Third Garment Letter

How to Implement Quality Control for Clothing

Your clothing products directly represent your company. Positive response out of your clothing products, garment and apparel will right away reflect towards your company while any negative comments and feedback will be detrimental to your reputation as well. This is why your quality control for clothing is instrumental to your operations apart from the goal of being able to manufacture your product in the right number and at the right time.

Quality control in garment manufacturing is an automatic task for clothing manufacturers. However, it is a much more complex process whenever the operations involve importing its products from abroad. Here is our wiki guide on how to manage quality control for clothing such as creating garment quality control procedures.

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3 Effective Ways of Garment Quality Control

1. Set your company’s clothing standards.

It would be impossible to implement quality control in garment manufacturing if you do not set the bar of the quality type which you want to achieve. This process is the first major part in all quality control plans and not only in clothing. Establish quality standards by determining whether your clothing and garments are buyable or not. Ask yourself if the product fits its bill or if it is worth every penny spent for it.

Customer satisfaction should be the main consideration for your quality standards. Fit and comfort are always the main concerns when it comes to garment quality. Set your quality standards around these parameters and keep it as a mark which all of your clothing products will pass in the future. These garment quality control standards will be the same standards in which your clothing manufacturing companies, custom packaging company and other third-party players will respect with your clothing products.

When it comes to mass production, it would be easy to find discrepancies from one clothing product to another. It would be very difficult to maintain a uniform quality for each one of your products most especially if they are hand-sewn and not manufactured through machines. Your company’s garment quality control standards must be considerate of this and at least provide tolerance which gives manufacturers a small room for error.

In this type of business, you need to understand not all clothing products are manufactured with the same level of quality but at least, your products should fall in a margin of quality control clothing standards which they could pass.

2. Implement on-site product testing before they are shipped out of the factory.

Some clothing lines assume clothing products and garments no longer need to undergo on-site testing because as long as the product function much like the sample then it is good to go for shipping out of the factory. Little they know is the fact, on-site testing is actually necessary whether for clothing, garments or apparel. Garment quality control procedures include testing the fit and comfort of the garment post-production phase. This process will also further test if the product meets your quality expectations along with the right functionality and durability. Here are a few on-site test which you can do;

a. Fitting test

For this process, you can try on each size variation on specific mannequins and check for yourself if the clothing products were manufactured the right way and has passed your quality control for clothing. Doing it one by one will be time consuming but trying out a few end products will give you the general gist.

b. Seam strength test

Most especially for handwoven products, it is a must to test seam strength by checking all seams and edges. Try pulling apart the clothing product with regular force along its seams and look for cracks and loose thread to verify if the seams are properly sewn. Any form of irregularity in the seams and thread line means the product is sub-standard and has failed your quality control for clothing.

c. Dry and wet crocking test

The crocking test is applicable for any clothing or apparel with color/s on it. The test is done by rubbing the clothing or apparel to a plain white cloth and see if there were any bleeds or color transfer. The dry test involves using a dry white cloth while the wet crocking test uses a wet white cloth soaked in water beforehand. Multiple product samples are used for this test for a more exact conclusion.

d. Fatigue tests

This test focuses on the add-ons of each product such as fasteners like buttons and zippers. The fatigue test lets you repeat the function of such add-ons for at least twenty to fifty times and only affirm the product has passed your garment quality procedure if it is still functional after the final trial. If any of the fasteners, buttons or zippers fail the test, then you are bound to change supplier for these add-ons.

e. Stretch test

The fabric or material used for the garment or clothing is expected to show proper elasticity. The stretch test should determine whether the product passed your quality management in apparel industry if it does not expose any fiber material or broken stitches after the stretch test. Much like the seam strength test, this is done by giving the product a slight pull with average force.

Performing laboratory tests on products.

Aside from basic physical tests you can perform for quality assurance in garment industry, you are also advised to take the scientific route and have your materials assessed for proper quality control. Scientific laboratories can further test your clothing material and its add-ons to make sure they are viable for your product’s purpose and design. Some accessories may not need lab testing because industry professionals can already be expert enough to test them manually.

On the other hand, lab tests may be necessary when it comes to verifying materials for clothing labeling. Since you are obliged to comply to clothing labeling requirements when manufacturing clothing products, it is a vital part of the quality control clothing process to verify if the clothing materials you have used are legitimate according to what your clothing label says or not. Failure to comply clothing labeling could be punishable by law.

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Summary

The three mentioned ways for garment quality control are standard for any clothing line in this industry. It would be up to you how to perform each process and up to certain lengths. A quality assurance specialist can help. The sole purpose is to make sure your products reach the end up of the production line passing your quality standards and be rightful to bear you brand. You are also free to add up other items in your garment quality control checklist, as long as the purpose remains the same and they do not relatively slow down the manufacturing process.

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Shipping Clothes from Overseas: Top 6 Things to Know when Importing

Shipping products from overseas used to be a scary concept because there have been numerous stories wherein the product was not received by the buyer even after it has already been paid. Some instances involved receiving a damaged wholesale clothing and the courier service not claiming to be liable for their carelessness. There are a lot of tragic stories out there involving shipping which makes it a terror issue for consumers.

As time went by, shipping and courier services have vastly improved. There are already a lot of companies which are reliable when it comes to this type of service. We can also directly attribute this to the emergence of e-commerce wherein a lot of people prefer to shop online instead of traditional shopping. There could still be isolated cases of bad news regarding shipping but it is safe to say people can now trust shipping and courier services more than ever.

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Importing Clothes from Overseas: The FAQs

If you are in the manufacturing industry and your bread and butter is importing clothes from overseas, shipping definitely plays a huge role in your business operations. This will be your only means in receiving wholesale clothing products from overseas. Discussing the aspect of shipping is a rarity in the internet which is why we have decided to entertain FAQs regarding shipping, courier services and how to ship clothes.

1. What is the standard when it comes to shipping wholesale custom clothing?

Even if they are sold in a wholesale package and not per piece, you should expect your clothes to be safely packaged in a clear plastic for each piece and they are stored in a packaging box by batches. This is the standard packaging for all types of clothing whether wholesale custom clothing or retail which are bound to be shipped.

2. What is the cheapest way to ship clothes?

Shipping fees vary from one courier to another and I fairly think there is no way to answer this question. The same logic applies on shipping fees wherein the higher quantity means lower prices and vice versa. Weight and volume would also be factors to your shipping expenses including taxes and insurance costs. When shipping with sea freight, there is a minimum volume at 3 cubic meters for your products to be shipped.

3. How long does it take to ship wholesale clothing?

The answer to this depends on your location and the distance between your factory and store location or warehouse. Obviously, air freight is faster than sea freight. On average, it takes 7-10 business days to ship wholesale clothing from the manufacturer to the warehouse assuming air freight world wide. Containers take about a month to go from one continent to another.

4. What does Ex-Works mean in the field of shipping?

When all of your payment obligations to the manufacturer are already paid. The manufacturer will right away arrange the shipping process of your wholesale custom clothing in the shipping company of your choice. This is the Ex-Works process and is your benefit as a client to keep work less for you.

5. Does having a shipping account contradict with shipping services of wholesale clothing manufacturers?

Having a shipping account makes it more convenient for you to ship clothes. Even if the manufacturing company you are working with already have shipping & logistics companies they are comfortably working with. It is your privilege to choose the courier service of your liking. Simply give them your shipping account details and they will automatically arrange the shipment of your wholesale custom clothing.

6. What are the terms and conditions in case the wholesale clothing products get lost or damaged during the shipping process?

As long as the products are within the shipping company’s premises, then they are liable in case the wholesale clothing products are damaged or lost. If your wholesale clothing products are insured, then the insurance company will also compensate you if anything happens to the wholesale clothing products. However, keep in mind the shipping company’s liabilities is only limited during the shipping process and does not cover anywhere beyond.

The following questions are the most frequently asked regarding shipping issues with wholesale custom clothing products. There could be other questions on this issue but we cannot cover everything in a single wiki article. Other important things you need to note are shipping services for wholesale clothing manufacturing are abundant and most of them offer the same type of services. There can never be a huge disparity when it comes to services and fees they can provide.

Choosing for a shipping company you can work with for your wholesale clothing products is not actually a tough task. In fact, these shipping companies will actually be the ones who will pursue you as a client once they hear of your business operations. Simply make sure you review their terms and conditions before picking your courier choice.

You also have to double check their packaging standards for shipping procedures. Feel free to ask for their past and current clients to verify their shipping services and make sure your wholesale clothing products are all received intact and in perfect condition. There are even other clients who test out a shipping company by placing small orders first simply to test the waters. Once you experience first-hand of their services, you can now entrust them with your wholesale clothing products and ship massively.

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Summary

The thriving manufacturing industry allowed shipping services to flourish as well. What used to be a terror for wholesale clothing manufacturers can now be trusted and relied on. There are still shipping companies who are subpar when it comes to their service provision and instances of lost or damaged wholesale clothing products can still happen. However, these cases are isolated and rare nowadays when importing clothes from overseas. Most of the time, shipping companies shoulder such mishaps and are always held responsible for such shortcomings.

If you are into wholesale clothing manufacturing, you need not worry of shipping services. It is a bright time for manufacturing and you can expect to find a shipping company you can easily work with and build your trust around.

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How to Find a Clothing Manufacturer and What to Look for

Finding a clothing manufacturer could be the make or break for your clothing company. They play a crucial role to your company since your products’ quality and availability hugely rely on them. How to find a clothing manufacturer should not be a problem since there are a lot out there but finding a clothing manufacturer who is perfect for your company is another issue. Here are a few things to consider in what to look for in a clothing manufacturer.

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Things to Look for in a Clothing Manufacturer

1. Are they capable of manufacturing the product?

This is obviously the most important thing to consider. They must have the ability to manufacture the product with all your specifications including all intricacies to the product if there are any. There are a lot of companies which can be considered as clothing manufacturers but are not capable of creating specific clothing types due to specialties.

Experience and knowledge are the most important factors in here. For example, if you are trying to create athletic wear, then make sure you hire a custom clothing manufacturer who has experience in creating athletic wear or has perfect knowledge and skills in doing so.

2. Are they located in your area or overseas?

Choosing to work with a local or overseas clothing manufacturer has their own sets of pros and cons. You need to weigh these factors and choose the best option for your clothing company. Here are the advantages and disadvantages you can consider for your choice.

Picking a local clothing manufacturer clearly has the benefits of being able to meet personally, inspect their factory and eliminate the problem of cultural differences and language barrier. Also, if the product is locally-made, then you can also use this as a selling point for marketing purposes. Quality depends on the materials used and skills of the manufacturers and the results cannot be determined whether you are hiring a local or overseas custom clothing manufacturer.

With all the advantages going domestic manufacturers’ way, what are the advantages left for overseas clothing manufacturers? The biggest catch for hiring overseas clothing manufacturers is the cost most especially if you are on to large-scale production. Countries such as China are known as manufacturing giants and charge the cheapest cost when it comes to manufacturing any type of products.

Even if you are only looking for clothing manufacturers for small orders, picking China is still a good choice due to the huge cost disparity. Lastly, the large variety of options for clothing manufacturers for small businesses is a huge plus which means you can always end up choosing the perfect custom clothing manufacturer for your company.

3. What is their Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)?

As a small clothing business, you are always conscious of costs. You need to be aware of the minimum order quantity when finding a clothing manufacturer to make sure your company fit to their standards. You would not want to push orders beyond your budget or limit until you start earning from the first batch of orders. Make sure the MOQ is fitting for your business.

4. Do they accept product sampling?

It is not smart to mass produce an item without seeing the sample product or prototype. Make sure your potential custom clothing manufacturer accepts sampling orders so you can test their ability of manufacturing the product according to your preferences and standards. Looking into how to get a prototype made should be one of the first things to do.

It is advisable to stick with the same factory when it comes to sampling and mass production instead of having separate manufacturers. Having a single custom clothing manufacturer would have a smoother transition with no possible alterations to the product.

5. Get to know their fees and shipping costs.

Shipping costs would be a non-issue if you have chosen a local clothing manufacturer for small businesses. However, this is a big factor with overseas clothing manufacturers. Make sure their shipping fees fit your budget and they are charged the right way.

On the other hand, you need to know all of their fees aside from their service charge. This is necessary so you would not get surprised of any fees accumulated during the manufacturing process. Transparency in all of the fees is an important quality with custom clothing manufacturers.

6. What are their quality standards?

Any factory you can talk to when finding a manufacturer would always say they have high regard when it comes to standards. However, you cannot simply trust their word for it. You need to see first-hand by visiting their factory and witness their production process then observe the production line efficiency and end products. The quality of your garments are determinants of your reputation in the industry. You would not want to risk quality assurance simply because you were lenient in this aspect.

7. Who are their past/current clients?

Your custom clothing manufacturer can be tested based on their current and past clients. You can check these brands’ products and see for yourself if you are satisfied of their quality since your products will be belonging under the same factory. Do a little research and see whether these brands are achieving success and if customers are happy with their products. A big part of their success can be attributed to the custom clothing manufacturer they are working with.

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Where to Find Clothing Manufacturers?

The traditional way of finding a clothing manufacturer is by attending trade shows or trade fairs. These are events where manufacturers showcase their products to advertise their services, such as product design consultancy, to potential clients. It is not only an event where you can meet manufacturers but also a great way to look for innovative, up and coming products in the market today.

Aside from trade fairs, you can also take advantage of the internet as a way how to find a clothing manufacturer. Most of these present day custom clothing manufacturers already have their own websites making it more convenient for clothing lines to contact them via the internet. Some are also active with their social media channels and you can also take advantage of these portals to get to them.

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Comprehensive Guide to your Clothing Line Business Plan

Any type of business requires a business plan as it serves as your guide towards your goals and how to achieve them. The business plan will keep you on track of the business development and will still come handy if there are changes in the course of the business’ run. This will be critical to your success and any other setback can be attributed to how the business plan was designed. It should be the first step when you’re thinking about a new product development.

When it comes to starting your own clothing line, having a business plan is a must-have document. It does not have to be lengthy because a single page document would suffice as long as the important details are covered within the business plan. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to create your clothing line business plan.

You have to understand your clothing line business plan is an ongoing document. It gets modified depending on the need of the business development. Clothing business plans adapt to situations and it does not have to be a constant. Feel free to modify your business plan template if the situation calls for it. However, keep in mind of your goals and objectives and they have to be kept in check within your clothing business plan.

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Parts of a Clothing Line Business Plan

1. Feasibility Study

This chapter will not only cover the feasibility of your product in the market but must also give a market analysis of the industry you are in. It is necessary to get to know your market and assess whether it is possible for you to build around your brand. Your feasibility study report should contain the following;

• Analysis of your target niche
• Define your target customer
• Describe your market competition
• Describe the stability of your competitors
• What is your selling point?
• What sets you apart from your competitors?

2. Company Story

Great companies are built around interesting stories. You should include your story as part of your business plan and this could serve as an inspiration for you to achieve success with your product. You do not really have to make stories to make things interesting, simply narrate how your business idea came to life. The people will respect your sincerity and this could be a way to connect to your market.

Here are important details need to be found in your company story;

• Brand name
• Tagline
• Mission & vision of your company

3. Talk About the Product

If your clothing line is producing multiple products on your company launch then at least provide people details of what to expect out of your products. Cite a common distinction for your product line which will be evident once people purchase your products in the market. This is your first sales pitch and you should remain true to your words and not try to oversell the products.

However, if you are still in the process of product creation then here is a step by step guide for you regarding product conception:

a. Design conception

The design is a major selling point in any type of product or apparel. Designs capture the interest of consumers and it may take a closer look for them to check on other specifications such as quality and price. When creating your product design/s, think about your market and come up with a design for them and not for yourself.  Put yourself in their position and assess your design whether you will buy this product or not.

It is also advisable to create multiple sketches instead of simply doing a single design. This will provide options and the scraps can also be reworked later on for new designs. You may need the help of a professional graphic artist for this process unless you are skilled in creating designs on the computer. Also definitely look into prototype manufacturing for your clothing ideas!

b. Pick a style for your clothing

Having a common style for all of your clothing/apparel gives your brand an individuality. This sets you apart from your competitors and allow your brand to be recognized. Any fashion business plan highlights the clothing line style which should be the focus for consistency during the entirety of its operation. Some of the common variants for clothing line styles are the colors of textile you will use for your products and different wearing styles.

c. Find a garment factory

You need to work with a garment factory along with suppliers to turn this project into a reality. Choose someone you can work with for a long time and never settle for the cheapest service out there because chances are, you may compensate quality because of this. This is a crucial step for your company and you need to highlight this item along with your criteria for choosing a factory on your clothing business plan.

d. Product pricing

The price of your clothing products must be justifiable depending on the expenses spent to manufacture them. Take a look at competitors’ prices and compare it with yours. There should not be a huge disparity between your prices as long as your products are of the same type.

4. Marketing Campaign

Your clothing company business plan must include the marketing strategy you have in mind to sell your products. You should definitely consider the e-commerce approach since it has been the thing lately. Set an online clothing business plan for e-commerce but do not let go of traditional marketing approach depending on what is convenient for your business. Marketing itself is a very broad topic and we will tackle this exclusively on our future blog posts.

5. Financial Aspect

Lastly, your clothing line business plan must discuss the financial aspect of the business. Expenses and required capital must be presented along with the possible profit out of the business. Financial numbers along with calculations should be shown for transparency. The financial aspect of the clothing business plan is also necessary to help you assess whether you need help from co-investors or business partners to finance your clothing company.

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Conclusion

These five parts of a clothing line business plan are standard for clothing line companies. However, you are free to add other items or modify your clothing business plan template according to your preferences. There are no actual rules for it as long as you got all of these important aspects of your business covered.

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