Please click here to download a pdf copy of our “Design & Source Your Products” guide.
Please click here to download a pdf copy of our “Company Profile”
Please click here to download a pdf copy of our “Company Profile”
Whether you are an established brand or retailer, or whether you are just starting up and looking for information regarding the process of designing, sampling & producing your products, we are here to help.
This document outlines the fundamentals of everything you will need to consider when developing your products.
From the stages you will need to go through, to the likely lead times, to the likely costs.
This document is a summary overview and generic to most situations however, your project is bespoke and therefore may vary slightly from these general stages.
We are on hand to discuss your project in detail & tailor the process & budgets to fit your requirements.
If you have any questions please contact us and we’ll guide you through the process.
There are several stages we will working through when creating your products; from design through sampling & ultimately production.
There are no obligations to use us for the full supply chain. For example;
Right from the outset we will estimate your likely costs ahead so you can make informed decisions on how your collection will take shape.
At each stage we will work with you to get your comments and approvals before moving onto the next stage.
Therefore, at every stage you remain in control & in knowledge of the next stage & any likely associated costs. Nothing moves forward without your prior approval to do so.
We must first understand your Range Plan of products (the total number of products & which product types your collection might consist of).
If you are unsure of what Range Plan you might want or how much the likely costs might be to design, sample & produce a collection, we suggest using our Range Plan Calculator.
Once opened, our Range Plan Calculator ask’s several questions for you to answer. i.e.
Subject to the answers you provide, the Range Plan Calculator will then estimate;
The Range Plan Calculator is only meant to provide you with an example split of product types & budgets. Your final collection can be amended as you see fit. Please note;
The idea of the Range Plan Calculator is so that you can work out what your collection size might be and what split of product types you might want in your collection so that you can roughly work out either;
What we are trying to achieve during the range planning stage is to understand your total collection size & the split of product types in your collection before moving to the design stage.
Once we have your Range Plan confirmed we then require a design brief from you.
However the brief comes, once you know your collection size (see Stage 1), we then need to ascertain your design brief.
However you feel most comfortable presenting your design brief is up to you, we can work with anything you might supply.
The Range Plan Calculator (see Stage 1) will estimate a ballpark figure for design work however once we have your final Range Plan & Design Brief, we’ll then formalise a bespoke design quote for you.
Please note the Range Plan Calculator estimates the design budget based on averages & prior to any further discounts (see Likely Costs – Design) and therefore your design budget will often stretch further than the Range Plan Calculator might first estimate).
We will then start the design process & send the designs to you for approval.
Once you’ve approved your collection design & the Tech Packs have been produced we can then move forward to the Costing stage
Whilst you will already have a ballpark production budget from the Range Plan Calculator (see Stage 1), this will only have been provided as an estimate.
When sending your designs for costing we will consider things such as; the product type, likely production quantity, likely production lead time, likely average regional unit costs, as well as other specific factors specific to your project when deciding which suppliers & likely country of manufacture is most suitable.
We have a large network of established & trusted suppliers for all product types across multiple production countries.
If you would like further information which country of manufacture might be most suitable & the pro’s & con’s to each region, we can discuss this with you.
We will help you estimate not only the individual unit prices of each style, but any other possible additional charges such as Freight, Duties or Taxes to deliver your products.
Most of the time, due to average prices being used, the estimated production budget in the Range Plan Calculator is an over-estimate & normally the final overall budget usually come back cheaper (subject to your bespoke designs) and therefore usually your production budget will stretch slightly further than the Range Plan Calculator might first estimate.
Once the designs stage is complete, all of your Tech Packs will then sent to our suppliers for 1to1 costing.
Once unit prices are returned, we will then advise you of the exact unit prices for your bespoke designs.
Assuming you are still happy in principle (subject to seeing samples) with the total budget, we can then proceed to the sampling stage.
Once your bespoke garment prices are approved in principle (subject to samples), we will move forward to sampling stage.
Initial samples of your designs will be produced. Please note;
Once your initial samples are delivered to you, we will then work with you to help comment on your samples and provide the factory with industry standard terms & definitions they require to proceed into the order stage.
Once your initial samples have been commented upon it will be time to place your bulk order.
Once your fabrics, label & trims arrive in-house a further 2nd sample will be produced of your styles. This is called a ‘Pre-Production’ (or ‘PP’) sample.
Once your PP samples have been received, we will again work with you on your comments. Please note;
Once you have given your approvals on your PP samples, the physical bulk production can begin.
Once you have given approval to do so, the physical bulk production can start.
Once your bulk production is complete your products will go to the pressing & packing stage ready for shipment.
A further & final sample will be sent to you. This is called a ‘Shipment Sample’. This sample is pulled from random from your bulk production.
Once you have approved your Shipment Sample, we can move to the shipment stage.
We can arrange the shipment, customs clearance & delivery of your products for you through our network of trusted freight forwarders or if you have your own nominated forwarder, we can deliver your goods for them to arrange the shipment & delivery.
Subject to the country of manufacture, qty of goods to be shipped & cost considerations, we can ship via Road, Sea or Air.
Once your goods arrive at port they will be customs cleared & the delivery instructions will be arranged with you prior to final delivery of your products.
We also provide warehousing & order fulfilment, therefore if you don’t have the ability to warehouse your goods yourself we can do this for you. For more information please contact us to request details.
The lead times for design through sample development, from bulk production through finally delivery are subject to many factors & each project is unique. Factors include;
As a general rule of thumb however please allow roughly the following lead times;
Therefore, please estimate on average C.3-6 months lead time from design through to delivery of product.
We have a handy Production Calendar we’re happy to share with customers which outlines the lead times you will need to consider when producing a collection to ensure your products arrive in line with the fashion season selling windows. Please click the link above to request access to this calendar to help with your planning (please note this is a Google Calendar & you will require a Google Account to access it).
Every project we work on is unique & bespoke. Therefore, it is impossible to give accurate figures until we know more about your project.
A good place to start however is with our handy Range Plan Calculator.
Alternatively, if you know more specifically what size of collection & what split of product types your collection will consist of, please e-mail us and we can give you a quote on the estimated value of design, sampling & sourcing of your collection.
Although providing accurate prices without knowing more about your project isn’t possible, please see below some further information of some of the likely costs for each stage:
Garment Design;
Logo Design:
Graphic Design:
Rates:
Due to no physical order commitment at the initial sampling stage (see Stage 4 – Sampling) there is a charge of, on average, £100-£200 per initial sample produced (subject to product type, fabrics, etc.)
Sampling charges are refundable off your subsequent bulk production order (subject to the order volume produced). For example, order volumes of;
To estimate your sample budget please do the following;
Unit prices of garments vary significantly based on your bespoke designs, qty produced & country of manufacture.
Freight, duties & taxes also vary subject to country of manufacture.
The main thing that effects the unit price of the garment however is the quantity produced.
During the costing stage (see Stage 3 – Costing) we will confirm to you the exact unit prices of each of your products (including estimates on any freight, duty & taxes which might be applicable)
Below is a general chart of likely average unit prices based on product type & quantity produced however these are only averages and subject to many factors outlined above):
| Scroll to see more. |
| PRODUCT TYPE | <500 | 499-400 | 399-300 | 299-200 | 199-100 | 99-50 | >49 |
| APPAREL | |||||||
| T-Shirts & Tops | £6.00 | £6.50 | £7.00 | £8.50 | £10.00 | £14.00 | £17.50 |
| Vests | £5.50 | £6.00 | £6.50 | £8.00 | £9.00 | £13.00 | £16.50 |
| Polos | £8.00 | £8.50 | £9.00 | £11.00 | £12.50 | £18.00 | £22.50 |
| Sweatshirts | £10.50 | £11.50 | £12.00 | £14.50 | £17.00 | £24.00 | £30.00 |
| Hoodies | £12.00 | £13.50 | £14.00 | £17.00 | £19.50 | £28.00 | £35.00 |
| Shirts & Blouses | £14.00 | £15.00 | £16.00 | £19.00 | £22.50 | £32.00 | £40.00 |
| Joggers | £10.50 | £11.50 | £12.00 | £14.50 | £17.00 | £24.00 | £30.00 |
| Shorts | £8.50 | £9.50 | £10.00 | £12.00 | £14.00 | £20.00 | £25.00 |
| Swimwear | £13.00 | £14.50 | £15.00 | £18.00 | £21.00 | £30.00 | £37.50 |
| Jeans | £14.00 | £15.00 | £16.00 | £19.00 | £22.50 | £32.00 | £40.00 |
| Trousers | £14.00 | £15.00 | £16.00 | £19.00 | £22.50 | £32.00 | £40.00 |
| Jackets | £26.00 | £28.50 | £30.00 | £36.00 | £42.00 | £60.00 | £75.00 |
| Jumpsuits | £12.00 | £13.50 | £14.00 | £17.00 | £19.50 | £28.00 | £35.00 |
| Dresses | £13.00 | £14.50 | £15.00 | £18.00 | £21.00 | £30.00 | £37.50 |
| Skirts | £8.50 | £9.50 | £10.00 | £12.00 | £14.00 | £20.00 | £25.00 |
| ACCESSORIES | |||||||
| Headwear | £4.50 | £5.00 | £5.50 | £6.00 | £7.00 | £10.00 | £12.50 |
| Underwear | £4.50 | £5.00 | £5.50 | £6.00 | £7.00 | £10.00 | £12.50 |
| Bags | £8.50 | £9.50 | £10.00 | £12.00 | £14.00 | £20.00 | £25.00 |
| Belts | £8.50 | £9.50 | £10.00 | £12.00 | £14.00 | £20.00 | £25.00 |
| Jewellery | £13.00 | £14.50 | £15.00 | £18.00 | £21.00 | £30.00 | £37.50 |
| FOOTWEAR | |||||||
| Trainers | £14.50 | £15.50 | £16.50 | £20.00 | £23.00 | £33.00 | £41.50 |
| Shoes | £11.50 | £13.00 | £13.50 | £16.00 | £19.00 | £27.00 | £34.00 |
| Boots | £15.50 | £17.00 | £18.00 | £21.50 | £25.00 | £36.00 | £45.00 |
| High Heel | £13.00 | £14.50 | £15.00 | £18.00 | £21.00 | £30.00 | £37.50 |
| Flip Flops | £6.50 | £7.00 | £7.50 | £9.00 | £10.50 | £15.00 | £19.00 |
As you can see prices vary considerably based on the quantity produced per design.
You can therefore weigh up the pro’s & con’s to ordering a larger volume at a lower unit price vs. ordering a lower volume at a higher unit price.
Prices are quoted per style per colour. Therefore, even if you have exactly the same design but in two separate colour ways, then they are considered two separate styles. Similarly, if you have the same design in the same colour but with different graphics on the garment, these are also considered two separate styles. The reason is that during production there are different minimums throughout the process (i.e. fabric minimums, cutting minimums, dying minimums, printing minimums, etc.) Therefore, pricing is quoted per style, per colour.
To estimate your likely production budget please do the following;
Freight, Duties & Taxes vary considerably based on product type and country of manufacture.
The below examples are based on shipping into the United Kingdom, if your products are delivering outside of the UK, then different charges may apply.
There are different payment terms on the different stages of design, sampling & production as follows;
In special circumstances we will consider offering payment terms to customers, but this is subject to the value of the project, credit checks & whether security can be obtained in the form of a Bank Draft or Letter of Credit.
We love our job! Each project we work on is new and different. With years of experience in the fashion industry & in particular in the supply chain, we understand the process from start to finish.
We design & sourcing products from a huge verity of genres; from men’s to women’s, from adults to children’s, from couture to fast fashion & across all sorts of product types.
We’re yet to find a customer that we’ve not be able to service!
Therefore, no matter the size of your collection or scale of your ambitions, we are here to help with the entire supply chain.
We’re not your average supplier either, we don’t just understand product, we understand everything from web design through online marketing (details can be found on our sister division Rag-Creative). Even warehousing, fulfilment & distribution can be handled in house (details can be found on our sister division Rag-Wholesale).
We are uniquely positioned not only to understand design & sourcing but the whole chain in how to operate a successful brand.
We approach things differently to others by focusing not only on your product but the bigger picture of what’s likely to make for a successful brand launch.
We look forward to discussing the requirements of your project and helping bring your collections to like!
Our philosophy is simple – to look at the world around us, to keep our eyes open, quite simply to love the world of fashion. We’re proud to put our name to every style we produce.
” The inspiration for each range comes from an eclectic mix of sources. It can be a sharp piece of tailoring to an underground street-wear movement, from the high street to a cult brand, from the here and now or a place in time. Our design philosophy is always about innovation – refreshing and updating – but most importantly, always meeting the client’s brief. We’re proud to put our name to every style we produce and present.
We’re always looking at who, what and where is influencing and directing today’s trends. That can be vintage, designer, icon, high street or chain store. Only individual mixes and styles can truly represent the current culture.
Throughout our day-to-day lives, whether at work or not, we’re constantly taking in what’s new through the places we visit and the people we meet. The team and I are forever jotting notes and taking photographs – so we never miss that next inspirational idea.
The skill as a designer is taking these multiple and myriad influences and moulding them into relevant commercial collections for each season and client.” – Matthew, Fashion Designer
T-shirt designers
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone that understands t-shirt product as we do. Quick Fact: it currently makes up nearly 60% of our production business. That’s why our jersey and sweat product is everything you want it to be. From high-end couture to fast fashion production – we’re second to none.
From promotional garments to highest quality fashion t-shirts and sweatshirts, use Rag Sourcing and your jersey & sweat samples can be turned around within 2-3 weeks. Bulk production will take us just 4 weeks from approved sample to shipment. With a covetable 3 short weeks for repeats, we’re here to make sure you get product in-store and online to meet demand.
Minimum order quantities may apply depending on product type & requirements
Knitwear Designers
With everything from lightweight 14-gauge to chunky 4-gauge, our specialised Fair Isle and Intarsia machines are at your disposal to create any knitwear look. Catch a price point and use acrylic or acrylic mix yarns, or invest in the highest quality angora or cashmere, we’re here to make knit a reality.
Lead times for Rag-Sourcing wovens will vary depending on the time of year and availability of booked machines. With a sample turn around of 3-4 weeks, bulk production will be turned around in only 6 weeks from the approved sample – with just 4 weeks for repeats.
Minimum order quantities may apply depending on product type & requirements.
Shirt Designers
From formal wear to the finest couture-led casual wear styles, we produce shirts that fit every tailored look. With a vast selection of stock fabric bases and patterns to chose from, our clients trust in our reliable and flexible production capabilities.
With a sample turn around of 2-3 weeks and bulk production in only 6 weeks from an approved sample, you’ll have repeated orders in just 4 weeks.
Minimum order quantities apply depending on product type & requirements.
Woven Pants & Denim
A product category unlike any other, it’s all about development rather than design. Tailoring the right fit, selecting the right fabric base, playing with the latest in-wash and dye techniques, Rag-Sourcing has your wovens, pants and denim covered.
With a product manager who has worked with the best in the business, our denim experience is second to none. Our sample turn around of 2-3 weeks and bulk production in only 6 weeks from approved sample, you’ll have repeats in just 4 weeks.
Minimum order quantities apply depending on product type & requirements.
Fashion Quality Control
We have our dedicated Merchandise & roaming QC team. Our QC staff are on-hand to monitor your production to ensure only the highest 1st quality goods are shipped. With stringent QC checks in addition to our factories own QC procedures, quality control is our top priority.
QC:
– All fabric/yarn entering the production facility is checked, evaluated then graded on a 4.0 system. 100% inspections are also carried out if required
– In-line QC’s are present at every stage of production who sign off the first part of each process to ensure continuity
– There are also separate AQL QC’s who sign off the final inspection separately to the in line QC’s
– A full final inspection will be completed if needed for any reason
– A special team of ‘audit section’ inspectors work directly under the supervision of senior management and control the entire production area. The team performs random checks and keeps daily records. Goods are only forwarded for packing if they pass their approval.
– Daily records are handed to the quality control manager; this manager, in turn, compiles the records and reports daily to senior management
– 2.5 AQL (SGS or ITS)
– 100% QC if required
– QC accredited to BS6001
Labels and Trims
Work with Rag Sourcing to develop labels and trims, or let us work alongside your nominated labels & trims supplier, whichever you choose we make it our business to work how you need us to. From simple woven labels to complex swing tickets, branded buttons to the whole POS kit and caboodle, we have it covered.
Nominated labels & trims supplier:
– All labels & trims are stored in a locked room.
– Labels and trims are counted in and out (reports on stock levels can be requested at any time)
– To avoid any possibility of your labels & trims falling into the wrong hands and being used for black market products.
In-house developed labels & trims:
– We use a separate labels & trims supplier to our factories.
– This gives us more control over the development process and to reduce unit costs per item.
– It also allows for multi-product, multi-supplier sourcing where we provide the labels & trims for your brand to avoid any subtle differences between labels and trims between each supplier.
– Stocks can be stored with us for call-off if you have multiple supply bases or shipped directly to you or your own distribution.
Welcome to Rag Sourcing! We are a privately owned fashion design, sourcing and manufacturing company and this is our new blog. Dedicated to all things fashion, we want it to be the go-to news site for fashion trends, business solutions and insider info on how we help get brands moving, putting gorgeous fashion first.
With years of industry experience, Rag Creative specialises in the whole fashion supply chain process. For those of you who have just discovered us, here’s a quick intro: we help start-up fashion brands right the way through to household names turn design and manufacturing visions into reality.
Have a look at our new, improved website www.rag-sourcing.com. We hope it’s easier to navigate and gets you all the information you need on our work to help your business grow.
If you encounter any issues or simply have some thoughts to share on how we could improve our user experience, then we’d love to hear from you. Post a comment below, call us or email to get in touch.
Loads more information on what we offer can be found throughout the site. As you navigate through the site, discover snapshots of the products we create, collections we’ve worked on, as well as our design & sourcing capabilities. Read our commitment to ethical trading and how we can help turn your ideas into fashion reality.
As if that’s not enough, why not subscribe to our free newsletter for regular updates on what we’re up to.
With years of expertise behind us, Rag Sourcing just keeps on growing. We’ve been doing a lot of new things, we’ve welcomed in a lot of new clients and we’ve got fashion led information to share in spades.
Most importantly we want to say a big thank you to both our existing & new clients. We’ve had a great start to the first half of the year running with some exciting projects and new techniques.
Highlights
- Over the past year our UK team has more than doubled in size, so much so we’re looking for a bigger UK base.
- We appointed our own satellite office in Turkey. This is a proud moment for Rag Sourcing and we couldn’t have done it without the support of our team & our clients. Thank you to everyone involved.
- We’ve expanded each and every department of the company. The design team keeps on growing and excelling in their work.
- Our merchandise & OC team has doubled in size. And with the appointment of personnel in both the UK & Turkey you’ll find our directors, running back and forth more than ever before!
Have you seen our new website yet? www.rag-sourcing.com So many changes mean we’ve given the Rag Sourcing site a major new overhaul.
Make sure you bookmark it for all the latest information on our work and services. Check out the new meet the team section on the improved site, discover who’s who and how we can help you further with your fashion business.
We got some advice from Fast Fashion News on the perfect pair of jeans. For many men, jeans are the most important part of your wardrobe. You wear these when you hit the town with friends. You wear these to work (sometimes, at least). You wear these when you are just hanging out around the house.
While jeans may not be the most expensive piece of clothing in your closet, there is no denying the fact that you get your use out of these, time and time again. With all this in mind, you know one thing to be true: your favourite pair of jeans is not going to last forever. When it comes time to make a purchase, you need to know what goes into doing so.
If you have ever shopped for jeans in the past, you know that finding the perfect fitting pair can be a challenge. No matter how hard you try, it seems like there is a roadblock around every corner. It is easy to believe that as long as you buy the right size that you will feel comfortable each time you put the jeans on. Unfortunately, this is not the case. There are many details to focus on along the way, ensuring that you are getting exactly what you need for your shape.
Price may always be a determining factor, but you don’t want to focus solely on the cost when making a buying decision. Here are several additional things you can do to ensure that you get the perfect fitting pair of jeans for your shape:
1. Classic fits are best for most men. In today’s day and age, there are more jean styles available than ever before. While you may be tempted to try out one of the new styles, most men find that this is nothing more than a waste of time and money. To protect against making a mistake, do yourself a favour and opt for a classic fit such as: straight, slim/straight, slim, relaxed, relaxed/straight, or standard. Sounds confusing, doesn’t it? There are many choices, but it doesn’t mean you have to be confused when making a decision.
In addition to getting the help of a sales associate, don’t shy away from trying on many different styles. This is often times the best way to find out what works best for your shape. Start with a straight leg or boot cut and go from there. Once you have tried on every pair imaginable, it will be easy to see which one fits you best.
2. Know your shape and purchase your jeans accordingly. For example, if you are on the heavy side you probably don’t want to opt for jeans that are too tight. This is going to show off your weight, not to mention the fact that you are not going to be very uncomfortable.On the other side of things, if you have skinnier legs, you can probably get away with a pair of straight leg, skinny jeans. If this is not your style, opt for something a bit baggier. Just make sure you don’t go too baggy, as this will not match your body shape.
3. Focus on three key areas. When shopping for jeans, you want to get something that looks and feels good in an overall sense. You can do this by focusing on three key areas: waist, legs, and crotch. In short, your goal is to ensure that the jeans are not too tight in any of these areas. Do you look good both from the front and back? Remember to check yourself in the mirror. This may sound like the “girly” thing to do, but guys need to realise the importance as well.
Also, never forget that jeans are likely to shrink over time, even if you never put them in the dryer. For this reason, you may want to purchase a pair that is slightly longer than what you need. Not only does this allow you to account for shrinkage, but if you need to make any alterations in the future you can do so.
Regardless of your shape, you know that jeans are a big part of your wardrobe. The more pairs you have the better. Sure, you may have your favourite but you want to know that you can pull out a good looking pair at any time.
When you let the three tips above act as your guide, you should be able to purchase the perfect fitting jeans for your shape. This is not something you want to rush, but instead spend as much time as necessary to make a purchase you are going to be happy with. This way, every time you put your jeans on you are comfortable and knowing that you look your best.
If you are the type of guy who enjoys drinking a cold beer from time to time, you have to consider what this means to your belly. Is your beer belly growing by the day? Are you worried that this will continue to be a problem well into the future?
While there is nothing better than exercising to get the weight off, for the meantime you may be looking into ways to disguise this. After all, you don’t want people to see just how big your beer belly has become.
The first rule of thumb is simple: don’t take off your shirt. If you do this, all bets are off. At this point, it is not difficult for anybody to see that your belly has grown out of control.
Five Tricks of the Trade
Now that we have all the basics out of the way, including the fact that you should keep your shirt on at all times, let’s take a closer look at five tricks of the trade. By using one or more of the tips below, there is a good chance that you will be able to disguise your beer belly until you are able to get rid of it through exercise and a healthier diet:
1. Avoid tight clothing. Let’s face it: the tighter the shirt the more your beer belly is going to show. Why not opt for loose clothing to ensure that this never becomes a problem? This does not mean you have to by a shirt that is noticeably too big. What it does mean is that you should step up a size, just enough to ensure that your belly does not protrude through your shirt.
2. Wear dark colours. Did you know that dark colours have a slimming effect? For this reason alone, you should consider adding a variety of dark coloured shirts to your wardrobe. Some of the best colours to consider include black, charcoal, grey, and navy blue. For many years, this one trick has been helping heavier guys hide their stomach. Women use this trick as well, and that alone should be enough for you to realise that it is beneficial.
Note: just because you are wearing dark colours does not mean you should revert back to smaller, tighter shirts.
3. Tailor your suit. As tempting as it may be to throw on your old suit or buy one off the rack, you want to avoid this if you are attempting to disguise a beer belly. Instead, you should find an experienced tailor in your local area. Tell this person what you are trying to accomplish, and let him or her tailor your suit to make you look your best. Don’t be embarrassed, as this is something that many guys do. You want to look your best when you put on a suit, and one of the best ways of doing so is through a visit with a qualified tailor.
4. Tuck in your shirt. It is easy to believe that leaving your shirt untucked is the best way to hide a beer belly, but nothing could be further from the truth. When you do this, your entire look is going to appear messy. Is that what you want? When you choose the right size shirt, you can easily tuck it in to ensure that you look “put together.” Furthermore, you never have to worry about your beer belly looking like it is going to pop out.
5. Wear a jacket. This is one of the best ways to disguise a beer belly, however, it is something that many men overlook time and time again. When you wear a stylish jacket you are adding another layer on top of your belly. You can throw this on over a button down or T-shirt, ensuring that you look good while keeping your belly in check.
Tip: if you are going to wear a jacket, make sure it matches everything else, including your shirt and your pants. The last thing you want to do is kill your sense of style.
Many men have a bear belly and believe that there is nothing they can do to hide it from others. While you may not be able to get rid of this excess fat in a hurry, there are things you can do to disguise it. The five tricks of the trade detailed above are a great place to start. If you implement just one of these tips, you will find yourself not only hiding your belly but also looking better along the way. By combining a couple of these tips, you may soon realise that your problem is gone for good. In fact, this may work out so well for you that you forget your diet and exercise, knowing that you can always hide your belly!
If you are in the business of selling shirts, you know that a shirt is only as good as it feels. That’s why choosing the proper shirt fabric is so important. After all, a shirt that is uncomfortable to wear is going to make the person that dons it feel fairly miserable. And if a customer is not happy, they will most likely not patronize your business. As such, it is important that you not only get a bead on what fabrics are used by shirt suppliers, but you use that information to determine what fabrics may be right for your clientele.
Fabrics at a Glance
Diving into the world of fabrics to see what may work best for you and your business is not as easy as it may look. It is a world that goes well beyond the realm of cotton, denim, polyester, and the other fabrics that your average person knows about. To be sure, shirt suppliers have a host of materials at their disposal, including several that don’t readily come to mind. However, getting to know as much information as possible about as many fabrics as you can is crucial to your business’ success, since clothing stores rarely live on denim or cotton alone.
Some of these fabrics include:
• Broadcloth – This is a tightly woven fabric that is marked by a simple over-under weave as well as a slight shininess. These qualities combine to make a very dressy shirt. The fabric also tends to be thinner and lighter, which makes it an ideal fabric for summertime. White broadcloth fabrics have been shown to be a little transparent, which makes wearing an undershirt in conjunction with shirts made from such cloth to be pretty essential.
• Flannel – This seasonal fabric was highly trendy during the grunge movement in the early ‘90s, and has been shown to be making a comeback in some fashion circles. The fabric’s calling card is its thickness, as they are typically made in thicker weaves, thus making them ideal for the chillier weather in the fall and winter.
• Melange – This particular fabric is known for being very thin yet very soft, smooth, and luxurious. They achieve this reputation because of a special type of construction; one where each of the yarns that are used in the fabric is a combination of fibers which are not-dyed and dyed. These colored fibers are then woven together to create a look that looks slightly yet deliberately inconsistent, which in turn gives the fabric a completely organic quality.
• Oxford Cloth – This casual fabric is made with a symmetrical basket weave that is looser in comparison to some other weaves. It is not to be confused with the more formal Pinpoint Oxford, which can feature a tighter weave and a lighter thread. The heavy, rougher texture and durable nature of the threads themselves has made this particular fabric popular for sports use.
• Egyptian Cotton – Simply stated, this fabric is made from a particular type of cotton that is culled from the plant known as Gossypium Barbadense. This particular cotton can differentiate itself from other cottons because it contains longer staples, which in turn can enable it to be threaded into finer, stronger threads. It typically features thread counts of anywhere between 80 and 100; this thread count allows it to differentiate itself from another fabric known as sea island, which is made from the same cotton plant but has a higher thread count.
• Royal Oxford – As the name implies, this particular fabric is one of the dressier fabrics that shirt suppliers will feature. The reason it has the reputation as being dressy is due to its sheen and texture, as both of those particular aspects are highly visible in nature. This particular fabric should not be confused with oxford cloth or pinpoint oxford; despite the similar names, they are completely different.
• Twill – This fabric is marked by its distinctive diagonal lines or texture; this shape allows the fabric itself to exhibit a shiny quality. It is weaved extremely tight, and can therefore come in extremely high thread counts – so much so, the fabric can sometimes be mistaken for silk. Another important quality to note about twill is that it is relatively easy to iron and has a tendency to be resistant to wrinkles.
• Dobby – The thickness and weight of this fabric can be very similar to broadcloth, and its thickness or the way that it is weaved can almost make it appear as if it is twill. This fabric falls somewhere in between the two fields. This particular fabric tends to feature stripes, although it can be a solid color.
Other Things to Note About Fabric
Once you have gotten a basic grasp on the various types of fabrics that exist out on the market, there are still a couple of items that you need to be aware of before contacting the right shirt suppliers.
The first of these terms is thread count. Specifically, this term defines the thickness of the size of the yarn that is being used to make the shirt. The rule of thumb here is that the higher the thread count number, the higher quality the fabric – and ultimately the shirt – will be.
The second of these terms is ply. In essence, ply is defined by how many yarns are twisted together in order to make a single thread. The typical shirt will be designed to be either single ply, meaning that one thread was woven into the fabric, or two ply, meaning that two yarns are twisted together in order to make a single thread which is then woven into the fabric.
Getting familiar with these terms as well as the fabrics that are talked about in conjunction with these terms is essential if you want to maximize the overall quality of the clothing that you want to sell. If you don’t, you greatly increase the risk of obtaining a vastly inferior product, which could ultimately have a negative impact on your business and your bottom line.
- 1
- 2