How to find a Factory
How do I find a factory to make my clothing line? Probably the question I get asked the most!
Factories are notoriously bad at marketing so you wont find a lot of information via google.
Here’s some tips to help you find the right place for you product so you don’t have to spend hours endlessly trawling the net!
Visit trade Trade shows - The best place to start is to visit trade shows. With the lifting of lockdown we should see a return to trade shows very soon.
Check out the following:
https://makeitbritish.co.uk/manufacturer-directory/clothing-manufacturers/
Also check out the following websites for some handy links to manufacturers.
https://sourcingplayground.com
https://www.commonobjective.co
Check out the following accounts to find suppliers and local seamstresses
https://www.londonsewingservices.com
https://thepatternroomlondon.com
Ensure you have a tech pack when you approach your supplier, be as specific as possible. You need to ensure you are clear, concise and nice! It takes time to build relationships so start out on the right foot and create the right first impression.
Important Questions to ask a factory when starting out:
What is the MOQ (Minimum order qty) Most factories have an MOQ and can run from 100pcs to 1000’s.
Who else do the make for?
Can they show you examples of work they have done for others?
What is their production lead time?
What is their sample lead time?
Do consider starting small you have a limited budget. Maybe you want to make a few pieces of each product line to trial it first. Then you should consider using a local seamstress to make your garments.
Hope this helps!!
