Approaching a fashion factory for the first time can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you’re new to the fashion business. Monisola Omotoso examines why often designers’ enquiries remain unanswered.

Finding a fashion factory in the first instance is difficult enough but how do you begin that all-important first conversation, that will hopefully lead to a lengthy union? This can be done in a few ways, such as by email or telephone, or even by setting up a video conference call. Whichever way you choose, firstly you need to get informed about their operation. Secondly, present yourself as someone who is professional and knows what they’re looking for. However, in spite of doing all these things, some business relationships are just not meant to be. The following five reasons should shed some light on why these partnerships fail to make it out of the starting gate.

Unrealistic Expectations

Problem: It’s the middle of summer and your collection needs to be produced within 3 ...

Wanting to launch your own fashion brand is on the wish list of many fashionistas. While many dream about it, only a few get to see their idea realised on paper. The fashion design process takes time and what may have seemed like a simple idea at the start turns into Pandora's box.

In Part 1 of this article, we focused on the research required to develop an initial idea. Continuing from there, we delve into the post-research stage and into the process of ideation.

The most exciting part of the fashion design process is when you have gathered all of your research material and try to make sense of its myriad tentacles, which can take you in many different directions. Prior to reaching this stage though there are a few fundamental tasks you need to focus on.

Try to remember that all of these processes should be fun and that you’re effectively fuelling your creative nous in order to produce interesting new work.

Please note that this article is in continuation of our previous article o...

Most small fashion brands and industry newcomers underestimate the production process. Not only do they leave it to the end to find a suitable factory, but often they also don't know what is the best way to procure their production and what are the manufacturing options. CMT manufacturing or fully factored manufacturing are often two terms everyone should know of, yet remain often unknown or misunderstood. Let's examine what they mean and how they differ.

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According to the UK Fashion & Textile Association (UKFT), in 2016 the number of companies manufacturing apparel in the UK rose to 3,830 – a 10.7% increase over the 2015 figures. This is good news, considering the industry had taken a nose dive since the early 1990s. With a marked increase in the use of overseas factories in the East, many local businesses went into receivership.

Now, however, things are changing for the better with the number of employees in textile and ap...

Keeping your customers educated and aware of how to care for items purchased from you is an important part of the sales game. Care instruction cards are an excellent way to relay your brand values, especially if your products are handmade or use any specialist materials.

By carefully wording your care instruction cards you’ll build brand loyalty, which will help ensure customers return to you and continue to buy your goods.

Thinking through what you include on the care instruction cards from a customer point of view will also protect you should a customer raise a complaint about the quality of the items after purchase and use. If they follow the recommendations then problems shouldn’t occur.

Specific care information relates to different products and these instructions should cover a number of areas including cleaning methods, storing suggestions and any other information that is important to you and relates to the provenance of your goods.

All of the information is traditionally p...

Selecting the correct size label for your clothing range and whether you use letters or numbers sends a clear message about the market you aim to enter.

Their use isn’t based on random selection.  Both letters and numbers are used to communicate very different things in the industry.

In regards to sampling size selection, this too should be based on who you hope to appeal to within your market sector. Are they teenagers, thirty-somethings or a much older customer?

Whoever they may be, your ideal target market will inform the decisions you make for your brand.

Universal Lettering vs Numerical Size Labels

In apparel there are two standard labelling size ranges to choose from, depending on your market:

• Letters – XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL are more universal. It is a more generic way of labelling and it is usually suited to less fitted garments.

• Numeric – The Numeric system of size labels relates to a more personalised approach to sizing. Garments that are more fitted will be labell
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Were you aware that there are six, yes six popular methods presently used to transfer coloured patterns onto cloth? No, neither did I.

With so many different available options, it is useful to know what is the best method for different projects, and why are some methods so much more expensive than others?

Let's dive into these printing techniques.

[caption id="attachment_4311" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Woodblock printing is traditional in India and still widely used.[/caption]

Woodblock Printing Technique

Woodblock printing is one of the earliest printing techniques. It creates a natural, almost vintage effect on natural fabrics such as cotton, linen and silk.

William Morris used this method, to great effect, for some of his materials. For every colour used in the design, a separate wooden block must be carved. The larger, heavier designs are carved first while the more intricate detailing is left till last.

In some instances, a method, called coppering, in which strips ...

Fashion trade shows are almost a rite of passage in the fashion industry, and they can be a great place to start if you are looking for suppliers. They can also be a great source of confusion and overwhelm if you go unprepared. 

I’ve attended Premiere Vision Paris a couple of times while developing my handbag collection.  My experience from the first to the second time I visited was like comparing chalk with cheese. Let me tell you why, and share my tips for getting the most out of attending fashion trade shows.

The first time I attended PV, I was in the very early stages of my business. At that point, I didn’t have any contacts and didn’t even have a fully-formed idea of my designs yet, or even the type of leather or material I wanted to use – so this trip was very much about finding inspiration, seeing the scope of the industry, and gaining experience with sourcing.

Walking into the show for the first time, I remember feeling completely overwhelmed by the amount there was to se...

In today's day and age of advanced technology, nothing seems impossible. So much so that the latest labour market statistics show that self-employment accounted for 37% of the increase in employment during the past year in the UK alone.

The fashion industry is one sector where there has been a large influx of new blood. While in the past one may have had an idea and not done much about it, today it's an entirely different story – we have an idea and we know we have infinite possibilities to make it happen. But how do we translate an idea into a finished product ready to show to buyers?

As a new fashion designer, you’ll run through the gamut of emotions once you have embarked on a creative project. Many thoughts will occupy your mind, ranging from doubt to exhilaration. They often come one after the other, in quick succession or at times even together and never leave you for long, so be warned and get used to it.

Never underestimate the importance of sampling as it is at the heart

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The perfect fitting of a garment lies at the heart of your customers' evaluation of an apparel product. With vast differences in body shape and size, fit problems form the basis of returns of online clothing purchases.

As part of the product development process, designers and their team, typically develop sample size garments for a specific size range based on their target market.

When a sample is finished, it is usually checked for fabric type, compliance with specified garment measurements, and construction details. However, it’s imperative that the garment is evaluated on a model in order to judge comfort, appearance and last but not least, fit.

A fit session is a meeting between the design and technical teams where they assess the fit of a collection.

A fit session is a meeting between the design and technical teams where they assess the fit of a collection. Fit samples (samples sent from the factory at various stages of development to assess the fit) are sent from the fact...

Sourcing materials at fashion trade shows is vital. Though the reasons why one should attend industry trade fairs have changed over the last few years, their importance especially when it comes to sourcing raw materials and trims, has not diminished.

It has never been a better time to be creative than in today's day and age. In the past fashion designers worked alone or in small teams - quietly and secluded. They mostly relied on the same materials and sources for inspiration. Perhaps it is why the whole world moved slower and there were long periods between new trends emerging.

Alas, those days are truly gone. Today the world is a much faster-paced place. Inspiration is all around us. We don’t even have to leave the room to know what happens around the world and be inspired.

But the downside is that we are losing personal contact with people. And in fashion and many other businesses that counts for a lot.

Sourcing materials at trade shows is best done in person

Many manufacturers...