Manufacturing a Swimwear Line - Know what you are looking for and what to ask for

Once you have your tech pack ready to go, you'll need to make a list of the qualities and capabilities you are looking for in the perfect manufacturing partner. We like to think of it as a checklist you use when you come across potential Prince/Princess Charmings (yes, it’s that important!).

The first step before you even start thinking about a manufacturer is deciding if you want to go ahead with a domestic partner or go overseas. There are pros and cons in both and the decision should be based on your expectations and requirements. Overseas manufacturers are cost-effective, but long distance relationships can be tough and will require you to establish clear channels of communication and stricter quality control processes. Knowing what you are looking for will help you to seek candidates through referrals from your network, fashion schools and fashion incubators, and tradeshows.

After deciding on how you want to outsource your manufacturing, make a note of manufacturing competencies, machine specifications, technical excellence, certifications, current and past clientele, commitment to quality and prototyping.

It’s also important to identify if you, as a designer, will source fabrics and materials and provide them to your manufacturer or if your chosen manufacturer will do the sourcing for you. If you decide to go with a manufacturer who may not have access to all the materials and fabrics you need, make a note of other relationships you may have to build to source these requirements.

Regardless of which decision you opt to go with, make sure your tech pack has every minute detail about each design’s fabric and material use. The more detail you have, the more effective your communication will be and this will altogether avoid expectations falling through (win-win!).