Behind the Brand "An inside look at building a fashion brand.": Choosing the right manufacturer for your brand.

Finding the right manufacturer to produce your line is key when creating your brand. It's very important to find a production team that can reproduce the asthetic of your vision.

There are so many different factors that come into play in production to ensure that you get exactly what you are looking for. I've learned this the hard way. Over the years I've worked with different companies. Some produced quality, and some didn't. The smallest details can make all the difference when it comes to producing quality in the fashion industry. Fabrics, hardware, and notions all need to be carefully chosen during the sampling process to ensure you get the outcome you're looking for. For me it's been much easier working with a company that I can call or visit whenever need be to ensure that things are being done when I need it, exactly how I need it. This led me to work with a production team domestically based. This can be a little more expensive but it's what works for me.

Here are the top five tips for choosing the right manufacturer when starting a fashion brand.

1- Make sure the company is easily accessible. Can you pick up the phone or send an email and have your questions answered the same day? When your company is still growing, outsourcing internationally can be very difficult. Time differences cause delays in getting quick things done in a timely manner. Try to find a company that is either domestically based or has an office that you can contact or visit stateside.

2- In the beginning stages you'll want a lot of your final decisions to be made in person. Having the ability to touch and feel the fabrics, leathers, & hardware you decide on is extremely important. This ensures that you get exactly what you are looking for and your samples are produced correctly. Try to find a company that you can easily travel to so that you can have oversight of your production process. This helps ensure that you're leaving the least amount of room for error as possible. (And also helps me sleep at night. Haha!)

3- Before you begin the sample process make sure the manufacturer can produce the specific aesthetic you envision for your brand. Manufacturing companies normally specialize in certain skills or can offer a certain level of quality. Review samples of previous work they've done before deciding to work with them.

4- Find a manufacturer that can produce your products at a price point where you can successfully grow as a company. Getting an estimated cost amount to produce is a must. You never want to begin working with a company only to realize that you can't afford to give yourself a decent profit margin. All companies have different setup fees and costs, find one that best suits your company.

5- Make sure that your manufacturer is a company that you can grow with. As your business grows you want a manufacturing company that has the ability to produce the demand you need.

Do you have a question about starting your fashion business? Get it answered here on Behind the Brand. Email me at reginacwhite@gmail.com