The fabric you choose is an essential part of your collection. It influences the way your garment looks, feels, falls, and flows. While it’s easy to tell the difference between moleskin and wool, sourcing your materials isn’t always black and white. Here are a few important questions you should ask when finding suppliers and materials for your line:
DESIGNER SIDE
Sourcing starts with finding out your needs as a designer. Without an understanding of what you need, it’s nearly impossible to find the right materials and supplier for your line. Here are a few questions you should ask before you decide on a supplier:
WHAT’S THE MATERIAL FOR?
At this point, you’ve probably completed your tech pack and have an idea of what materials you need for your clothing line. To source your materials efficiently, you’ll need to determine the exact components that are going to be used, starting with:
- What season is your line designed for? Are you working on an F/W line or creating a lighter collection for spring/summer? This will help you decide on the fabrics and materials you’ll need.
- What is the purpose of your collection? Whether it’s a small-scale collection for retail or a runway line for a fashion show, the purpose of your collection helps determine things like functionality, rigidity, and durability, which are essential to the proper execution of your design.
- What type of garment are you creating? Consider what type of garment you’re making before determining the right fabric. Undergarments are often made with breathable fabrics like cotton or even modal which have high absorption. While Polyester fabrics don’t have great breathability, they are often wrinkle much less than natural fibers making them great for many contemporary items that lay loosely on the body. Understanding each fabric and it’s properties in relationship to the garment you’re making allows you to ensure you’re picking the right material for the job.
WHAT’S THE PLAN?
Once you’ve decided on the materials you need, you should establish a plan for the execution. Doing so will allow you to streamline your operation, resulting in a more efficient and affordable execution of your collection.
- How are you going to use the materials? Whether you’re ordering 5 square feet for trim or 500 square feet for the bulk of your design, you should have a plan for how you’re going to use all of the material to avoid any waste.
- Are you going to dye/treat the materials? Many suppliers offer pre-treated or dyed materials, but what if they don’t have the finish you’re looking for? It’s important to decide whether or not you’re going to alter your materials as some suppliers may be able to do it for you.
- How much do you need? Determining how much material you’re going to need can help you narrow down your choices in the beginning and save you time and money in the long run. More fabric will bring down the price, but you risk extra inventory. It’s important to know how much you need so that you can confirm that a supplier is able to fulfill your order.
Here are the top 7 questions you should ask fabric vendors:
| 1. Lead Times or In stock fabrics available? |
| 2. MOQ’s – Minimum order quantity (Per Color) |
| 3. Price per yard (production and sample pricing) |
| 4. Cuttable width (58″/60″is standard) |
| 5. Weight (GSM) |
| 6. Inventory available and frequency of purchasing |
| 7. Payment terms (COD,Net 30 etc.) |
SUPPLIER SIDE
Now that you’ve figured out what you need from a design perspective, it’s time to find a supplier that can meet your needs. This can be tough since many suppliers have very high minimum order quantities, which isn’t ideal if you’re working on a small collection. Here are a few questions you can ask to hone in on the perfect supplier.
WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING?
Suppliers specialize in different fabrics and materials. If you’re looking for cotton, it’s common knowledge that Egypt and Peruvian suppliers are some of the best due to their long staple cotton, whereas New Zealand is home to some of the best merino wool in the world. It’s important to choose a supplier that stocks the materials you need and is able to deliver when it comes time to produce your line. You don’t want to order fabric for your samples only to be told that the supplier doesn’t have any more for production after you’ve already taken orders. The closer you get to the source, the more affordable your materials will be, But the higher your order quantity will have to be. If you’re just getting started Here are a few possible suppliers you may want to consider:
- Agents/sales reps: Agents have access to networks of suppliers, and can help you source materials and producers for a fee. This is usually the most expensive option, and you may be required to place a large order.
- Trade shows: Trade shows allow you to develop personal relationships with suppliers, and give you the opportunity to view their products up close.
- Online: Shopping online for materials can be hit or miss, but it’s possible to find amazing materials without even leaving your couch. Just make sure that you know exactly what you are ordering.
- Converter: A company that buys materials directly from fabric mills, then treats or alters them into a full line of finished fabrics. They are a great choice for trendy and “in” materials, and often have low minimum order sizes.
- Jobber: Jobbers buy large quantities fabric from mills, converters, and design businesses, then resell them to smaller design companies and manufacturers at wholesale prices. This allows for lower minimums but a constantly rotating stock.
- Mills: Most mills and larger suppliers don’t have website or customer-facing contact information since they usually deal with businesses. If you manage to touch base with a mill with the materials you need, be prepared to make a large order.
- Full-Service Development Shop: Full-service development shops have established relationships with different suppliers and can cut down on the time needed to source the best fabrics for you. Their consultative approach won’t be as cheap as doing it yourself unless you factor in the time saved and stress avoided.