How do I find companies that make clothing ‘on demand’?
Discussion
I have an idea for a clothing company which I'd like to explore the viability of. It’ll start with swimwear and maybe expand into other beach wear, clubbing wear and maybe gym wear too.
Yes Dragons, I know, competitive market, nothing original about my idea, etc., but please, objective answers only.
What I’m needing is quite specific. For example, a woman wanting a bikini would ...
My big question is ... how do I find a company that can do the manufacturing bit? I haven’t a clue where to begin looking!
Google obviously yields results, but they’re way too vague.
Yes Dragons, I know, competitive market, nothing original about my idea, etc., but please, objective answers only.
What I’m needing is quite specific. For example, a woman wanting a bikini would ...
- Go to the website and browse to women > swimwear > bikinis
- Choose a style from a range of cuts and shapes
- ‘Colour in’ the various components using a configurator (like the ‘ Nike iD’ system which is like a car configurator but for sports footwear and clothing)
- Choose their size
- Add to basket
- Pay and confirm
My big question is ... how do I find a company that can do the manufacturing bit? I haven’t a clue where to begin looking!
Google obviously yields results, but they’re way too vague.
The company I used to work for was the engine behind NikeID and other similar brands. There are only a handful of companies that do the accurate rendering of imagery. Ideally, you are looking for a technology that outputs pixel perfect renders and a production file to the manufacturer. This is usually when you want to do personalised product like NikeID initials...
One company I have come across recently who does the image rendering and production is a German company called Stickvogel - really focuses on the personalisation side.
PM me if you have some specifics I can help with.
One company I have come across recently who does the image rendering and production is a German company called Stickvogel - really focuses on the personalisation side.
PM me if you have some specifics I can help with.
I have several ideas that suit this concept, one part of my business specialises in printing onto textiles, either direct to the garment or on full rolls of fabric before production. We mainly use it for making very high quality flags.
The problem for me has been finding the interface to allow customers to create detailed "one offs" correctly. I have spoken to numerous developers, through to 3D game software houses but unfortunately I don't have a spare 100k floating around to kick start correctly!
The manufacturing bit is the easy bit for me. Its also potentially one way to kick start british (textile) manufacturing again and on demand manufacturing using new automated technology.
I am far too busy with other projects at the moment but would always welcome a chat to see if a new venture could be formed.
The problem for me has been finding the interface to allow customers to create detailed "one offs" correctly. I have spoken to numerous developers, through to 3D game software houses but unfortunately I don't have a spare 100k floating around to kick start correctly!
The manufacturing bit is the easy bit for me. Its also potentially one way to kick start british (textile) manufacturing again and on demand manufacturing using new automated technology.
I am far too busy with other projects at the moment but would always welcome a chat to see if a new venture could be formed.
Thanks both - sounds interesting.
The configurator doesn't necessarily need to be as slick as Nike iD - that would be the best case scenario. I'm very interested to learn more though.
My main challenge first is in finding a manufacturer who can do the stuff 'on demand' from individual orders. I've found some companies that can make stuff but they want to work in large volumes. As my stuff would be 'configured' by customers each item would be a one off, in terms of colour, so volume manufacturing to create stock to sell wouldn't work for me. Each unit would effectively be created after the sale had taken place.
The configurator doesn't necessarily need to be as slick as Nike iD - that would be the best case scenario. I'm very interested to learn more though.
My main challenge first is in finding a manufacturer who can do the stuff 'on demand' from individual orders. I've found some companies that can make stuff but they want to work in large volumes. As my stuff would be 'configured' by customers each item would be a one off, in terms of colour, so volume manufacturing to create stock to sell wouldn't work for me. Each unit would effectively be created after the sale had taken place.
MitchT said:
Thanks both - sounds interesting.
The configurator doesn't necessarily need to be as slick as Nike iD - that would be the best case scenario. I'm very interested to learn more though.
My main challenge first is in finding a manufacturer who can do the stuff 'on demand' from individual orders. I've found some companies that can make stuff but they want to work in large volumes. As my stuff would be 'configured' by customers each item would be a one off, in terms of colour, so volume manufacturing to create stock to sell wouldn't work for me. Each unit would effectively be created after the sale had taken place.
The whole item or could you make volume "template" items then print onto them?The configurator doesn't necessarily need to be as slick as Nike iD - that would be the best case scenario. I'm very interested to learn more though.
My main challenge first is in finding a manufacturer who can do the stuff 'on demand' from individual orders. I've found some companies that can make stuff but they want to work in large volumes. As my stuff would be 'configured' by customers each item would be a one off, in terms of colour, so volume manufacturing to create stock to sell wouldn't work for me. Each unit would effectively be created after the sale had taken place.
Printing wouldn't really work for what I've got in mind. As I'm thinking of starting it with swimwear I've posted a pic of a bikini below to help me illustrate my point.
For the sake of explanation, the white bits could be called 'panels', the black bits could be called 'edging'. When the customer configured their bikini they'd select the colour they wanted for the panels and for the edging from a large selection of swatches, like you do on Nike iD. The manufacturer would hold stocks of the materials that the panels and edging are made from, in a wide range of colours, and make the customer's bikini with the 'panels' and 'edging' in the colours that the customer had specified. To make the bikini illustrated the customer would select white for the panels and black for the edging. There'd be many colours to choose from so the customer could configure their bikini however they wanted. Essentially, the material would have to be cut out and stitched together, in the relevant colours, upon receipt of the order.
For the sake of explanation, the white bits could be called 'panels', the black bits could be called 'edging'. When the customer configured their bikini they'd select the colour they wanted for the panels and for the edging from a large selection of swatches, like you do on Nike iD. The manufacturer would hold stocks of the materials that the panels and edging are made from, in a wide range of colours, and make the customer's bikini with the 'panels' and 'edging' in the colours that the customer had specified. To make the bikini illustrated the customer would select white for the panels and black for the edging. There'd be many colours to choose from so the customer could configure their bikini however they wanted. Essentially, the material would have to be cut out and stitched together, in the relevant colours, upon receipt of the order.
It did occur to me that price would be an issue, but anyway ...
In my investigations I've found another company doing exactly what I'm trying to achieve ...
http://mikinibikini.com/index.php?page=builder
NB. Once you click on the top or bottom you get squares for the 'body', 'trim' and 'lining' and once you click in the squares you get colour swatches so you can affect those elements to your personal taste.
Basically I'm looking for a manufacturer that would hold the materials and have the facility to make and dispatch the pieces. I'd run the website where people would 'build' their orders.
In my investigations I've found another company doing exactly what I'm trying to achieve ...
http://mikinibikini.com/index.php?page=builder
NB. Once you click on the top or bottom you get squares for the 'body', 'trim' and 'lining' and once you click in the squares you get colour swatches so you can affect those elements to your personal taste.
Basically I'm looking for a manufacturer that would hold the materials and have the facility to make and dispatch the pieces. I'd run the website where people would 'build' their orders.
Once you understand the terminology you can get your search terms right. Maybe you should take a look at Drapers to start with, see if you can pick anything up there?
http://www.drapersonline.com/
If not, maybe get in touch with a uni/design school which has a good fashion department and talk to the lecturers there, they're usually pretty clued up. Sorry though, not familiar with an outfit who does what you want.
http://www.drapersonline.com/
If not, maybe get in touch with a uni/design school which has a good fashion department and talk to the lecturers there, they're usually pretty clued up. Sorry though, not familiar with an outfit who does what you want.
Good advice, thanks.
I guess what I'm fundamentally aiming to achieve is to create a range of customizable swimwear which can be ordered online. The kind of stuff you can only really pull off if you've got a good physique but not as daring as stuff like Wicked Weasel. NB. If you've not heard of WW you'll now thank me for drawing it to your attention! I was inspired when my OH received a NEXT directory and I was surprised by just how 'frumpy' some of the swimwear aimed at young women looked.
My ambition - in the long term - is to hit key locations around the world that are famous for their beaches, surf culture, party culture, etc. - think Ibiza, Rio, Australia, LA, etc. As such, I'd ultimately be looking to outsource to a manufacturer with global factories that could make orders in the same country as the order was placed, thus to shrink delivery times as much as possible and remove the hassle of paying import taxes, etc., from the customer when the postman in standing at the front door.
I'm happy to share my idea on here as there are offshoots from it which I don't need help with as I have the knowledge and contacts needed to make those things happen, which are where the big money can be made, but the swimwear company has to exist first to facilitate all of the rest.
I guess what I'm fundamentally aiming to achieve is to create a range of customizable swimwear which can be ordered online. The kind of stuff you can only really pull off if you've got a good physique but not as daring as stuff like Wicked Weasel. NB. If you've not heard of WW you'll now thank me for drawing it to your attention! I was inspired when my OH received a NEXT directory and I was surprised by just how 'frumpy' some of the swimwear aimed at young women looked.
My ambition - in the long term - is to hit key locations around the world that are famous for their beaches, surf culture, party culture, etc. - think Ibiza, Rio, Australia, LA, etc. As such, I'd ultimately be looking to outsource to a manufacturer with global factories that could make orders in the same country as the order was placed, thus to shrink delivery times as much as possible and remove the hassle of paying import taxes, etc., from the customer when the postman in standing at the front door.
I'm happy to share my idea on here as there are offshoots from it which I don't need help with as I have the knowledge and contacts needed to make those things happen, which are where the big money can be made, but the swimwear company has to exist first to facilitate all of the rest.
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