3 answers
Giovanni
Student
Riverview, Florida
1
Question
Updated
1006 views
How do i get a factory to produce clothing?
I want to be an Entrepreneur and start off with a clothing line. #Skidds #textiles #manufacturing
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3 answers
Donald knapik
VP/ Founding Member at DO iT, LLC
80
Answers
Paoli, Pennsylvania
Updated
Donald’s Answer
How do you get a factory? Start small, know your product and process and do some real thinking about how you might accomplish your goal.
Hundreds of businesses are started each day around the globe. They range in size from a few dollars of revenue to giant sums of money. For the entrepreneur, starting out can be very challenging or if one has the appropriate backing and experience, very easy.
Some of the elements to consider are listed below, not all, but a sampling of questions you might want to begin with:
Do you have the self-discipline, drive and dedication to your venture? Good ideas are a “dime a dozen”, translating those ideas into goods and services (and making a profit) is not for the easily discouraged. While success is particularly satisfying as an entrepreneur, the amount of time, effort and difficulty will not be minimal. Do you have the personal communication skills, sales ability and technical knowledge necessary to market and sell your product or service?
Do I have the financial backing to embark on your venture? If you’re living at home and are receiving food, clothing and shelter, insurance, transportation and a space for your venture, that’s great. If you are missing any of these resources, it will be necessary to provide them while you are starting your business. That said, people have started businesses on a “shoestring” but it is VERY difficult to do and contributes to the already high stress involved with a startup.
Do you have the core competencies to start the business? Kim's answer did a nice job of describing those. I'm talking about the analytical skills, financial tools, marketing strategy etc. It helps to list the resources you need, the resources you have and the gap between the two. Filling in the gaps with resources will be an important part of your business planning.
Have you defined who are your likely customers and why they are likely to purchase your products? Do you have the right "contacts" or will you be out selling as well as designing and manufacturing? Have you explored other companies in the same field? On what basis will you compete with them?
Once you have most of these questions answered, out, you’ll be ready to begin a formal business plan, developing all the details of your concept and delivery scheme. And you need to have the time to totally think through you idea from start to opening the door of your factory….that’s when the real challenge begins!
Now I know this sounds very complicated but it is done every day and the people who make this happen are the ones who keep our economy running. And I hear a lot of, "I just want to design clothing, or maybe airplanes or provide a service". The reality is that this is really just the starting point!
That said, Every major designer and manufacturer on the planet started with their idea in their mind. While there are a few geniuses out there, most are people like you and me. Whether you think you can or you can't - you're right. If this is your dream - Go for it! Best of luck, Don Knapik
Hundreds of businesses are started each day around the globe. They range in size from a few dollars of revenue to giant sums of money. For the entrepreneur, starting out can be very challenging or if one has the appropriate backing and experience, very easy.
Some of the elements to consider are listed below, not all, but a sampling of questions you might want to begin with:
Do you have the self-discipline, drive and dedication to your venture? Good ideas are a “dime a dozen”, translating those ideas into goods and services (and making a profit) is not for the easily discouraged. While success is particularly satisfying as an entrepreneur, the amount of time, effort and difficulty will not be minimal. Do you have the personal communication skills, sales ability and technical knowledge necessary to market and sell your product or service?
Do I have the financial backing to embark on your venture? If you’re living at home and are receiving food, clothing and shelter, insurance, transportation and a space for your venture, that’s great. If you are missing any of these resources, it will be necessary to provide them while you are starting your business. That said, people have started businesses on a “shoestring” but it is VERY difficult to do and contributes to the already high stress involved with a startup.
Do you have the core competencies to start the business? Kim's answer did a nice job of describing those. I'm talking about the analytical skills, financial tools, marketing strategy etc. It helps to list the resources you need, the resources you have and the gap between the two. Filling in the gaps with resources will be an important part of your business planning.
Have you defined who are your likely customers and why they are likely to purchase your products? Do you have the right "contacts" or will you be out selling as well as designing and manufacturing? Have you explored other companies in the same field? On what basis will you compete with them?
Once you have most of these questions answered, out, you’ll be ready to begin a formal business plan, developing all the details of your concept and delivery scheme. And you need to have the time to totally think through you idea from start to opening the door of your factory….that’s when the real challenge begins!
Now I know this sounds very complicated but it is done every day and the people who make this happen are the ones who keep our economy running. And I hear a lot of, "I just want to design clothing, or maybe airplanes or provide a service". The reality is that this is really just the starting point!
That said, Every major designer and manufacturer on the planet started with their idea in their mind. While there are a few geniuses out there, most are people like you and me. Whether you think you can or you can't - you're right. If this is your dream - Go for it! Best of luck, Don Knapik
Hector Santiago
Manufacturing & Validation Engineer
10
Answers
Riverview, Florida
Updated
Hector’s Answer
Giovanni, In order to get a Factory for producing clothing, you will need fundamentals about textiles and also decide what type of garment or clothing you will want to make. While I was working as a Specifications and Standards Engineer with the Naval Air Engineering Center in Lakehurst, NJ, I took a week-long course in North Carolina called Introduction to Textiles; it opened my eyes a lot about threads, weaves, textile, clothing, machinery and history in general and provided me fundamentals that I later used in various jobs. With this in mind, and the Internet so wonderfully available, perform a search for knowledge and learn all you can about textile and clothing.
within the Bible belt states (Alabama Arkansas Georgia Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi Missouri North Carolina Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee Texas Virginia West Virginia and parts of Florida Illinois Iowa Indiana Kansas New Mexico Ohio) you will find a lot of Factories, Business and Universities, and Colleges that will provide you with a lot of opportunities and information about textiles. This link will provide you with a list of organizations that work with textiles: http://www.ncto.org/industry-partners-resources/associations-affiliates/.
After you have done your research and know what you would like to start; Go and study the market: To whom will you be making this garment? Is there a demand in the market? When you go to a store, do you see if it sells a lot? Ask the associations from the list (they may have marketing studies they can share with you), What tools, machines, will you need to assemble the garment? will you package it in a box, a plastic bag, a recycled bag? etc, will you need a lot of space or your parents' garage will do to start? Can you do a sample garment and what it will look like? Where will you get your textile from? There are various providers around the world and each one needs and costs certain restrictions and regulations.
Also, try to see if you can find a local fashion designer or textile entrepreneur around St Petersburg, Tampa or even Riverview. How ? Make a profile in LinkedIN (just a junior profile with a title as entrepreneur) and do a search of its members, or ask your local newspaper or TV Stations (Tampa Tribune, Observer News, Tampa Bay Times, Osprey Observer, Carrolwood News) for information. They may have done articles on local fashion designers or entrepreneurs and you can locate and ask questions about what you will want to do.
Best of Luck , hope this helps you in your search. Dont give up your dream! If a door does not open, tear it down or make another door!
within the Bible belt states (Alabama Arkansas Georgia Kentucky Louisiana Mississippi Missouri North Carolina Oklahoma South Carolina Tennessee Texas Virginia West Virginia and parts of Florida Illinois Iowa Indiana Kansas New Mexico Ohio) you will find a lot of Factories, Business and Universities, and Colleges that will provide you with a lot of opportunities and information about textiles. This link will provide you with a list of organizations that work with textiles: http://www.ncto.org/industry-partners-resources/associations-affiliates/.
After you have done your research and know what you would like to start; Go and study the market: To whom will you be making this garment? Is there a demand in the market? When you go to a store, do you see if it sells a lot? Ask the associations from the list (they may have marketing studies they can share with you), What tools, machines, will you need to assemble the garment? will you package it in a box, a plastic bag, a recycled bag? etc, will you need a lot of space or your parents' garage will do to start? Can you do a sample garment and what it will look like? Where will you get your textile from? There are various providers around the world and each one needs and costs certain restrictions and regulations.
Also, try to see if you can find a local fashion designer or textile entrepreneur around St Petersburg, Tampa or even Riverview. How ? Make a profile in LinkedIN (just a junior profile with a title as entrepreneur) and do a search of its members, or ask your local newspaper or TV Stations (Tampa Tribune, Observer News, Tampa Bay Times, Osprey Observer, Carrolwood News) for information. They may have done articles on local fashion designers or entrepreneurs and you can locate and ask questions about what you will want to do.
Best of Luck , hope this helps you in your search. Dont give up your dream! If a door does not open, tear it down or make another door!
Kim Schiavone
Illustrator and Graphic Designer
48
Answers
Missoula, Montana
Updated
Kim’s Answer
Hi Giovanni,
That is a great question, and shows your entrepreneurial personality. I have experimented with being an entrepreneur in my life, and at one time started a clothing and giftware design business. I do not know the answer to your question, but I know from my own experience and stories about other designers that you can start smaller. First of all, have you learned sewing skills? If not, and if you want to work with fabric, it would be a great subject for you to study, and extremely pertinent to your goals. You will need to know about different types of fabric, how they "drape", how they respond to structuring, different sewing techniques that will affect your design, and all about patterns and pattern making in order to be a clothing designer. You will also need prototypes of your designs to show, and in the beginning, it will be much easier if you can make them yourself. Buying an adjustable "dress form", which is a special mannequin for sewing will really help with creating and fitting. It would also help to study fashion design and its history. You can do this on your own if you are choosing not to go through typical education. After making or getting prototypes and patterns made (it is better, I think-to make them yourself, so you can get them just right. It is difficult to describe what you want to another person.) you can use freelance seamstresses to produce small collections. Then you can market them yourself, selling wholesale to small shops and boutiques. Going to school for fashion design would be easier, because they will teach you about the entire business, but it's also possible to study hard and learn it as you go. Good luck! I hope you will make your dream your reality!
That is a great question, and shows your entrepreneurial personality. I have experimented with being an entrepreneur in my life, and at one time started a clothing and giftware design business. I do not know the answer to your question, but I know from my own experience and stories about other designers that you can start smaller. First of all, have you learned sewing skills? If not, and if you want to work with fabric, it would be a great subject for you to study, and extremely pertinent to your goals. You will need to know about different types of fabric, how they "drape", how they respond to structuring, different sewing techniques that will affect your design, and all about patterns and pattern making in order to be a clothing designer. You will also need prototypes of your designs to show, and in the beginning, it will be much easier if you can make them yourself. Buying an adjustable "dress form", which is a special mannequin for sewing will really help with creating and fitting. It would also help to study fashion design and its history. You can do this on your own if you are choosing not to go through typical education. After making or getting prototypes and patterns made (it is better, I think-to make them yourself, so you can get them just right. It is difficult to describe what you want to another person.) you can use freelance seamstresses to produce small collections. Then you can market them yourself, selling wholesale to small shops and boutiques. Going to school for fashion design would be easier, because they will teach you about the entire business, but it's also possible to study hard and learn it as you go. Good luck! I hope you will make your dream your reality!