In fact, all the communication before the proofing is just to better understand the manufacturer, by judging the other party's technical ability and product positioning to decide whether to continue cooperation with the other party, and start communicating with the other party for proofing.
After all, no matter how speculative the chat is, the real product can fully demonstrate the level and ability of the manufacturer, and can help you better judge whether he is the collaborator you want to find. At the same time, you must be clear that if you want to make the proofing process go smoothly and get relatively good samples, you can't just rely on the manufacturer's technical support, but also need your help to help the manufacturer better turn your ideas into reality.
So, how do you make excellent samples with manufacturers? Let us look at it together.
1. Find a manufacturer worthy of cooperation
First of all, a suitable manufacturer is the first step to start proofing. You need to ensure that your manufacturer has the professional technology to produce the corresponding type of product, has enough energy to deal with all the details of changes, and has sufficient experience to face the complex market environment. Most of the content that needs to be understood and paid attention to is written into our other article: How to choose a good clothing manufacturer. Hope to give you a good reference.
2. Communicate target requirements with manufacturers
(1) Fabric demand
Your demand for fabrics depends entirely on the type and style of your clothing products. Different clothing products have different functions, and have different requirements for fabrics. For example, racing suits need fabrics with high fastness and strong tension to meet the protection function of wear resistance, raincoats need fabrics that are resistant to high water pressure and water repellent to meet the waterproof function, and some professional clothing need elastic fabrics to meet travelers' freedom of movement. Some outdoor clothing needs warm fabrics such as polar fleece to meet the travel needs of travelers in cold weather. In addition, the use requirements and functions of the product also determine the production process, such as sealing glue, coating...
(2) Design requirements
If you have ready-made samples, you can provide the samples to your manufacturer so that they can clearly understand your needs after checking. When there is a ready-made sample garment for reference, the discussion about the modification and update of the sample garment will be more efficient.
And if you do not have ready-made samples, you can provide your design draft to your manufacturer. Usually this is just the basic shape design draft. The manufacturer will suggest and supplement the detailed design part according to your design draft and design goals.
(3) Other requirements
Don't forget to provide your manufacturer with some information including the number of samples you need, color and size, etc.
As a garment manufacturer that has struggled in the industry for 20 years, Skyswallow International has a mature and strict proofing process. After receiving the customer's design drawings, we will first discuss according to the design drawings and the customer's oral requirements, focusing on whether the functional requirements can be met, whether there are conflicts in the detailed design, and whether the overall shape is beautiful. If a problem is found in the discussion, we will first carry out the corresponding test, and then provide the problem and solution to the customer at the same time. Regarding the size, if the customer cannot provide the exact size data, we will also provide the customer with a reference standard. After the two parties have completed communication and reached a consensus on all appearance design and functional detail design, the formal proofing work begins.
3. Organize and provide feedback in time
Provide confirmation of samples. After the proofing work starts, you will successively receive confirmation requests from manufacturers, such as fabrics, accessories, embroidery, printing, and so on. At this time, you only need to quickly confirm whether this has achieved the effect you want, whether it is beneficial to your product, and give confirmation or feedback.
Sort out feedback on sample clothes. After receiving the samples from the clothing manufacturer, you need to evaluate from the appearance, size, test data and other aspects, whether it meets the standard or whether there is any place that can be changed.
Wrapping It Up
Creating an excellent sample with a clothing manufacturer isn't rocket science, but it does require a tactical approach and, dare I say, a sprinkle of wit. When both parties understand the stakes and are committed to achieving excellence, the result is often a sample that not only meets but exceeds expectations.
Inside Scoop from Sky Swallow: Sky Swallow typically reviews and organizes the customer's design drawings upon receipt, followed by asking professional questions and offering suggestions. Once all details are confirmed, we start the material preparation and sampling process, which usually takes 7-10 days. If the fabric is special, some waiting time might be needed. Don't fret, Sky Swallow keeps you informed about the sample progress at all times.