some manufacturers want to work on their terms only - that’s perfectly fine. As long as there’s a clear agreement in place, you’re protected. Once you grow, and generate more buying power, you’ll be able to negotiate these more in your favour.

Building a Long-Term Relationship

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Now you’ve found your clothing manufacturer, the very final step of the process is to build a long-term relationship with them.

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Whilst it may seem obvious, there are some key things you need to do in order to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with your supplier that will serve you for years to come:

• Effective Communication:some text
  • Regular updates, feedback, and maintaining a good rapport.
• Problem-Solving:some text
  • How to handle production issues or delays.
• Ongoing Quality Assurance:some text
  • Regular checks and visits to ensure consistent quality over time.

Summary of How To Find a Clothing Manufacturer

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Finding a clothing manufacturer is a multi-step-process that involves a clear understanding of your requirements, knowledge about different types of factories that are out there, as well as ways of vetting and subsequently negotiating the best terms for your brand.

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It’s important to consider that finding a clothing manufacturer can take time and being diligent will pay dividends in the long run.

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We hope this article provides you with a clear insight into how to find a clothing manufacturer for your brand and consider aspects you may not otherwise have thought about.

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