Although this article primarily aims at merchandisers and buyers, designers, business owners, and students interested in the fashion industry can also benefit from it. I addressed the most important things to keep in mind when sourcing the fabric for clothing because sourcing is such a broad topic.

Fabric is the single most crucial raw material for the creation of garments. Nearly 60–70% of the cost of the garment is made up of the fabric cost. Designers create ideas while considering the cloth’s texture, feel, colour, and weight, among other factors. Sourcing fabrics is crucial to the creation of clothing.

Many of us know that finding fabrics is part of manufacturing our daily garments. But how can companies obtain material?

You can use this article as a resource as you source fabrics. We will go over where and how to get the materials needed to make clothing.

After reading, you’ll understand how to find fabrics efficiently. Finding the top fabric suppliers will be made possible by reading this. Now, let’s reveal the fabric sourcing for the textile and apparel industry book covers.

What is Fabric Sourcing? 

Fabric Fabric Let’s learn what sourcing is before we discuss sourcing fabrics. The sourcing process involves locating the finest supplier to buy your goods or services. Fabric sourcing is the procedure for getting the fabric you require. 

 The department responsible for fabric sourcing primarily controls how and where its products are produced. Additionally, it is a part of the merchandising division and is responsible for the timely and affordable delivery of all necessary goods. 

A fabric source must know the many fabric types because if the source is more knowledgeable about all kinds, it will be simpler for orders to carry out their functions properly. 

Fabric bundles are primarily stored in two locations, which are as follows:

• Check the fabric. 
• Fabric with no checks. 

Check the fabric 

We observe or examine a piece of cloth to determine its quality, color, dimension requirements, etc. Fabric inspection, in short, implies reducing the number of cut panels or declined garments returned owing to fabric flaws. 

Unchecked fabric 

Although it is a process where cloth is not checked, workers’ laziness occasionally results in this. This procedure will make it simple to discover fabric if it is required. 

Before beginning to source fabric, there are a few questions you should ask yourself.

What am I aiming to design? 

Whether you are an individual or a firm, you must ask yourself why you need to generate this product. You need to understand your product to create and market it to consumers. 

Those with a thorough understanding of their sector frequently create the people or the industries that are successful. Your brand’s positioning and the kind of product you produce will be determined by the textiles your source.

Who is this for that I’m making?

It would be best if you were focused on this. You must be aware of your intended market for these goods. You must first identify your target market to source your fashion fabrics properly.

What fabrics will my clothing line require?

Checking what is currently available on the market is the most straightforward approach to determining what clothes you need. You can discover a reference sample by looking through the textiles that are currently available on the market. It’s also known as counter-sourcing.

These are the top 5 things to keep in mind when sourcing fabric: 

Evaluating: 

When evaluating the fabric’s functioning, you must first ensure the fabric has been satisfactorily finished to be sure the fibres can withstand any other finishing processes, such as wet printing, sublimation printing, etc. However, not all fibres can accept particular printing techniques, such as some cotton and nylon fibres, so ensure you are working with the recommended base fabric to get the best results.

Sustainable development:

Marketing your goods with eco-friendly and return characteristics is highly advantageous to buyers and customers. Product advertising is crucial before product sales. Utilizing fabric from a manufacturer that adheres to release requirements and environmental protection guidelines to deal with reused material even after a recycle option has been exhausted and used. 

Access: 

Where you purchase your various sample fabrics are just as crucial as what you buy. It would be best to remember that municipal fabric stores typically convey a quota of yardage. Purchased as excess inventory from local artisans or mills for each season, it’s likely that when you order in bulk, it will be available for less time. 

Conversely, mills are the direct source of the fabric you crave. Typically, mills create yardage and colour brand-new products every season. So you can purchase a sample and then bulk orders. 

Feature set: 

One of the things to do before producing a garment is to illustrate what the garment will look like. It would be best if you also made flat sketches of the garment. It is crucial to create prototypes of each style to test textiles to confirm the design’s functionality. Because sometimes materials will hang or drape differently than how you see them in that garment, making them incompatible. 

How do I find fabric sources?

Look for suppliers 

Every effective sourcing strategy includes market research on possible suppliers. This enables you to determine whether they can meet your needs. 

Send the fabric cuttings that you prefer

You must send the fabric samples you prefer to the providers you’ve looked into. This is done to let the supplier know what you need and to see whether they can provide the fabric you want. 

For samples, enquire 

Requesting sample swatches is the next step in the fabric procurement process. The provider only needs the specs you give him to produce the swatches. You must choose the textiles you want after receiving the swatches. After then, sample yardage must be purchased to evaluate the cloth. 

Purchase just a few items to test 

It would be best if you sewed up samples for wash and wear samples after you have the sample yardage. Before placing a bulk order, determine whether the fabric is ideal for your clothing line. 

Place a big order for production

It’s dangerous to place multiple orders. For this reason, making samples before purchasing in bulk is recommended. You can now buy in bulk for production after testing the samples and being happy with the outcome.

Where can I locate suppliers?

Manufacturer Sourced

When a product is factory sourced, the company in charge of manufacturing also selects the fabric. Typically, the firm will collaborate with fabric mills to find the cloth you want. The simplest method is factory sourcing because the factory already buys from them, which results in better pricing. 

Trade expos 

Typically, trade shows are free. This is a fantastic approach to finding fabric and assessing potential sellers to meet your needs. Consider travel expenses because trade events are held in several nations. However, it is a fantastic method to expose oneself to various materials while designing. 

Referrals 

You can find out where someone gets their cloth if you know someone in the textile sector. This is an excellent chance because you can receive discounts for referring someone. 

Conducting an online search 

This is a good substitute if the expense of going to various regions to obtain fabric is something you are thinking about. When looking for materials that suit your taste, Google is a big help. But remember that not all merchants are technologically competent, so be prepared to call them. 

Variables affect the fabric’s sourcing 

The lead time 

It takes a long time to source fabric and trim because it requires permissions for the desk loom, lab dip, frame, and FPT. According to the type of fabric, the lead time for sourcing will vary from 30 to 60 days for yarn-dyed fabric, 30 to 60 days for piece-dyed fabric, and 55 to 60 working days for fiber-dyed fabric. 

The merchandiser must choose the fabric provider based depending on the fabric and the remaining time to complete the export order. If the fabric is imported, the time needed for shipping must be considered. 

Trim sourcing is yet another crucial element that requires attention. Typically, it requires ten days to get one in for trimming. That also depends on the kind of trims and the source of the ornaments.

Logistics

One of the critical elements that have a significant impact on fabric sourcing is logistics. Several things are 1. Transportation time required 2. Logistics infrastructure 3. Logistics expenses. The merchandiser must keep these things in mind when ordering fabric or trims. 

For the fabric/trims procurement lead time to be precise, the amount of time needed for transportation is crucial. A more suitable infrastructure will ensure fabric procurement is completed on time.

The logistics costs will immediately affect the price of the garment. Thus the merchandiser should be aware of these logistics-related factors before placing a fabric and trimmings order.

Quality standards

More businesses are outsourcing manufacturing to other countries due to the need for high-quality, inexpensive fabric and trims and lower costs to boost operating profitability.

Even if sourcing is a successful business strategy, there are occasions when the fabric and trimmings suppliers need more quality standards, which makes it difficult for the garment merchandiser to complete the export order.

Numerous variables affect sourcing partners’ capacity to provide high-quality fabric and trim reliably. One of the critical elements is the workforce’s expertise and flexibility in producing a variety of fabrics and trims.

The sourcing partners’ upgrading of their technology The accuracy of written messages and instructions from the clothing manufacturer/apparel merchandiser is another crucial issue. 

Purchase price

The cost of manufacturing is the primary factor considered when making sourcing decisions. However, today’s garment exporters form strategic alliances with suppliers of fabrics and trims. The buyers also form bonds with suppliers of fabrics and trimmings; these suppliers are known as nominated vendors. The following factors affect sourcing costs.

• Pay for labor 
• Cost of manufacturing 
• Cost of transportation and logistics 
• Incoterms agreed upon (for international sourcing) 

Manufacturers must account for all available starting and steps with offshore production when comparing the price of producing fabrics and trimmings domestically vs abroad.

The sourcing cost is minimized when fabric and garment production facilities are located next to one another or under one roof. When there is a delay in manufacturing and materials need to be sent by air freight, the freight charges increase.

MOQ, or Minimum Order Quantity

This is a crucial element that influences sourcing. There is usually a MOQ for fabric and trims, directly affecting the price. Every supplier has a minimum order quantity (MOQ) that must be met to create the fabric and trim it profitably; otherwise, running the production will cost more.

Generally, costs will be higher if a garment exporter orders raw materials below the MOQ. Therefore, MOQ is maintained throughout the supply chain to obtain the actual manufacturing cost. 

Supplier categories

For the manufacture of fabric and trims, buyers or export houses designate suppliers in the apparel sector. The garment industry has become increasingly common to source fabric and trimmings from others rather than using a large production capacity.

Because there are restrictions on manufacturing fabric and trims for garment export houses, even though some export houses have in-house fabric production, the transfer of risk and the ability for the garment exporter to focus only on garment production is the key benefit of sourcing the fabric and trim.

• Supply candidate
• A supplier who was not chosen

Regardless of the MOQ, order volume, or raw material quality requirements, the wait time for both types of suppliers often stays the same. The transit lead time will vary depending on the source’s location, such as a domestic or international supplier.

Nominated supplier

The technique of nominating the supplier, which purchasers first used to have better control over their supply chains, is now widely used in the garment export sector and has a variety of applications.

To improve control over their supply chain, obtain consistent quality, and ensure on-time delivery, buyers now nominate suppliers primarily for goods like accessories, textiles, packaging materials, and transportation.

Product standardization is the most crucial component because customers are meant to obtain raw materials with consistent quality and no flaws or defects when they choose suppliers.

On-time deliveries are the second key factor in the nomination since customers received delayed orders. Most of the time, agents or manufacturers blamed suppliers of fabrics, trimmings, or accessories for the delays.

Benefits of the nominated supplier

• Saving time for clothing manufacturers since they only need to deal with one supplier of essential raw materials. 
• The buyer consistently and diligently ensures the raw materials’ quality. 
• The chosen supplier can participate in product development because they have relevant experience already. 
• There are some drawbacks to supplier nomination in addition to these benefits. Nominated Suppliers could become overconfident in the calibre of their goods. 
• The market can have a monopoly on suppliers. 
• The nomination may result in unethical behaviour by merchants and agents, such as corruption. 
• Loss of pricing competition because suppliers occasionally charge too much 

Suppliers who are not nominated 

These companies provide the raw materials used in the production of clothing. Sometimes consumers give manufacturers of clothing the specifications for the raw materials and instruct them to find the same suppliers. Suppliers who are not nominated have advantages and disadvantages of their own.

Due to their difficulties remaining in business, non-nominated suppliers try to comply with any instructions provided by the purchaser or the garment manufacturer.

Since the price is reasonable for the market, they are favorable.

A chance to experiment with the cutting-edge items offered by non-nominated suppliers may be available to garment exporters.

These suppliers have several disadvantages.

Due to a breakdown in communication between the buyer and the supplier, the quality of the raw materials may need to be improved.

It is challenging to incorporate these vendors in the product development process.

It will be challenging for the buyer to adequately control these suppliers’ adherence to social compliance and ethical business practices.

Ordering Guidelines

For the supplier to provide accurate raw materials, the clothing exporter must provide requirements.

Estimated lead time for local and international sourcing

These lead times depend on the quantity and take optimal conditions into account. In an emergency, the supplier may also be able to provide the cloth quickly. Fabric sourcing process flow chart 

Fig. Ref: Fabric sourcing process flow chart-Textile school 

Summary of findings

The growing usage of sourcing strategies significantly impacts how products are developed, manufactured, and distributed. Thanks to these advancements, the industry can meet consumer needs in a specific cycle time and at comparable costs.

The approach for locating raw materials for the manufacture of clothing is based on factors such as lead time, price, and quality. These techniques are significantly impacted by global trade and tariff legislation.

In addition to these criteria, sourcing decisions are based on the state of the domestic market, cost-benefit analysis, state of the global market, relations between the respective nations, and political stability of the government.

FAQs

What is fabric sourcing in textiles? 

Finding a source with the cloth you require for sale is referred to in the business as “fabric sourcing.” This is how fashion designers obtain the fabric. They find it and purchase it from a variety of providers.

What is sourcing in the apparel industry?

The process of choosing how and where to source manufactured items or components is known as sourcing. ‘ The goal of garment/fabric procurement is to provide the best satisfaction at the lowest possible production cost.

What is the importance of fabric sourcing?

Designers create ideas while considering the cloth’s texture, feel, colour, and weight, among other factors. Sourcing fabrics is crucial to the creation of clothing. Fabric procurement is a reasonably dynamic process influenced mainly by the fabric type, price, and lead time.

What factors affect fabric sourcing?

When choosing where to acquire their items, US fashion firms and retailers take several variables into account. Number one on the lengthy list of sourcing considerations is capacity, followed by price and tariffs, stability, sustainability, and quality.

What are the types of sourcing?

1. Outsourcing.
2. Global Sourcing.
3. Professional Service.
4. Near-sourcing.
5. Insourcing.
6. Low-cost Country Sourcing (LCCS)
7. Prime/Subcontracting Arrangements.
8. Captive Service Operations.