The Different Types of Cotton

The Different Types of Cotton

Cotton is one of the textile industry's most widely used natural fibers. However, conventional cotton production methods have raised concerns about sustainability, environmental impact, and worker welfare. 

In response, various alternatives have emerged, including organic cotton, recycled cotton, cotton produced under the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), as well as a few other specialized types of cotton.

Let's dive into the different types of cotton and shed light on their differences and contributions to a more sustainable future.

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?

Natural Dyes vs. Fiber-Reactive Dyes, Unveiling the Differences

Natural Dyes vs. Fiber-Reactive Dyes, Unveiling the Differences

Natural dyes and fiber-reactive dyes are two different dyes used for coloring fabrics or fibers. While they both bring hues and vibrancy to textiles, their origins, chemical compositions, application processes, colorfastness, color range, and environmental impact set them apart.

3 Tips For Grading Apparel Products

3 Tips For Grading Apparel Products

If you are developing a new apparel product for the first time, you’ll find yourself asking these questions:

At what stage should you grade your pattern?

What grading rules should you follow?

What range of sizes can you grade using one pattern?

3 Tips For Working With a Patternmaker

3 Tips For Working With a Patternmaker

Finding the right patternmaker for your product and knowing how to work with them and what to provide them is critical for the success of your product development and the production of your fashion product.

These 3 tips will help you get better and quicker results from your patternmaker.

What Is The Most Profitable Category In Apparel?

What Is The Most Profitable Category In Apparel?

The answer is one of these industry "secrets" that if you are new to the industry, and especially if you do sew or never produced apparel before, you simply wouldn't know it...

Yet once you hear the answer, I bet you'll go, "oh yes, that makes a lot of sense."

In this video, I also share info about the cost of labor and why certain categories are assumed to cost less than others...

How To Become A more Sustainable Fashion Brand

How To Become A more Sustainable Fashion Brand

The fashion industry is in major need of a change and needs to adopt sustainable practices. We’ve been getting questions from fashion designers and brands who are asking how can they become more sustainable in their business? Here are tips on what you can do to integrate more sustainable practices into your business.

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.

The Future of The Fashion Industry Post Covid-19

The Future of The Fashion Industry Post Covid-19

We’ve been polluting the environment, mistreating people, and disrespecting human lives for years now. Could the COVID-19 pandemic be the BEST THING that ever happened to the fashion industry? Is this our wake-up call? Check out this video to find out.

Solving Inventory Challenges in a Consumer-Led Marketplace

Solving Inventory Challenges in a Consumer-Led Marketplace

The apparel industry is still largely playing a guessing game when it comes to merchandising, pinning their hopes on goods with commitments that were made months in advance with only an inkling of what tastes will be in the future.

It’s a high-stakes venture that many are losing.

The Five Latest Technologies in Fabrics & Materials

The Five Latest Technologies in Fabrics & Materials

Technology is changing the way that we, fashion designers, approach fabric sourcing.

There's a whole range of pioneering textiles that are not only groundbreaking in a

technological way but also push the fashion industry towards more sustainable practices.

This includes the development of fabrics and materials from the byproducts of other

industries, which is also a much-needed step into a circular economy.

How to Source Fabrics for Your Fashion Product

How to Source Fabrics for Your Fashion Product

Sourcing the right fabrics for your fashion products is half of the battle in developing the perfect garment.

However, the process can be overwhelming, long and frustrating, especially for a new brand that is new to the industry and can't yet commit to high volume.

How can you make this process more effective and less complicated?

Below I've put a checklist of the steps and actions that you should take to help you with that.

Design with Production In Mind

Design with Production In Mind

“We are experiencing many issues with our production, can you help us with this?”

If I had a cent for every time that I heard that sentence I would probably be retired by now.

Most fashion brands (especially if they are new or small), assume that since production is the last part in the process they’ll just worry about it when they get to it, and rather choose to focus mainly on designing and making the perfect samples.

NEWS FLASH - that is the wrong approach.

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.
 

4 Things That Any Fashion Brand Can Do To Be More Sustainable.

4 Things That Any Fashion Brand Can Do To Be More Sustainable.

Sustainability - The ability to continue a defined behavior indefinitely. 

In the fashion industry we are constantly producing more and more goods. We use tons of natural resources, produce garments all over the world and all the while we are trying to keep up with ever changing trends and timely demands of the fashion industry. What is that impact? Most of the pollution in the garment industry comes from textiles. Water usage, finishing agents, and dyes. 20% of the worlds water pollution is due to the garment industry. How does it affect the community that work and live around these factories? As designers and consumers we have the responsibility to ask ourselves these questions and the ability to make change. 

How do you as a designer build a company with all of these things in mind and as a small brand be a part of this change?

5 Points to Consider Before Starting a Handbag Line

5 Points to Consider Before Starting a Handbag Line

Are you looking to start a handbag line?

We recently partnered with Tara Sauvage, a handbag expert with over 15 years expertise in handbags and leather goods. Together we will offer help with every stage of the process: from consulting to design, sourcing, development and production with both domestic and overseas manufactures.

Below are Tara’s top 5 points you must consider before starting a handbag line: 

  1. Price Point Will Determine Feasibility.   

    It is important to figure out your retail price point before starting a collection, as this will determine the materials you can use.  Many new aspiring handbag designers want to make a luxury leather bag collection that retails for under $100. 

The Most Important Step to Get the Best Results From Your Production

The Most Important Step to Get the Best Results From Your Production

This week I read a very informative article on manufacturing and production and it made me think: “What is the single most important step to get the best results from your production? “

I once had a teacher who said that if we simply do our homework and study, the test will be a breeze! And he was right, it worked for me. The same concept easily translates to fashion production.

DESIGN WITH PRODUCTION IN MIND! I know how boring and limiting this part sounds for a creative person like you, but following this motto is the single, most important step to turn your creativity and talent into a BUSINESS! If you plan your production process while you design your product and think ahead about each step, re: the logistics, the cost, the timeline, etc. your production will be easy and will have no tricky questions or surprises.

To help you with that, here are 3 tips you should follow when designing your next season: 

Top Five Points to Consider When Sourcing Fabrics

Top Five Points to Consider When Sourcing Fabrics

On July 22-23 the PREMIERE VISION NY & INDIGO fabric shows will take place here in New York. If you are planning to attend the show, here below are 5 fabric sourcing tips you should consider.

Choosing fabrics for your designs will have an impact not only on your garments but on your business in general. Things like minimums, freight, continuity and availability of fabrics, prices (off course), etc. can affect your cash flow, cost, prices and more and should all be seriously considered before committing to fabrics.

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…