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with the Production Unit to produce your samples.
This will ensure that problems are solved
and that the Unit is involved in the costing
process of the garment sooner rather than
later. Remember producing these prototypes
costs the Unit a lot of money and they do
not know at this stage if orders will result!
Look at these brief case studies to
see production problems Designerhelp has
helped to overcome:
Question:
I have designed my first collection and
have made up the ‘first’ samples
myself.
How do I find a suitable factory? Is there
a list of Production Units to help me?
Answer:
No single list exists which shows Production
Units prepared to work with designers and
therefore, finding them can be difficult.
Allow plenty of time to find valuable suppliers.
Taking orders before you have sourced your
production can be disastrous.
Our
confidential advice service will help you
locate appropriate suppliers.
Question:
I previously worked with a Production Unit
who regularly supplies some ‘top name’
designers. They seemed very organised but
my small orders were delivered late, badly
finished and generally poorly made. How
do I stop this happening again?
Answer:
Docket sizes are often too small to become
economical for even specialist Production
Units. Small factories will only produce
goods that flow smoothly through their production
system; any orders that slow up this process
will not be prioritised.
When a designer’s requirements are
for very small numbers, it may help to use
home workers (machinists / seamstresses)
to produce these orders. Designers would
normally cut the fabric and supply the machinist
with all components parts and would then
pay for the assembly of the garment. Consistency
in quality can be a problem with this approach.
Several home workers may have to be found
to provide back up when orders are too large
for one person but still too small for a
CMT Unit.
Our
confidential advice service will help you
select the right production system.
Question:
My family have a textile business back home
in India and I have just qualified as Fashion
Designer in the UK. My family have said
that they will produce all my orders in
India but, so far, the first samples have
been terrible. Can you suggest anything
that may help this situation?
Answer:
Producing designer wear and accessories
in very small quantities overseas is not
cost effective to you, the designer or the
factory overseas.
There are benefits of production overseas
but only when the quantity is sufficient
to cover the very high logistical and transport
costs. Imported product from India now carries
an import duty (between 5% and 7%), which
will be added to the costs plus fluctuation
in foreign currency, which will add even
higher costs to the garment.
Best suggestion – look for appropriate
production in the UK.
Our
confidential advice service will help you
find the most cost effective location to
produce your goods.
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