Below is a simplified list of the steps that are involved in developing a clothing collection. This takes your ideas from concept to production, ready to deliver to your clients.

1. Design

Design is one of the most important steps in creating a clothing collection. Think about your target customer, the end use of the product and the price point you want to sell your garments for. This will determine the complexity and features of the style, including fabrics and trim choice. If you would like environmentally friendly products, this can be worked into the design at this first stage.

2. Fabric, trim and embellishment sourcing

Once you have finalised the design, you can choose fabrics that are most suitable for the garment. Here considerations such as price, quality, colour and performance are important. This ensures the product is suitable for its end use. You can even choose fabrics based on their environmental credentials. The process is similar with trims too. Printing and embroidery are further considerations at this stage. There are plenty of options so it is about finding the one that works for your end product.

3. Factory sourcing

Once you have decided on all the elements of your design, you will need to find a suitable factory. Depending on your budget, and also your preference of location, you need to decide whether to manufacture your clothes. UK minimum order quantities (MOQ) are 50 units per style per colour, Europe are 150-300 units and the Far East are 500-1000 units. Considerations to certifications, audits, ethical standards and transparency of a factory are important here. This will ensure you choose the right factory for your brand.

4. Sampling

After finding a factory that meets your needs, you can start sampling. Several rounds are usually required to ensure the fit, quality, price, performance, and overall aesthetics are fit for purpose. Then size sets are made, to ensure the garments work across your full size range.

5. Production

Once you’ve approved samples, you are ready to action production. Once complete, you’ll receive production and can start distributing out your first collection, to your customers.