You need an end-to-end solution for an apparel brand, especially if you are starting from the beginning. As clothing designers and manufacturers, we come across many new brands and private labels. We found them quite enthusiastic, but later on, they lost interest. They start their apparel brand on a high note. However, as we advance, they lose interest and end up losing a lot of time and money. So, I suggest new brands do proper homework before joining the business. It would help if you found a balance in business, which requires you to make the right decision at the right time.
Why Should an Apparel Brand Look for End-to-end Service?
Building an apparel brand involves working with the fashion industry on various levels. This involves working with multiple departments and factors involved in design, production, and shipping. If all those factors are diversified, managing them becomes a challenge. But having everything in one place makes life easier for brand owners. Therefore, fashion labels seek a solution that unifies all the services and presents them as a package. The package includes the service of a tech pack designer, pattern maker, manufacturer, and other allied services. Brands choose end-to-end services for their design and production. Some of the advantages that an end-to-end supply chain offers are as follows.
Streamlined Process
A single unit streamlines the entire process under one roof. So, the coordination between various units inside the factory will be efficient. This can lead to better communication, fewer errors, and a more efficient workflow. A streamlined process makes the job efficient and consumes less time than a diverse unit. You deal with a tech pack designer from the beginning. This will help you organize your collection most feasibly. And that makes the further steps easier.
Consistency and Collaboration
You will get one team and one point of contact. This helps you ensure consistency and cohesion across the entire collection. Consistency is mentioned in every step of the design and production process. Therefore, it helps maintain the brand’s aesthetic and vision. However, this is not the case when you work with different vendors for different services. A lot of time and energy is spent communicating with both of them. Even if they do it among themselves, sometimes it’s stuck due to ego issues or blaming each other. This is not good for a growing business.
Cost Efficiency
End-to-end service is always more cost-effective than hiring multiple vendors. This is because the service provider can offer bundled services at a lower rate. When you pay different vendors for different services, you pay more. You get individual services, but they are always at a higher cost. Moreover, the cost of modification and rectification adds to the price.
Time Savings
The coordination process between departments is much easier, and that helps with faster progress. In the apparel industry, the print unit needs the designer; the cutting unit needs pattern master help, and so on. Departments are interlinked with each other. So, with an integrated unit, the coordination becomes much more accessible. This can help bring products to market faster. Imagine if you have diverse units for every dependency you may have to spend days. Timing is crucial in business, and if you miss the deadline, it affects your business.
Quality Control
A single service provider can ensure consistent quality throughout the design and production. The quality assurance process starts with the design and tech pack development. The specifications mentioned in the tech packs are maintained throughout the production process. This is why integrated apparel units handle quality control measures more effectively. The quality of the end products gets compromised when there is no coordination between departments. This happens when you engage different units for different processes.
Expertise and Experience
End-to-end service providers often have extensive expertise and experience in all aspects of design and production. This can result in a higher-quality final product.
Risk Mitigation
Working with one service provider can help mitigate the risks associated with outsourcing, such as delays, miscommunications, and quality issues.
Does an Apparel Brand Look for an End-to-End Solution in the First Place?
The need for an end-to-end solution depends on various factors like brand size, funds, and their specific needs. Smaller brands lack the resources or expertise to manage multiple aspects. Managing design and production processes may be a bit too much for them. So, they prefer to work with a fashion design agency that provides a comprehensive solution. Brands outsource because they can focus on their core competencies. This allows them to streamline their operations and ensure quality. It saves time as they do not have to coordinate with multiple vendors for different services. It helps avoid potential delays and communication issues. Cost-wise, a design agency comes out cheaper than various vendors. And lastly, it gives more control to the brands by working with one design agency with one point of contact.
However, hiring a fashion design agency may cost a bit more initially, as you have to pay an upfront fee. This sometimes is not possible for a small brand, so they go to multiple vendors one by one, even if it costs them a lot.
How can a fashion design agency provide an end-to-end solution for an apparel brand?
Fashion design agencies offer end-to-end solutions to brands with a comprehensive solution. This covers all stages of the design and production process. Starting with concept development, including research and fashion forecasting. Based on the trend research, fashion design sketches get ready. The next step is finalizing the fashion sketches. The tech pack designer prepares the tech packs based on the sketches. It has information including trims, materials, stitching and construction details, and size grading. Based on the tech pack and spec sheet, the pattern maker prepares the patterns and samples for fitting. The agency sources and procures the materials once the tech pack, pattern, and sample are ready. The production process begins once the buyer approves the fit and production sample. Also, quality control starts along with the production to meet the brand’s standards.
Concept to Customer – End-to-End Solution to Apparel Brand
What Are You Doing & Why
You put your severe efforts with a purpose and expect to get results. Especially in the business of fashion things, you should be extra cautious. If you are looking forward to investing in the fashion business, consider two aspects. So think twice before investing in your brand, and hire a fashion consultant to support you. You may also take the support of a fashion design company supporting apparel brands from concept to customer. Yes, you must invest some amount in your design and fashion branding. Also, designing your collection line sheet based on your ideas is necessary. But getting to this level is your first step. To reach this level, you must be clear on the below points.
- Why. Why are you Building your Clothing Line?
- Who. Who is the Clothing Line Focused on?
- What. What are you trying to carry out from Your Clothing Line?
It would be best if you thought out of the box to run a successful apparel brand. What is unique about you that other brands do not have? Moreover, customer needs are the priority for the success of every brand. This gives them reason and purpose to choose your apparel brand as their first choice. There are many aspects to look out for in a business, especially fashion. One person can’t look into everything, especially if you are starting a new brand. The solution is to find factors supporting your business’s success—from clothing design and tech packs to clothing manufacturing and e-commerce web development. Do you think this is possible? Yes! Urban Purple is a conglomerate that offers a complete solution for your business. You can get everything you need to build your apparel business from scratch.
Urban Purple is a group of technical fashion designers and consultants. We also run a digital download store for fashion tech packs, graphics, and textile prints. Visit our template store to learn more about our offering and buy fashion tech packs. You can choose your collection tech packs from a wide range of fashion tech packs. The tech packs are tested in factory environments. So, you can select your styles and buy from there. Download the apparel Tech Pack Template with a detailed measurement spec sheet. You get the source vector file of the tech pack with the spec sheet in Excel format. Fashion Consultant and Owner of Tech Pack Template. An Online Store offering Tech Pack Template with detailed size charts. Download the Tech Pack template with a detailed size chart in Excel format.