Whatever designs you think up in your head, I can guarantee they will not be what actually gets produced.
And, that’s ok.
Things like available materials, your MOQ, and price constraints will determine what your final designs look like.
Learn how to be flexible so you can keep moving forward and not get stuck
Everything in fashion takes longer than you think it will.
Even if you are working with the best suppliers in the industry.
It’s just the way this industry works.
So, to keep your sanity, make sure to add at least two weeks to all of the dates given to you by your suppliers.
click on over to the beginner fashion startup guide...
Always have a backup supplier.
I don’t care how much you “love” the factory you work with. Or that you have been working with them for five years.
Suppliers go out of business, get delayed because of natural disasters, and sometimes increase prices. You need to have a Plan B… And C.
Try to keep your supply chain close together.
I just had a client who wanted to import Indian fabrics to Bali and then ship the final garments to the USA.
Why not just make the whole thing in India?
This will save money, AND time.
This is a lesson sadly learned with experience.
But if something in the back of your mind is telling you no…
Listen!
YOU are responsible for the factory’s quality. Yes, YOU!
It is YOUR job to do a final quality check before the goods ship.
YOU can either go there and do it yourself or hire a third-party company.
This is one of the biggest mistakes new brands make: thinking that quality assurance is the factory's job and not theirs.
And, never move into production until you see a perfect sample.
If a factory tells you – “don’t worry, we will fix it in production”. You should worry.
A sample should be totally perfect before you pay them the big bucks for your production order. Because think about it – if they can’t get 1 piece right, what makes you think they will get 100?
The garment industry is old school.
Sometimes the fastest way to get something done is to pick up the phone.
I know, I know – you probably hate it, but it could save you days of waiting for unanswered emails.
Take pictures of everything and write everything down.
If you have a phone call, send an email recap of what was said.
These records are going to be crucial when (not if) something goes wrong (because something ALWAYS goes wrong in fashion).
BTW, a sign of a good supplier is not that they don’t make mistakes because everyone does, but how they correct them when they do.
click on over to the beginner fashion startup guide...