Having a successful clothing line doesn’t end with having great designs and promotions.
Choosing the right manufacturing partner is key to any emerging or scaling apparel brand. Thanks to the allure of its vast textile and materials network, skilled labor force, and relatively low cost, China ranks as one of the world’s top countries in the apparel manufacturing and production space. Be that as it may, similar to all industries, not all factories offer the same quality of service, communication, or production output. Knowing how to properly determine the quality of custom clothing manufacturers in China will help apparel brands and businesses sidestep expensive production mistakes and reap long-term benefits from their supply chain decisions.
Inspecting Quality Assurance, MOQs, and Delivery Times
In shaping the quality of goods, the first thing we consider is the quality control practices held by the factory. Reputable facilities will have checks and controls in line from fabric inspection all the way to packing the finished garment. Before making advance payments or commitments to a new supplier, apparel brands should request product samples and make careful observations over stitching appearance, fabric quality, consistency, print output or accuracy, and verified size measurements. Factories that practice upfront transparency are generally the right way to go. Most sourcing professionals additionally suggest opting to manufacture with suppliers who are also ISO certified and hold quality control compliance consistently within their manufacturing process. A factory that agrees to provide these documents and proof of regular checks is likely to be the one to ensure consistency within quality assurance and goods production.
Production lead time is another consideration for apparel manufacturing partnerships. Late shipments can disrupt product launches, retail presentation planning, and customer loyalty. A quality manufacturer should provide reasonable sampling and production schedules, as well as anticipated lead times for delivery. While legitimate factories can adjust schedules to accommodate brand deadlines, a supplier that is guaranteeing exceptionally fast delivery times likely is promising what its team cannot deliver. If a factory can’t explain how they are expediting production to make delivery possible within that timeframe, brands should be wary.
Apparel Production Hidden Obstacles
Though many find China the best option for manufacturing, producing apparel stateside still comes with a few common challenges. Miscommunication is one reason for production errors, especially where tech packs are involved. A manufacturer or factory may produce a garment to the best of its understanding, but if the original design concept is never fully understood by the brand customer, the results will not be what was intended. For the most accurate tech pack resulting in improved sampling results, brands should provide the factory with all measurements, fabric specifications, information on trims, color swatches or Pantone numbers, and packaging notes.
Growing with One’s Manufacturers to Build Success Through Apparel Production
Instead of constantly changing factories and suppliers to pursue lower costs, many brands will experience the most success building relationships and new collections with one factory with a well-kept track record. The longer one team works together, the more seamless the evolutions of design, partnerships, and productions become. Manufacturers will also typically invest more time and care into brands that create regular work, show consistency with their orders each season, and collaborate in a professional manner. This collaboration occurs when brands and manufacturers are open and honest about their plans for the future. Factories rely on business for work and revenue, but also for efficient planning capabilities.
