Bales
Sourcing Fabric for Your Fashion Design Business
By: startafashionbusiness.co.uk
When you’re running a fashion design business, the number one thing you need to be sure of it your source of fabric. Whilst it’s possible to buy fabric from the same shops as everybody else, this tends to be a very expensive way of doing things and it’s simply not practical when you’re producing lots of copies of the same design. Before you open for business, you should ensure that you have good access to fabric wholesalers.
Local vs Online Wholesalers
These days the internet makes it easier than ever to locate wholesalers. Because it keeps overheads low, many wholesalers now operate their businesses entirely online. These companies are often able to offer lower prices, but you should take into account any delivery charges when you’re working out how much you could save. You should also make sure that you have a good contract which allows for the easy return and swift replacement of any damaged fabric you receive, as you may be handling very heavy bales which it’s impractical for you to dispatch by conventional means.
Ordering online means you don’t get the chance to examine fabric closely before you make choices. Most online wholesalers can send out samples to get around this problem. It’s obviously impractical to wait for samples when you need a new fabric quickly or when you want to take advantage of a limited time sale, but building up a good relationship with a particular wholesaler can give you more confidence in the quality of their products and a better idea of what they mean by their descriptions.
Getting your fabric from a local wholesaler means that you can examine every item personally before you buy. It makes it easier to meet tight deadlines and it often means that you can buy smaller quantities. Your local small business support centre should be able to give you a list of fabric wholesalers in your area; alternately you can look them up in the business section of your local library.
If you purchase supplies locally, you may be expected to provide your own transport, or doing so may make the process much cheaper. Fabric bales can be very large and unwieldy, so a van is usually more practical than a car. Bear in mind that it’s possible to rent vans on a short term basis. Newspaper small ads for vans plus drivers often offer a cheap way of doing this.
When you visit a wholesaler, you will often be required to provide proof that you represent a business (this is rarely requested during online transactions). Bringing along a business bank statement or a utility bill addressed to your business is usually sufficient.
What to Look For in a Wholesaler
There are several things to consider when choosing a wholesaler:-
- Reliability - Can you always expect the same basic items to be in stock? Can you get access to the same members of staff if you need assistance? Can you be sure of good communication?
- Quantity - Does the wholesaler supply fabric in large enough quantities to meet the needs of your business? Remember that you may be able to make special arrangements.
- Variety - Sometimes you’ll only want to order one particular fabric from a wholesaler, but usually it’s most practical to have the option of getting most of your basic fabrics from the same source.
- Support Services - How efficient is the wholesaler at delivering supplies and/or helping you to transport what you buy?
- Pricing - How does the wholesaler compare to others when it comes to price? Remember that the cheapest deal is not always the best, and be careful to check the quality of what you buy.
In order to provide a reliable service to your clients, you should make sure that you have more than one wholesale source available for the basic fabrics you need. Even the most reliable companies sometimes unexpectedly cease trading, and the fashion supply market can be volatile.
Dealing with wholesalers can be intimidating at first, as you’ll be plunged into an environment where everybody else already knows what they’re doing and you’ve still to learn how to spot a bargain. But with patience and a positive attitude, you’ll soon get the hang of things. Well established relationships with wholesalers means you’ll rarely have to worry about your supply, so you can concentrate on your designs.
How to Store and Care for Bulk Fabric
By: startafashionbusiness.co.uk
When you’re buying fabric in bulk for your fashion design business, you won’t be able to use all of it immediately. Some materials which can be used in a range of different garments, like lining fabrics and basic sewing accessories, may end up being stored over long periods of time. In this situation, it’s essential that you maintain high standards of fabric care and that you undertake the cleaning of each type of fabric in the appropriate way.
When you set up your business, you should think carefully about the storage facilities you can provide for fabric and for finished garments. You should make sure that you have the necessary facilities for cleaning fabric and that you have budgeted for cleaning materials. Keeping your stored fabric in good condition is essential to the welfare of your business - having to replace it can be extremely expensive and can create damaging delays.
Protecting your Stored Fabric
To keep your stored fabric safe, it’s important that you can successfully identify the threats it faces and take action against each one. Even if you’re running your business from home, the difficulty involved in moving large amounts of fabric around can create problems which you don’t experience in your ordinary domestic life. These may include the following:-
- Damp - In damp conditions, stored fabric is often affected by mould. Keep your storage facilities as dry as possible and use silica gel to protect particularly vulnerable fabrics. Colour sensitive silica gel is now available, and can tell you how much water it has absorbed over time so that you will know when to replace it.
- Bright light - Most coloured fabrics fade if exposed to strong light for any length of time. Using individual containers or bags for bales of fabric (always making sure it can still ‘breathe’) means that you can access your main storage facilities without exposing all your fabrics to light.
- Heat - When you have a lot of fabric folded up together, under pressure, it can be very vulnerable to heat damage in warm weather. Protect printed and plastic-based fabrics by folding them over sheets of tissue paper so that they don’t stick to themselves. Try to keep your storage facilities between 5ºC and 25ºC.
- Mice - Even in the most hygienic conditions, mice can be a problem. They often nibble holes in fabric and they may stain it with their droppings. Mousetraps and poison can help to reduce mouse numbers, but the best solution is a cat. Even a visiting cat will discourage mice with its scent.
- Insects - Insect pests can be just as damaging and harder to get rid of. Some insect repellents can damage your fabric and most will make it smell bad. Always use the gentlest available treatment. Reduce the risk by storing your fabric away from open windows and above the ground floor of your premises (or on raised shelves).
Above all, you should check your fabric regularly - even if you’re not expecting to use it in the near future. Most of the above problems can be resolved with prompt treatment, and even if your fabric has sustained some damage, you may be able to recover the bulk of it.
Fabric Cleaning
When cleaning fabric to prepare it for use, it’s important to be gentle. Even with the best available products, repeated washing can be damaging. Use a gentle detergent and fabric conditioner. Never use biological washing power as this may cause allergic reactions in your customers. Make sure that you use the appropriate temperature setting for each type of fabric. Machine dry it rather than hanging it out to dry - this will protect it from sunlight and will make it possible to process more at once.
If you are working with a fabric which cannot be washed, sponge it clean where necessary. If it needs major cleaning, take it to a dry cleaning specialist or consider purchasing your own dry cleaning machine. This can be a practical solution for businesses which regularly deal with large quantities of fragile fabrics.
Unfortunately, bulk fabric is not the easiest of things to store over the long term, but with proper care and attention you can substantially reduce the risks, making sure that it’s in good condition when you’re ready to work with it.