[RocknNeedle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by starz1 I've done fashion for 2 & 1/2 years, like my tracksuits cost $30 to make (like any color I want, embroidered patches, and silver nailheads = really cool sets!), so I sell at $50 a set, I make $20... (a tracksuit sells for $100 in stores, 60 top 40 bottom) now, even if I sell to 150 stores across (for spring/summer, lets say) each store only buys like 6 sets (mixed colors, cuts, etc.) so thats only $18,000 a season BEFORE tax (and if u make all the sales yourself without a rep, which is what dom rebel does) For all that hustlin' its only, thats only $23,400 a year! holy ****...

This is your business though and other businesses can potentially make more profit. I don't think the title " fashion business is a waste of life" is fair because not all brands operate like yours. It can put off young talent and is generally a bad attitude.

[BetteT]

Yeah ... I would say that anything to do with that kind of athletic wear ... sweats, t=shirts, etc. (fancy or otherwise) would probably have to be a volume business to make a profit. Like Juicy who sells probably hundreds of thousands of units each season.

That is exactly why an aspiring designer who wants their own line, must do their homework before deciding on whether or not they want to manufacture it. There are a couple of threads here about the Cost of Production, What it Costs to Make those Clothes and Factoring ... all of which will have an impact on pricing and volume necessary to make a profit.

[farou7a]

its alot to do with clientelle too isnt it? ^

[kathleen fasanel]

One of my designers manufacturers everything themselves, in house, from Houston TX. They pay $12-50 - $15 an hour. They have TWO stitchers. They broke the million dollar sales mark two years ago. Beyond a website and keyword optimization, they do no advertising or show at market etc.

I'll bet you think that's crazy talk. This being a public forum, I won't mention their name (you'd know who it is if you were on my forum).

Here's the crazy part. They have NO inventory. No mass production runs at all. They sell consumer direct. From the time the customer orders the product, this company will cut, sew and ship the product -all within 24 hours.

After 27 years of production experience in this industry, I have a pretty good idea of how someone can make the most of their operation. I just wish all of my clients would listen to me the way this company did. If you're interested, it's called "lean manufacturing".

[couturecouture]

^ Wow, making the product and shipping within 24 hours? I've been thinking about doing something similar but I always thought of maybe a 4-5 day frame from when the item is ordered to when the order is shipped. That sounds like a fabulous system, to have it shipped within 24 hours. . . but it seems like it could be stressful if they got a bunch of orders on the same day.

[RocknNeedle]

I currently manufacture all my clothing and supply shops in London. I dont have any other people (yet!) who help me, I cut, sew, trim, tidy, iron, post. It is hard but is so cost effective. I havent reached the stage where I have a ton of orders each day, so far shops havent ordered at the same time so I have been quite lucky. I dont mind it this way but it does concern me for future. I would like to know about larger orders etc how people cope!

[BetteT]

I hope that others here can share their experience in production ... the next step beyond making your own line.

But ... if we don't have anyone who has made this jump who can share their experiences ... here are some related threads that might help with some information to think about. (I know that you are probably aware of them RocknNeedle and in fact have started at least one of these, but I'd like to share them with any interested members.)




Threads about manufacturing and production:
Sources for Fabrics / Textiles / Trimmings / Notions / Findings, Etc.?
Basics About Production and Factory Manufacturing
Cost of Production
What Does It Really Cost To Make Those Clothes?
Sourcing Production & Manufacturing in the East or the West?
'Luxe' Manufacturing and Production in China


Books for Fashion Designers: Sewing, Draping, Developing your Own Line. Etc.


Marekting and Selling your line:
What's in a Name? Naming your brand / line / store.
New Designers .... Publicity and Marketing Your Line
Selling my Line to Buyers/Boutique Owners
All About Showrooms and Sales Reps
tradeshows vs experienced sales rep
Product Placements in Magazines: How to get your Line Featured

[farou7a]

i start fashion school this summer.. i can draw the designs and picture them in my head.. i just cant stitch.
where i live, labour is cheap so i can get tailors to do it too, but other than a good and loyal clientelle, what else is important?!
suggestions?

[daniellat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathleen fasanel One of my designers manufacturers everything themselves, in house, from Houston TX. They pay $12-50 - $15 an hour. They have TWO stitchers. They broke the million dollar sales mark two years ago. Beyond a website and keyword optimization, they do no advertising or show at market etc. I'll bet you think that's crazy talk. This being a public forum, I won't mention their name (you'd know who it is if you were on my forum). Here's the crazy part. They have NO inventory. No mass production runs at all. They sell consumer direct. From the time the customer orders the product, this company will cut, sew and ship the product -all within 24 hours. After 27 years of production experience in this industry, I have a pretty good idea of how someone can make the most of their operation. I just wish all of my clients would listen to me the way this company did. If you're interested, it's called "lean manufacturing".

I tried that, only producing made to order, of course it was crazy at times when there were several orders pending and there was now ay i could get the orders done by 24 hrs..it was more or less a week or so, that because the harder part was to get good, cheap seamstresses and all of the work was made by myself or my bf who was my business parter at the time...but it was craaaazy, things got bigger and i just couldnt face the demand on my own, and talking to fellow designers its a common problem they have, the search of the perfect seamstress.

[irresistable_loz]

I think the other problem with lean manufacturing, and maybe kathleen can shed some light on this if she knows of a solution is that, especially with seasonal collections, you have to have all the materials ready to go.

That means having access to all the textiles, which would have to be ordered ahead of time, and could mean having excess or waste if it isn't a stocked fabric that is readily available. What is the designer meant to do with things such as prints that have minimums? Guess at amounts, and just make the style until the textiles run out? It seems like it could be a little wasteful in this respect ... but maybe others have answers to this already

farou7a, once you go to fashion school you'll be sure to pick up basic sewing skills, from looking at this thread and my own experience the rest is a mix of experience (working for other designers or interning), a good business plan and idea of your market, connections (make sure to network at school), perseverance, great product and of course, money. The money issue can't be sidestepped.. so save as much as you can.

[couturecouture]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rockitgirl One thing I am specifically having trouble deciding is if it is better to have your garments produced in a factory (which would be cheaper than doing them myself) or if it is better to do it myself and have less items available but at a higher cost.

This is a dilemma of mine as well... it seems cheaper to make the items myself (starting out) but there wouldn't be very much inventory. Having them made at a manufacturer seems like it would be too costly when starting out.

[fashionified]

^

i'm also launching my own line this oct and i'll start selling them in boutiques. i found out that the most important thing is to decide your looks and your collection everything else will go from there. if you're good at high end product for ex: good tailoring, good material, good workmanship, a lot of handwork, etc it'd be better for you to go for boutiques and sell limited but high quality items, therefore you could sell them in higher price. but if you're good at doing very simple, basic ready to wear, then it'd be better to go on mass production.

it really depends on what kind of designer you are. since of course the design and workmanship for mass manufacturing and for limited production and different. so you really have to pay a close look at the small little details.

[Marjon]

Goodluck fashionfied! What's your line called?

[Laurianne]

Hi,

I start this new thread because I hope some of you could provide me some advices.

My friend and I want to start a clothing line. She is a stylist and I love fashion for years, always dreamt to have my own brand, I am a creative person and I'm doing a business school, so I have some skills in this field.

We don't want to create an entire collection, we want to focus on one item: the jackets.
We don't want to position on the luxury market but on the middle and up market.

So we have our position, we have our target and our collection is already draw.

It's the next steps that still are a little fuzzy to us, here's what we plan:
- Doing the prototypes of our collection
- Go see the bank for a bank loan
- Attend showrooms to meet potential buyers
- Manufacturing the quantity ask by our buyers
...

They are all the steps I can think of...

So guys, do you have other ideas, steps I forget, advices... that could help me?

Everything is welcome

I hope my english wasn't too bad for the understanding...

[BetteT]

I merged this with the ongoing thread about this topic... you should read this because there might be good information.

Also, we have other threads that might be of interest to you and might have some helpful information for anyone starting up a line: See this post, above: #202