Designers, Do you want to source from abroad but aren't sure how?

[Modern]

I want to find out your sentiments and learn from you as far as sourcing for manufacturers or sample makers abroad.

I really have no experience in the fashion industry, so I want to learn from everyone here as well.

I had a friend that wanted me to help her source here in Vietnam (I currently reside there), but I didn't have very much knowledge at the time to help her.

However, its occurring to me that she isn't the only that would like to source abroad.

I was wondering who is interested in an online portal where you could find manufacturers/sample makers and get direct quotes? (Think of expedia but for fashion)

Of course, there would also be other services that an agent would do (like logistics or QC) but for the most part, its would be a search and pricing service?

 

[BetteT]

Welcome to the Fashion Spot!!


And here are threads about production sources for designers .. not a lot here, but perhaps some information to get you started:
Sourcing Production & Manufacturing in the East or the West?
Designer Lines and their Manufacturing & Production Sources and/or their Licensee's

 

[Modern]

thanks for the links!

I'll be reading through them.

 

[Modern]

I'm still looking for any designers input about if they would want/willing to use a service that connects them to different clothing manufacturers without having to go through contacts or hunt them down on google.


Thanks for your thoughts and input!

 

[F0F0]

Hi, Modern!

I'm not a designer but study the business side of the fashion industry. I think the idea of having an one-stop site to find manufacturers (CTM) and sample makers from around the word is great , but too general to be implemented and run with success (but think about niche markets and focus on them! ). Even validating the the idea looks challenging as it will require lot of effort and time to find out more about its potential. For instance, thinking about the strengths and weaknesses (in relation to the needs of the designer) of each manufacturer country requires some understanding that goes beyond commanding international trade and copyright laws. Here in the UK Turkey, Poland, Portugal, India and China are favoured for their cheap and fast delivery outputs whilst France and Italy are regarded for their super quality output. Also consider the type of designer (is it from a small business or from a big conglomerate brand? is it a textile or fashion?) and their category of products (womenswear, menswear, lingery, hosiery, knitswear, accessories, etc.?), styles (casual, party, evening, workwear, etc.?), and fabrics they'll use because each case will require different set of manufacture (note that not all manufacturers are capable of dealing with all types of fabric or sudden changes in style).

You can learn a lot right there where you are based on how all this things work and are interlinked if you were working for a big designer licensing partner based or near Vietnam (if there's any). Also keep an eye on VINATEX or find yourself a job with them. You can focus on Vietnam's main trading partners (designers from the US, Canada and Japan, Taiwan and Korea). Vietnam manufacturers are known for being good for casualwear jackets for men and women, suiting for men and women, trousers (formal rather than jeans), knitwear, embroidery and needlework. Are you near Ho Chi Minh?

The idea can also be implemented as an Alibaba meets a B2B-auction-marketplace but for quoting and bidding for CTM designer's projects and where service providers (i.e. production management, import/export agents, distributors, shipping and transport, wharehousing, sourcing agents, etc.) can advertise their offers. But I think it's still an ideal thing (that's why I keep saying in this forum "niche and focus"!). Perhaps a better opportunity is taking advantage of the social networks for grouping designers' manufacturing needs in a buyers marketplace, where they can team-up and group-buy to solve their typical small-runs problems (You can even meet them up with cottage manufacturers! ).

tl;dr the sky's the limit if you are ambitious and focused

 

[Modern]

hey F0F0, thanks for your input.. I sent you an email.