Tech Pack vs Spec Sheet

Tech Pack vs Spec Sheet

A spec sheet and a tech pack are essential documents in fashion production, but they serve different purposes.

Mastering Quality Control in Apparel Manufacturing: Insider Secrets for Emerging Fashion Designers

Mastering Quality Control in Apparel Manufacturing: Insider Secrets for Emerging Fashion Designers

Quality Control (QC) isn't just about ensuring your garments look good; it's your ticket to exceeding customer expectations, minimizing issues and setbacks, and optimizing production efficiency. By maintaining stringent QC standards, you deliver exceptional products and establish your brand as a reliable force in the industry.

When done right, it will make your life easier, decrease your stress level, increase your profit, and reduce waste.

5 Signs of a Bad Clothing Manufacturer

5 Signs of a Bad Clothing Manufacturer

Clothing manufacturing is not for the faint-hearted. Working with the wrong manufacturer can end your business, especially if you are a new brand.

You can take steps to find the right factory. However, some signs will only be noticed once you work with the factory.

So what are the symptoms that should make you run away from a factory?

Why Is Producing A Small Production Run Expensive?

Why Is Producing A Small Production Run Expensive?

Producing small batches has many advantages on many levels…but it has one major challenge - It’s expensive.

Prices in production are a factor of quantities, which is why most factories don’t want to work with small batches . It’s not economical for them.

Here is why.

What Are The Different Types of Samples And Their Purpose?

What Are The Different Types of Samples And Their Purpose?

If you are new to the fashion industry and especially the development and production processes this is something you need to know of.

There are different types of samples that are made in the process, each has its own name and its own purpose.

How to Build Long Term Relationships With Your Manufacturers

How to Build Long Term Relationships With Your Manufacturers

COVID 19 exposed an unethicz22p3al fashion industry where brands and retailers treat their manufacturers with little to no respect. Those same factories that they depended on for years to produce their products are now being ignored, left with canceled orders to fend themselves.

How to Calculate And Fix Fabric Shrinkage

How to Calculate And Fix Fabric Shrinkage

Fabric shrinkage is one of the main concern points when producing apparel. It can affect the consistency of the sizing and the fit of your garments.

In this article, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about fabric shrinkage and how to resolve it.

Offshore or Domestic Apparel Manufacturing?

Offshore or Domestic Apparel Manufacturing?

Deciding whether to produce your fashion product offshore or domestically goes beyond the reasons of cost and number of units you will need to produce.

As a matter of fact it's a decision that will impact how your business is set up and operates to best fit that scenario, re; what kind of people/services you should hire and even the details of your designs.
 

3 Valuable Things Any Designer Can Offer to A Sewing Contractor

3 Valuable Things Any Designer Can Offer to A Sewing Contractor

Many of you designers out there are probably going into Fall14 production & SS15 samples as we speak and trying to finalize your sewing contractor—choosing one and making it work with them.

As a start-up fashion brand with limited resources, you might be hesitant that the sewing contractor will not have your business as priority; In other words, “doing you a favor” by accepting your job. Considering your budget is probably limited and your quantities are barely make their minimums, you start to wonder: What incentives can I offer them to consider my line a valid brand and want to work with me?

My business philosophy has always been that a business interaction must make sense for both sides in order to last. It must be a win-win situation! Unfortunately, many fashion designers get too involved with their own views and business needs/deadline/pressure and end up waiting until the last minute to place orders, and then ask the contractor to rush without having all the materials and info ready, (not to mention asking for lower production price), etc. At the end of the day, this makes it not profitable and very difficult for the contractors to work with young designers.

Here are 3 valuable things that you, as a new brand with limited resources, can offer your sewing contractor to make this a win-win relationship:

$200K sales in first season yet almost out of business! A true story

$200K sales in first season yet almost out of business! A true story

When starting a business, the unknown is bigger than the known. Where do I find….? How do I…? What is the best….? Are normal questions to have and having the right answers, answered by the right people for your business, will make the process smoother, more effective and much less expensive.

Congratulations on starting your own brand, what now?

About 10 years ago I was hired by a designer, for the sake of this story I will call him Mark, who by then had a very successful career as a creative director for big brands (RL, Nautica), to join and help him as he was starting his own brand. He had a very clear vision as to what the product should look like and the concept of his brand (since he’s done that successfully for these other brands for nearly 20 years).

But when it came to starting his own business there were many aspects that he wasn't familiar with. While working at these bigger brands, things such as sourcing, costing, developing, producing and selling the product where not an issue, or at least not issues that he had to deal with. This time he was starting as a small business with a limited budget 

How To Get The Best Production Quality From Your Sewing Contractor?

How To Get The Best Production Quality From Your Sewing Contractor?

I was invited to answer a reader's question on Jane Hamill's blog who is my co. founder of Indie Design Association on working with a contractor and getting the best possible results from them, so i thought I'll share the answer with you all since it has a LOT of great tips for you to use especially if you are new to the process and don't have any help!

“I’m drowning in QC! What can I do?” -Bobbi, Canada

Today we answer a question from a reader who is fed up with Quality Control problems. I feel your pain, Bobbi. I’ve been there! I solicited my friend, colleague, and NYC product development guru, Boaz David, to answer Bobbi’s question. GREAT info today, check it out…