Why Your Choice Of Clothing Brand Manufacturers Matters
When it comes to the success of your fashion brand, your choice of clothing brand manufacturer can really make or break your business, especially if you’re a start-up fashion brand.
Clothing manufacturing is an extremely competitive industry, with the global market size expected to reach over $460 billion by 2025. ¹ As the demand for quality clothes at reasonable prices grows, clothing manufacturers battle it out with one another over pricing and the quality of materials to attract more customers in a saturated market. ²
Choosing the right clothing manufacturers for startups is a big decision. This guide will take you through what you need to consider when looking for a clothing manufacturer and how to choose the right one for your business.
Understanding Different Types of Clothing Manufacturers
There are several types of clothing brand manufacturers, and making the distinction between them will help you decide on the best clothing manufacturers for your needs.
1: Large-scale Suppliers
Large-scale clothing manufacturers can produce thousands of garments at a time. They’re popular with established brands who know what their customers will buy. Because they can churn out so many items, large-scale clothing manufacturers can charge lower prices per unit.
Large-scale companies do have their pitfalls. The financial risks of using a large-scale manufacturer are significant because the MOQs (or minimum order quantity) are so high. It’s also harder to change a design once production has started. ³
2: Small-scale Suppliers
Small-scale clothing manufacturers, also called ‘small-batch,’ have lower MOQs and make fewer items. These are great clothing manufacturers for startups who don’t need to produce huge amounts of clothes. Because these manufacturers make fewer items, they can ensure product quality more easily. ⁴
Small-scale manufacturers are generally a pricier option, with higher costs per unit compared to large-scale businesses. Some of them may also be reluctant to take small orders as a result. ⁵
3: Domestic Clothing Manufacturers
These are clothing manufacturers based in the same country as your brand. Having a manufacturer in the same country makes things a lot easier logistically and adds value to your brand in the eyes of your customers.
Domestic clothing manufacturers are more expensive than overseas clothing, and you’ll likely have fewer choices when it comes to fabrics. Due to higher operating costs, they may also avoid smaller orders. ⁶
4: Overseas Clothing Manufacturers
Overseas clothing manufacturers are based in different countries, usually China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. Brands may choose this option due to lower production costs and greater scalability for large production runs.
Longer lead times and issues around international shipping can make working with overseas manufacturers tricky, as well as cultural and language barriers. Concerns around workers’ rights in these countries can also be off-putting for some brands. ⁷
5: Private Label Clothing Manufacturers
Private label clothing manufacturers make products that are then sold by another under the seller’s brand name. There’s a financial incentive to working with private-label clothing manufacturers. Labeled products typically sell for more money than non-labeled pieces. In addition, once manufacturing costs are covered, you can decide on shelf prices, which can significantly increase your profit margin.
However, when working with private-label clothing manufacturers, you have little control over the quality of the items being made for you. You may end up putting your name on inferior clothes, which will damage your reputation. Furthermore, when you brand an item, you take full responsibility for it. If something goes wrong or someone is hurt, you’re liable in the eyes of the law. ⁸
How to Find Clothing Manufacturers for Startups
With something as important as your brand, choosing the best clothing manufacturer is essential. Taking the time to conduct in-depth research will help you make an informed decision.
Asking your contacts for their own recommendations is a good place to start. With so many clothing brand manufacturers to choose from, word of mouth is worth its weight in gold. If someone is prepared to recommend a particular manufacturer, they’ll probably provide a good service.
Once you’ve found a few promising clothing manufacturers, ask them for quotes. Compare these carefully to see how they measure up. Make sure you ask about the MOQ and turnaround times, as these will influence your decision. ⁹
Evaluating Potential Manufacturers
When choosing between clothing manufacturers, there are a few things to consider. As your brand grows, you’ll probably need to produce more clothes to meet demand. It’s vital that any clothing manufacturer can easily scale up their operations to suit your changing needs.
A critical step in evaluating clothing manufacturers is sample testing. The fashion industry is all about the quality and fit of clothes, so you simply cannot overlook this process. Requesting samples in a range of sizes, rather than just one, allows you to evaluate how the fit and quality vary across sizes. This approach helps you spot any inconsistencies straightaway. ¹⁰
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