What is ethical clothing manufacturing and how can you find ethical clothing manufacturers?

The words like ‘ethical fashion’ and ‘sustainability’ are a trending buzz word in the fashion and apparel industry. But do you know what ethical clothing manufacturing is? Do you think brands and customers are concerned about the issues or brands are just using it as a marketing gimmick? What goes into ethical product manufacturing? Who are ethical clothing manufacturers?
This blog answers the above and many other similar questions that pop-up into your mind when we say ethical clothing.

What is ethical clothing manufacturing?

The notion of ethical clothing manufacturing can be different for different people. For some, ensuring ethical practices during the manufacturing of clothes is ethical manufacturing, while for others making use of sustainable raw material to make fashion outfits is ethical clothing.

But the crux of every perspective is the same – minimizing the negative impact of manufacturing on humans, plants, and animals while maximizing the positive impacts using sustainable raw material and green manufacturing processes.

During the past decade, we have seen various men and women clothing exporter introducing their sustainable clothing line including biggies like Levi’s, H&M, etc.

Under ethical manufacturing, brands use a holistic approach to the manufacturing process. People are now more aware of what they buy and how fashion is consumed.

Businesses that care about the environment and want to do their bit in making this world a better and healthier place to live, opt for ethical clothing manufacturing.

The term ‘ethical fashion’ encompasses several industry components like fashion designing, manufacturing, retail, packaging, and supplying. A business cannot say it sells ethical products if it does not follow the best practices for factory working conditions, sustainable production, and take effective steps to prevent the exploitation of human and natural resources during the manufacturing process. 

Finding ethical clothing manufacturers

If you’re a women clothing vendor and are looking for ethical clothing manufacturers, you have to take into account several considerations that will help you in making the right choice.

You can search in social media groups like Facebook for ethical clothing manufacturers or post your query in community forums. Before you contact a manufacturer, you must decide on the following:

• Whether you have a rough sketch or CAD of your design ready or you would want the manufacturer to do this part for you.

• Whether you’re looking to launch the product immediately once the production is complete. In this case, you’ll have to get a minimum order manufactured in advance.

Once you list down ethical clothing manufacturers, you have to vet them for the following:

• Year of experience and technical know-how

• Level of manufacturing – small scale or large-scale manufacturing

• Industry certifications to cross-verify their ethical claims

• Minimum order quantity (MOQ)

• Availability of internal design staff and raw material suppliers

• Language of communication to ensure a seamless transfer of messages

• Project deadline, samples, and quality check analysis

 Conclusion

The issues of ethical clothing are more important today than it was a few decades ago. The world is witnessing the effects of global warming and both humans and animals are suffering a great deal.

Ethical clothing is a step towards a better environment by making ethical and conscious fashion choices.

The role of ethical clothing manufacturers is indispensable here and their demand will increase as brands and consumers become more aware of fashion impacts.

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How can retailers leverage the private label market for differentiating their brand?

Do you know what is common with brands like Amazon Essentials, Halogen, Universal Thread, etc.? They all are exclusive apparel brands from big retailers.

With increasing consumer demand, retailers can leverage the private label market as a growth strategy and differentiate their brand and earn customer loyalty in the marketplace.

Private label brands include products that are manufactured by a third-party i.e. a private label product manufacturer and then sold under the brand name of the retailer. It is a leading growth strategy for small and large retailers who can penetrate their private brands into the market, with price and quality differentiation.

Today, the private label market has evolved from its initial objective of giving a low-cost option to the customer to aiming for brand loyalty and quality. Stiff competition and increased demand in the market are the major growth drivers.  

Private label branding – a winning strategy for retailers

Private label apparel production gives retailers an opportunity to establish their brand even when they don’t have a product design from scratch.

These products offer generic styles and can be easily modified using label tags and brand logos.

Retailers who wish to introduce their line of private label apparel can contact a private label manufacturer who can help them get started. These private label manufacturers can help retailers establish their brand with complete product lifecycle management from the initial contact to a wholesale ladies clothing supplier to the final production of the clothing brand.

There are several reasons that lure retailers into private label fashion and apparel brands.

• Retailers can enjoy higher gross margins that lead to higher profits.

• Total control over cost, material, and quality.

• Opportunity to build brand loyalty for the product as the product is available exclusively on the store that produces them.

• Faster agility to respond to trends due to quicker customer feedback and more control over price and manufacturing process.

Some retailers also sell third-party brands along with their private label brand which increases their potential sales and profits. For example, Amazon sells fashion and apparel products from different brands alongside its private label brand – Amazon Essentials.

Looking for private label brand manufacturers

To launch a private label apparel line, retailers need to leverage the expertise of a private label brand manufacturer. Finding a manufacturer can be daunting but it is worth the effort. When choosing a manufacturer, you should first ensure that the manufacturer has expertise in your product. For example, if you want to introduce kids’ garment line then it is better to work with a manufacturer who has experience in producing garments for kids.

You have to strike a balance between price and quality. Look for high-quality wholesale clothing manufacturers with a reasonable price or at least a price that fits into your budget. It is integral if you want to mark up your products at a sensible and feasible profit margin.

Also, you need to discuss the minimum order quantity. Remember, if the manufacturer does not support small-batch manufacturing then you might end up with unwanted inventory. Inquire about their shipping costs and whether they have contacts with wholesale ladies clothing supplier to ensure that you can easily acquire raw material.

Do some digging about the manufacturer through the internet and request their previous work samples before finalizing one.

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Tips to find high-quality clothing manufacturer for your apparel brand

The fashion industry is one of the most competitive niches in the eCommerce and no wonder it’s a difficult one to break into, especially if you’re new to the industry.

Whether you’re a budding fashion designer or a well-established firm looking to expand into the clothing business, starting a clothing brand may seem difficult.

The clothing industry is highly-competitive with big brands with big budgets already ruling the ground. But as the modern customer’s choices in fashion evolve, we see the emergence of various online fashion brands and private label clothing brands.

With the right quality and perfect timing, you can break into the fashion industry and earn customers’ trust and credibility. 

If you are reading this blog, we believe you already have a design idea for your clothing brand in mind or at least are thinking of starting one. We can help you get rid of the first roadblock in your journey to take off your business i.e. to find a perfect clothing manufacturer for your brand. It is a prerequisite for building your brand. If you stumble upon this stage, your idea will be far from getting turned into reality.

Check out the best tips to find high-quality clothing manufacturers for your fashion label.

Ask whether they can make your product

This seems to be the most obvious question but an important one. Not all manufacturers can produce all types of products. Say you want to manufacture sustainable clothing products for women. It is important to find a women’s clothing manufacturer who is into sustainable or conscious clothing manufacturing.

Are they a domestic or overseas manufacturer?

Next, you need to decide whether you want to work with a local manufacturer or an overseas manufacturer. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. While with the domestic manufacturer, you can inspect the factories and easily communicate, overseas manufacturing is viable in terms of cost. So, do your homework before you choose one.

What is their MOQ?

MOQs or minimum order quantity is another important criterion to consider. As a startup brand, you might have financial restrictions and would not want to manufacture in excess quantity. You need to ask the manufacturer the MOQs they allow. We recommend going for manufacturers who are flexible to offer small order quantities to support your production economies.

Can they provide samples of your product?

When you select a clothing manufacturer for your apparel brand, you will have to share a design idea of the clothes you wish to manufacture. Ideally, the manufacturer must provide a sample of the product before they send it for bulk production. This ensures that any loophole or design error is corrected immediately.

What is the production capacity?

As a startup brand, initially, you would like to start small and offer fewer quantities of your product. As soon as you start realizing profits, you would like to scale up your business. Thus, you would ask the manufacturer to produce more quantities of the product. There is no point in first working with a small batch manufacturer and then changing the manufacturer when your requirement increases. Instead, go for one who supports both small and large batch manufacturing.

What about quality? 

Quality is of utmost importance. Your product can earn a good reputation only when it excels in terms of quality and finish. Ensure that the manufacturer you choose conducts stringent quality checks at each stage of production. 

We hope our tips can help you in finding a high-quality clothing manufacturer for your brand.

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