How to start with a clothing factory
Working with a factory for the first time is less complicated than it looks. It comes down to six steps, and you sign off at the two that matter most.
1. Send the style
Send a sketch, a photo or a reference garment, with rough quantities, sizes and your date. No tech pack is needed. The full checklist is in What to send a factory before asking for a quote.
2. Get a quote and our questions
We reply with a quote and with anything we need you to decide: fabric, sizes, details the photo does not show. Answer these in one go and everything after moves faster.
3. Pattern — your sign-off
Our pattern room drafts the pattern and writes up the measurements for every size. You confirm the measurement chart before we cut the sample.
4. Sample
We cut and sew the sample in 3–5 days, then go over it with you point by point, with detail photos of the front, the back and the inside.
5. Approve — your sign-off
You check fit, fabric and trims. We correct what needs correcting and make the pre-production sample that the whole order is held to, with size tolerances agreed in writing.
6. Bulk, inspection and shipping
Bulk production takes 20–25 days. Every order is checked against the approved sample and the size chart before it is packed and shipped to you.
Nothing is cut in bulk until you approve the sample. The details of each stage are in How sampling works and How long an order takes.
Questions
Do I need a company to place an order?
Tell us who you are and where the goods are going when you get in touch. We will tell you what we need for the paperwork of your particular order.
Can I visit the factory?
We are in Panyu, Guangzhou. If you are coming to Guangzhou, contact us beforehand and we will arrange a time.
Which languages can I write in?
Write in the language you are most comfortable with on WhatsApp, LINE, WeChat or email. Short, plain messages work best for everyone.