Garment manufacturing process is a crucial step in the journey of a clothing line. Building a brand involves complex processes, with garment manufacturing being one of them. So, it is important for a fashion startup to at least know what it takes to build something they dream of. My intention here is just to make you aware of what goes through in making a collection. Many try to take some shortcuts but that does not go a long way. So, if you are serious about your venture you will read through and know it. This article will explore sequential steps in turning a concept into a tangible garment.
Design and Conceptualization
The journey begins with a spark of creativity. Designers conceptualize their vision, considering trends, market demands, and their brand identity. But the first hurdle comes when you need to communicate your vision to a tech pack designer. To make this process simple I have written a complete tutorial “How to give your style idea a shape“. You can follow those steps to make a detailed paper that a technical designer can use. If possible try to add sketches, mood boards, fabric swatches, and other useful details. If not use reference images to communicate your idea.
Tech Pack Development
For every clothing manufacturer you inquire about or visit, the first thing that they will ask you is tech packs and spec sheets. If you don’t have that, forget moving forward. Either you get a rejection or you get scammed. So, consider preparing tech packs for all your collection before you talk to any clothing manufacturer. Hiring a professional tech pack designer for your collection of tech packs has some cost. But that is worth spending the money. For the details on why you should do this please check out my post “Tech Pack Services: Streamlining Your Product Development”.
Pattern Making In Garment Manufacturing Process
Patterns are the templates that guide the cutting of fabric pieces. Skilled pattern makers create precise patterns based on the initial design. With a proper garment measurement spec sheet you can achieve a robust pattern. You can also opt for Digital CAD Pattern Design Services. This ensures accuracy and consistency in garment construction. Also editing the pattern is just a matter of a few clicks. Established clothing manufacturers usually have pattern-making departments in their factories. So if you have a proper tech pack and you are connected with such a factory, no need to pay extra for pattern making.
Fabric Selection and Fabric Sourcing
Fabric sourcing is a major part of apparel production and the process begins at tech pack design. You should be clear about what fabric you are going to use in your collection. You must decide on the fabric and color/prints initially to avoid confusion. Choosing the right fabric is crucial. Designers consider factors such as texture, weight, color, and durability. The selected fabrics should align with the garment’s design and intended purpose. For small-run apparel production or startups, you should consult with your tech pack services company for what fabric you should be going ahead with. Sometimes, when you have a small quantity requirement, manufacturers go for available fabrics. And that may not have the same quality or color as per your requirement.
Fabric Cutting
In a garment industry fabric cutting is done in bulk. Once patterns are finalized, layers of fabric are laid out and cut according to the patterns. Precision is essential to ensure uniformity in the final product. It is the skill of the pattern master and cutting master to reduce fabric wastage and optimize production. With a skilled pattern maker and fabric cutter, you can save almost 5% – 10% of the fabric. This is a huge saving if you are doing production in bulk.
Printing & Embroidery
Once the fabric cutting is done, you get the panels (parts) of the garment. If the style needs embellishment, that part goes for further processing. Parts that need additional processing for embellishment go to the respective unit/ department. For example printing or embroidery. The prints /embroidery or any other embellishment should be done before final assembly. Check the post “Apparel Print Detailing“ for a detailed insight into the printing process in the garment manufacturing process.
Sewing and Assembly
The assembly process is the important part and the fit of the garment depends largely on how the parts are assembled. Also, stitching and garment construction details part in the tech pack are useful during this assembly process. It shows what stitch goes where, how the darts and pleats are to be processed etc. This phase involves the actual construction of the garment. Skilled seamstresses and tailors sew individual pieces together, following the pattern’s guidelines. This step brings the garment closer to its final form.
Washing and Processing
The Garments go for a washing after the final assembly. The reason for washing it is to remove if there is any toxic element present during the paring phase. Also if there is any shrinkage that needs to be consolidated give a polished look in washing. Normally garments go through a silicon bio wash after the stitching process.
Fitting and Adjustments
After initial assembly, garments undergo fitting sessions. Adjustments are made to ensure the garment fits well and meets design specifications. This iterative process continues until perfection is achieved.
Quality Control
Quality control is a critical step to identify and rectify any defects or inconsistencies. Inspectors examine the garments for stitching flaws, fabric defects, and overall quality to meet industry standards.
Final Pressing
Garments undergo a final pressing to give them a polished and professional appearance. This step ensures that the garments are wrinkle-free and ready for presentation.
Labeling and Packaging
Garments are labeled with branding and care information. They are then carefully packaged for shipping or distribution. Packaging may include hangtags, labels, and protective materials to maintain garment integrity.
Distribution
The finished garments are distributed to retailers, boutiques, or directly to consumers through various channels. Logistics play a crucial role in ensuring timely and efficient delivery. When it comes to overseas production, the brand owner must know the process of customs clearance and Import documentation. This helps in understanding how to import merchandise from other countries. The process is different from country to country. Please refer to the complete guide to the export documentation process from India.
Marketing and Promotion
A vital component of the garment manufacturing process is the promotion of the finished products. Marketing strategies, including advertising, social media, and collaborations, help create awareness and drive sales. Social media’s influence on the fashion industry is paramount. Every startup is going for social media and influencer marketing instead of mainstream. This is because it is efficient and cost-effective.
Post-Production Support
A customer is half satisfied if the brand is ready to listen to their complaint. So having active customer service is the key to building and managing a successful brand. Providing customer support and addressing the issues of customers is the key. With the feedback on products, you can improve on subsequent collections. This feedback loop is valuable for improving future collections.
The garment manufacturing process is a meticulously orchestrated symphony of creativity, craftsmanship, and logistics. From the initial design concept to the final product hitting the shelves, each step requires precision and collaboration to bring fashion dreams to life. If you are rushing for manufacturing and want to have tech packs in yesterday’s time wait no more. Go to the Tech Pack Template store and pick your style from there. Complete pre-evaluated tech packs with a detailed garment measurement spec sheet. For your custom design please get in touch with us through our main site contact form.
Factors Help Customers Stick to Your Brand
I came across a client who had a few very interesting queries apart from her collection design. She asked when a customer looks at a clothing brand’s online store, what makes it stick to that online store? What is it that a customer sees on an online store and wants to come back again and again? This made me think, it’s not just the product that is enough. You need a presentable online store with an attractive online store. Your online store home page, layouts and navigation needs to be user-friendly. You can retain customers by your quality product. But first, the customers need to step into your store.
Garment Manufacturing Process from Sketch to Product
Stick to the garment manufacturing process for the stable growth of your fashion brand. To grow your business revenues, you must match your products with customer expectations. In a competitive market, the key is the price point, especially in apparel. For a fashion brand, you can achieve this by optimizing your cost from top to bottom. But this is not the only solution it may harm you even more. I have experience with many clients who want to cut the cost in the planning stage itself. 90% of them fail miserably when it comes to producing their garments. Because they do not have any standard maintained from the beginning. Believe it or not, 99% of the new start-up brands have no idea what a clothing manufacturer gives to them. What they care about is low cost.
Factors Driving High-Quality Products at a Lower Cost The Garment Manufacturing Process Insight.
Every Brand wants to get merchandise that is high in quality and at a lower cost. This drives the need for optimal efficiency in the garment manufacturing process. Efficiency in the garment manufacturing process is an outcome of 4 driving factors. We can classify as 4 Ms. Manpower, Machinery, Material, and Methods. A well-equipped factory needs trained manpower to operate high-quality machines. So to get the maximal output a factory must have those 4 factors in balance and that is the key to serving the customers. Urban Purple is a small setup with a capacity to produce 500 units/day. But we take the garment manufacturing process very seriously. We focus on giving the best quality merchandise to our clients. And this is possible through experienced manpower and well-equipped machinery.
Starting the phase of an apparel brand can be quite daunting, as I’ve experienced myself and while mentoring numerous clothing lines. The toughest aspects of building an apparel brand are trying to get customers to buy your clothing and buy it again and again regularly. Customers care about good quality products at a cheaper price. Accept the fact that you cannot offer both at the same time. You have to cap it at some point or other. This depends on how you are optimizing costs in apparel design and production. Marketing your products comes later once you have your products in your warehouse. Small-quantity apparel production has always been a challenge for brands. For clothing manufacturers, it is a game of quantity. They make their profit based on the quantity they produce. So if you start your brand there is no way you can avoid investment.
Optimize Your ROI with an Effective Garment Manufacturing Process
The process starts with how you are planning your collection. I know you are a creative person and want to showcase your creativity. At the same time do not forget you are entering into a competitive business where cost is one of the most important factors. So planning from the beginning is very important. To begin with, you can refer to my blog post ” How to Give Your Style Idea a Shape for Clothing Manufacturer“. This will help you organize your collection line sheet. Once you are done with this process you can approach a freelance fashion designer to prepare the tech packs and garment measurement spec sheet.
Finding One Step Service from Sketch to Product in Fashion Business
Fashion Studio Urban Purple is an Integrated fashion studio and clothing manufacturing unit. We offer an end-to-end supply chain to apparel brands under one roof. Our tech pack designers convert creative ideas to tech packs that factories understand. And we offer clothing manufacturing services for startup apparel brands. Our MOQ is low and we try to give optimal solutions to brands so that they can profit from limited investment. We suggest what goes the best for every style and that helps our client to decide what works best for our clients. We also have our online Tech Pack Template store that helps clients get their tech packs. For custom apparel production our technical designers help.