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If you’re getting started on your clothing business journey, there are a few things to consider before you choose a clothing manufacturer.
1. Can They Make Your Product?
This might seem like an obvious question, but it’s an important one. Not all clothing manufacturers are capable of producing all types of clothing. For example, outdoors or exercise clothing often requires special materials, such as lycra or waterproof fabrics. You need to be sure that the manufacturer you choose is able to make the clothing products that you want.
2. Domestic or Overseas Clothing Manufacturer?
You need to decide whether you’re going to work with local manufacturers in your country or area, or overseas manufacturers.
3. What is the Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)?
When you’re working with a clothing manufacturer, you need to know what their minimum order quantity is. That means the minimum number of items you need to purchase in a single order. The MOQ could range from 200 to 2000 items, or even more. It’s very rare for manufacturers to not have an MOQ.
4. Can They Provide Product Samples?
Try before you buy. There’s a reason there are changing rooms in clothing stores and that’s because people want to know what they’re getting before they commit to buying it. The same goes for your manufacturer. If you’re getting a manufacturer to produce clothing items for your business, you want to make sure that you can get samples before committing to a large order.
5. What Are Their Fees and Shipping Costs?
In the excitement and rush of bringing your clothing business to life, it can be easy to overlook basic due diligence. All it takes is one or two lines in an email to ask the manufacturer if they have any additional fees you should know about, and what their shipping costs and times are.
6. What Is Their Production Capacity?
This is something you might not think about until business is booming. When you’re just getting started with your clothing line, you’re probably focused on getting your first order and making sales. But what happens if business goes better than expected, and your clothing sells out quickly? You don’t want to have to wait weeks or months for an order, missing out on potential customers and sales in the process.
7. What Is Their Standard of Quality?
Unfortunately, this isn’t something you can ask a manufacturer in an email and take their word on. However, you can do your own research by reading reviews of the manufacturer online, visiting the factory (if possible), and ordering samples.
8. What Other Brands Have They Worked With?
This is one of the best ways to test the reliability of a manufacturer. Ask them what other brands they’ve produced clothing for. Then look at the websites for those brands.
10 clothing Manufacturers You Can Use for Your Online Business
1. Pineapple Clothing (SaleHoo Featured Supplier)
2. Good Clothing Company
Good Clothing Company, based in the US, provides both small batch and large scale manufacturing services for independent designers and established brands.
3. Apparel Production Inc
Apparel Production Incorporated is a distinguished and highly experienced garment manufacturer in New York. Established in 1949, the company has always been committed to producing superior garments at the most reasonable prices with the help of its domestic and international manufacturing networks.
4. Indie Source
5. Portland Garment Factory
6. Billoomi Fashion
7. Dewhirst
Dewhirst design, develop and manufacture a wide range of men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing. The company was established in 1880, so it has more than a century of experience. Dewhirst has manufacturing capabilities in several countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam.
8. Zega Apparel
Zega Apparel is one of the full-service apparel manufacturers. They are based in Karachi, Pakistan. A great benefit of using them is the fact they have low minimum order requirements which makes them a good option for start up entrepreneurs.
9. Euphoric Colors
10. DSA Manufacturing
Pineapple Clothing is a US-based clothing supplier and manufacturer of women’s and children’s apparel, known for its unique prints and designs intended for everyday use and for special occasions.
Indie Source is full-service clothing development and manufacturing consultancy, based in Los Angeles. It provides fashion designers and clothing businesses with a personalized, in-house product development team which includes a dedicated project manager and experienced sourcing specialists, patternmakers, and sample makers.
Portland Garment Factory is a full-service creative design and fabrication studio, based in Portland, Oregon. They provide concept, design, and manufacturing services, specializing in more creative, designer clothing.
Billoomi Fashion is an India-based private label clothing manufacturer of ready-to-wear woven and knitted garments for men, women, and children. The company has clients around the world and is equipped to handle any volume and any type of clothing manufacturing, which suggests that production capacity won’t be an issue.
Euphoric Color is a full-service clothing manufacturer based in Los Angeles. They have a wide range of clothing options available including swimwear, sleepwear, activewear, and more so they are likely to have what you need. They also offer premium eco friendly fabrics.
DSA manufacturing is based in the UK and offers a range of high quality clothing manufacturing. They pride themselves on effective communication from start to finish and have no nasty or hidden costs. A bonus is they offer design, marketing, and photoshoot packages which could be good if you are just starting out.