tel. 866.695.7022 build your own brand CUSTOM APPAREL IN A NUTSHELL by Billy Cameron Considering doing your own custom apparel? Well, there is much to consider: fabric (cotton, poly/cotton or polyester), fabric weight, fabric yield, garment construction, how many stitches per inch, garment specifications, decoration, (embroidery or screen print), packaging, minimums, lead times, on and on and on........................... However, at the end of the day, in this highly competitive marketplace, having your own products will be what sets you apart from your competitors, allows you to build more brand loyalty & if done correctly, puts more money in your pocket. In today’s fast paced world, there is very little room for error, and in the world of garment manufacturing, there are so many choices of where to have garments made. To Tom Friedman’s credit, “The World Is Flat”, and the more you research, the more confusing things get. I once sat in a 1 seminar where we were told if 50% of the garment manufacturers went out of business today, the remaining 50% could easily maintain the demand. Pretty crowded marketplace! On top of all of this, once you start receiving prices you will find prices all over the place. Ssome will be much lower than others, making it more difficult to choose who and where you want to place your production. Here is a typical scenario, which I have run into more times than I would like to admit. We are asked to quote a specific garment. In order to cost a garment correctly, there must be a tech pack submitted that explains every detail about this specific garment. Once we gather all information needed, figure out fabric utilization, labor, cost of accessories, etc., we submit the price. At this time, we either receive confirmation to move forward or receive a blank stare and a comment that your pricing is way too high. We then ask a few questions and gather more information www.corporateapparelusa.net checking fabric that has just been dyed embroidery 2 and then find out that our client we are working with was quoted a ridiculous cost from the start from a country we have never heard of before. They are now stressing because they need to deliver the program at the price they were quoted, which by the way, is impossible. Now what happens is our client has in their head this is the price they should be getting or something close and now their whole world has been turned upside down, because they have been quoted a price that is not feasible. Therefore, they will never get their delivery. This is why understanding FOB, LDP, DDP, fabric cost, labor rates, cost of accessories, transportation, duties, broker fees all come into play and can make or break a program. Which countries are duty free; why are they duty free? Where are the fabrics coming from; is the fabric yarn dyed or pieced dyed? Are the fabrics made from combed ringspun yarns, or carded open end yarns; have they been direct dyed or reactive dyed. Does the fabric have resin; what the heck is resin? Well, the good part is there are a lot of great companies to partner with to produce your product. At the end of the day your choice should be made based on with whom you are doing business vs. where you are doing business. It is most important to make sure you are clear on your supplier’s capabilities and their limitations. Sylvester in cutting room At Corporate Apparel USA, we have all been in the garment manufacturing business longer than we would like to admit. We have seen production move from the USA to Mexico and Central America to China & India and now to places like Cambodia and Vietnam. We are owned by 1 of the largest multi-national companies in the world, and most importantly, we do what we say we are going to do or cannot do. Having the experience we all have in the garment business, we have set up a simple formula that will give you the confidence and support needed to run your program. We have great consistent products and services at competitive prices that will allow you to service your accounts properly and make money. For more information on our company and how to get started, you may contact me at 866.659.7022 or via e-mail at [email protected]. finished custom piece www.corporateapparelusa.net