Industry
Production
Q: How do I know if I have the right contractor?
A: Every designers needs to build an individual relationship with their contractors. A couple things to consider include: make sure
they can meet your standards of quality,your deadlines and that you won’t get bumped when a larger order is received.
You may not be a patternmaker or sew, but you should know the business well enough to check on the progress of your work regularly,
and know if mistakes are being made or the quality is not up to standard.
Sources to learn more:
Apparel Design and Production Handbook/A Technical Reference
The Apparel Production Sourcebook, American edition
The Vendor Compliance Handbook, 2nd Edition
aibi.com
fashiondex.com
Q: Where can I source fabrics?
A: There are several resources locally and many resources nationally to source fabrics. Fabric costs and shipping or customs costs can significantly increase the cost of your garment so watch your bottom line when sourcing
Sources to learn more:
aibi.com (Fabric and Trim Show)
Ali-Baba.com
apparelsearch,com
ecotextile.com
esourceapparel.com
fishmansfabrics.com
moodfabrics.com
myvoguefabrics.com
Q: What is the difference between Jobbers and Mills?
A: Jobbers do not make fabric. They buy unsold and leftover finished goods at discounted prices. Fabrics from jobbers are generally less expensive because only a limited quantity is available so often they cannot take reorders of fabrics. Mills actually make fabric. Most mills specialize in certain types of fabric or textiles. They generally have high minimums and long lead times.
Sources to learn more: