Finding clothing sample manufacturers can be a difficult task, but it doesn't have to be. In this article, we'll take you through the process of finding the right clothing sample manufacturer for your needs and show you how to avoid costly mistakes along the way. Clothing sample manufacturers are invaluable partners in your clothing line's development process, so make sure you find one that is right for you!
First, ask friends and colleagues for clothing sample manufacturer recommendations. You want to work with someone you trust, so make sure their clothing line is similar to yours in terms of price point, style and target customer. Second, take a look at clothing manufacturers' websites. Are they transparent about the process? Can you easily find a portfolio or reviews about the manufacturer? If you choose clothing sample manufacturers that don't have a website or whose websites aren't informative, it's likely they'll be difficult to work with. A clothing sample manufacturer that doesn't seem legitimate is probably not the right clothing sample manufacturer for you.
What to prepare
When deciding on finding a clothing sample manufacturer, make sure you are ready to provide them with either a reference garment or a tech pack to help execute your vision. Most established high-quality clothing manufacturers are already busy and do not have time to help execute your designs without these items in hand.
If you are prepared with a clothing reference or a tech pack when looking for a sample maker, the process will go much more smoothly and result in higher quality samples. Remember that finding clothing sample manufacturers is an invaluable step in your clothing line's development process, so it's important to make sure you take the time to find clothing sample manufacturers that are right for your needs.
When do I need a clothing sample manufacturer?
Clothing samples will be needed at different points throughout the clothing line development process depending on what stage of production you're in and how far along your designs are. For clothing sample manufacturers that are ready to go, clothing samples will be needed for fit sessions and quality control. For clothing line development at the sketching stage, you'll want a clothing sample manufacturer who can help with design elements like drapes, hemlines, and color matching.
What should I expect from my clothing sample manufacturer?
Working with clothing sample manufacturers means working with clothing samples. It's important to keep this in mind when you're designing your clothing line because clothing samples can have a lot of different meanings depending on the context and what stage of production they are from.
- For clothing prototype samples, these are the first samples and fabric material content is usually not exact at this stage since you're still working out details with your clothing sample manufacturer.
- For pre-production, clothing samples are considered the final QC to make sure they are 100% what you want to your final consumer-ready product to be. Color and Fabric materials used should be what is set for your final collection.
How to find the right sample maker to execute your vision
While there are many different vendors out there, your best bet is to go with a clothing sample manufacturer that has completed projects similar to your designs. Its important to ask for a client portfolio or examples of past work so you can review and determine if their work quality matches your brand vision. Another important thing to look for is clothing sample manufacturers that offer more services to help execute your brand's goal. If your end goal is to produce small-run production or mass production make sure the clothing sample manufacturer that you work with can offer resources to assist you in that area.
You should also ask how many clothing lines the clothing sample manufacturer has worked with. If they have experience in your specific industry it will be easier for them to execute clothing samples that fit the vision of your brand without confusion or miscommunication.
What happens after I find my clothing sample manufacturer?
After you've found a clothing sample manufacturer, it's important to work together and communicate at every step of the way so that clothing samples can be produced accurately and efficiently.
At the clothing sample stage, it's important to work with clothing manufacturers that are honest about their feedback on what needs to change or if they feel your designs need more development before moving forward into production. This is one of the most common mistakes clothing brand owners make - jumping straight into mass-production without understanding all of the elements that go into making a garment.
Get Pricing Estimates
Once you've vetted the sample manufacturer, it's time to get a pricing estimate for sample development. Keep in mind that clothing samples can be expensive depending on what material your clothing line is made out of and how many you need so it may take some trial and error with different clothing manufacturers before finding one who offers price points that fit within your budget
Looking for a Sample Maker in LA?
BOMME STUDIO is a clothing sample manufacturer located in LA, California, and has worked with over 200 brands in the USA. We offer services for design development and prototyping to final production so that brands can focus their attention on what they do best - creating the most stylish clothing designs and marketing to their customers.
