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The Apparel Process
When you are getting started developing your apparel
line, you should have an understanding of the apparel process.
1.
Develop your line: start with a small line the
first season. Plan you season about a year in advance, or so, depending on when
you plan to launch your line. I advise starting small, as, each style could
cost approximently $1,000 to fully develop.
2.
You will need to do your costing and sourcing
now.
3.
After you develop your line, you will go to a pattern maker and get patterns made
for you styles.
4.
Then you will go to a sample maker, or, you can
sew the samples yourself.
5.
You will then need to get the samples fitted on
a model who meets your size standards.
6.
The patterns will be revised, and the samples
sewn again. This process could take many times to get the fit right.
7.
Then, depending on how you are going to present
the line to stores, or other outlets, you may need to get several sets of
samples prepared to send to your sales force.
8.
You will present your line at market, or,
through other outlets with your “reps”.
9.
After you get orders for your line, you will
then get the styles graded. This
means that you will have determined the size chart for your sizes, and grading
means that you will have the grade rules for all the sizes, and your will have
patterns for all the sizes.
10. After
you get the patterns, you will then be ready to start fulfilling your orders.
11. Then
you will need a marker. This is where you have determined how many pattern pieces you need, for the order
and sizes that you have orders for. The marker is how the pattern pieces are
laid out on the fabric, as to not waste any fabric.
12. Then
you will go to a cutter and have the fabric cut.
13. Then
you will go to sewer and have the
styles sewn.
14. Then
distribution to the stores, or other outlets.
15. Costing
should be done 4 times during this process, to determine whether or not you can
offer this style again next season.
16. NOTE;
during this entire process, you are working on the NEXT season at the same
time!
