Comments on: My First Sewing Contractor Experience http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/ Journals our expreriences starting a children's clothing line and apparel manufacturing business. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:55:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Paige http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-2406 Paige Tue, 01 Jul 2008 15:51:20 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-2406 I am considering starting a clothing line of cutome shirts poly/lycra type materials. The shirts will have beading/crystal detailing. How or who would find companies that would do the detailing on the shirts? Me or the sewing contractor? What is the industry name for this type of detail work? I am in the very beginning stages of doing searches for contracting/pattern making and I am still approx 6 months away from getting everythiing in motion. Any help/advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks I am considering starting a clothing line of cutome shirts poly/lycra type materials. The shirts will have beading/crystal detailing. How or who would find companies that would do the detailing on the shirts? Me or the sewing contractor? What is the industry name for this type of detail work? I am in the very beginning stages of doing searches for contracting/pattern making and I am still approx 6 months away from getting everythiing in motion. Any help/advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

]]> By: Nancy Garrison http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-2400 Nancy Garrison Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:58:54 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-2400 I was very intrigued to have come accross this site. I am a model-maker of soft goods (mostly plush characters) and this was all very helpful for me. It showed in prespective what all my clients go through in shopping for someone like me. It also informed me what I'm doing right, what I can do better and how to better assist my clients. Thanks forthe insight and for sharing your experiences so that I could improve my services. Nancy Rainbow Sewing I was very intrigued to have come accross this site. I am a model-maker of soft goods (mostly plush characters) and this was all very helpful for me. It showed in prespective what all my clients go through in shopping for someone like me. It also informed me what I’m doing right, what I can do better and how to better assist my clients. Thanks forthe insight and for sharing your experiences so that I could improve my services.

Nancy
Rainbow Sewing

]]> By: Carolyn Clark http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-2250 Carolyn Clark Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:18:05 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-2250 Hello, and thanks for sharing your story. Today, I mailed my first prototype to a sewing manufacturer for a quote. I hope this experience goes well because I am having trouble finding sewing manufacturers in the US that allow LOW minimums for children's accessories. Any suggestions? Thanks for your help, Carolyn Hello, and thanks for sharing your story. Today, I mailed my first prototype to a sewing manufacturer for a quote. I hope this experience goes well because I am having trouble finding sewing manufacturers in the US that allow LOW minimums for children’s accessories. Any suggestions?

Thanks for your help,
Carolyn

]]> By: Tanya http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-2023 Tanya Fri, 07 Mar 2008 02:45:29 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-2023 Thanks Monique, I'm in the LA area. where are you? I'm definetely interested in someone local, so that I can sit down with them and explain exactly what I want done. Thanks Monique,
I’m in the LA area. where are you? I’m definetely interested in someone local, so that I can sit down with them and explain exactly what I want done.

]]> By: Monique Fletcher http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-1973 Monique Fletcher Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:17:37 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-1973 Hi Tanya, If you still need a patternmaker let me know. I have designed and made all the patterns for abandonfashion.com and gypsiesandlords.com. Where are you located? Best regards, Monique Hi Tanya,
If you still need a patternmaker let me know.
I have designed and made all the patterns for abandonfashion.com and gypsiesandlords.com.
Where are you located?

Best regards,
Monique

]]> By: Tanya http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-1923 Tanya Fri, 22 Feb 2008 04:56:43 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-1923 Hi, your comments on this first experience hit so close to home. I've spent the last 6 months or so dealing with the WRONG patternmaker, making all the mistakes you'd expect out of a first time situation. I don't have much experience with pattern making or sketching so this particular patternmaker totally used that to his advantage. Now I'm shopping around for another one and only now I see how much more "upscale" these other patternmaking services are. I wanted to ask you, in dealing with patternmakers, how can I clearly express my designs (I'm designing children's clothes as well), when I don't have the sketching skills that I should. I feel incompetent when talking to patternmakers and they want details spec sheets with perfect sketches of my designs. Can I do this without such knowledge? Thanks! Tanya Hi, your comments on this first experience hit so close to home. I’ve spent the last 6 months or so dealing with the WRONG patternmaker, making all the mistakes you’d expect out of a first time situation. I don’t have much experience with pattern making or sketching so this particular patternmaker totally used that to his advantage. Now I’m shopping around for another one and only now I see how much more “upscale” these other patternmaking services are. I wanted to ask you, in dealing with patternmakers, how can I clearly express my designs (I’m designing children’s clothes as well), when I don’t have the sketching skills that I should. I feel incompetent when talking to patternmakers and they want details spec sheets with perfect sketches of my designs. Can I do this without such knowledge?

Thanks!

Tanya

]]> By: amber http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-1116 amber Mon, 18 Jun 2007 12:12:27 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-1116 Hi and welcome Melissa! Sounds like you're doing good. A lot of people have to deal with shipping samples back and forth for approval, so I don't think that should be much of a concern. For selling to boutiques, you'll want to start working on your catalog / look book, your line sheets, and your terms & agreements forms. Thanks for taking the time to write! Amber Hi and welcome Melissa! Sounds like you’re doing good. A lot of people have to deal with shipping samples back and forth for approval, so I don’t think that should be much of a concern.

For selling to boutiques, you’ll want to start working on your catalog / look book, your line sheets, and your terms & agreements forms.

Thanks for taking the time to write!
Amber

]]> By: Melissa http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-1115 Melissa Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:02:25 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-1115 WOW! I love your site...amazing. Makes me feel so much better and more motivated! Thank you. I actaully just found a seamstress YESTERDAY so I feel your pain that you describe here in this post. The seamstress is not in my home state- I will have to mail her the materials and then have her mail everything back to me. This seems like the only way to get the ball rolling, as everyone else either fell through or the prices were through the roof! I'm confused as to my next steps?!? I have a website live, it's more of a portfolio right now, but my plan is to start selling online, and while doing so, begin bringing samples to baby boutiques, sending pics to magazines for editorial pieces, etc... Thoughts? Comments? Tips? Thanks again. Keep up all of your hard work. : ) WOW! I love your site…amazing. Makes me feel so much better and more motivated! Thank you. I actaully just found a seamstress YESTERDAY so I feel your pain that you describe here in this post. The seamstress is not in my home state- I will have to mail her the materials and then have her mail everything back to me. This seems like the only way to get the ball rolling, as everyone else either fell through or the prices were through the roof! I’m confused as to my next steps?!? I have a website live, it’s more of a portfolio right now, but my plan is to start selling online, and while doing so, begin bringing samples to baby boutiques, sending pics to magazines for editorial pieces, etc… Thoughts? Comments? Tips? Thanks again. Keep up all of your hard work. : )

]]> By: amber http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-688 amber Sat, 02 Jun 2007 15:05:05 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-688 After seeing the factories, it's easy to see why you have to spell everything out - provide a map, a picture, anything and everything you can. I agree with you - this can't be stressed enough. We learn so much from mistakes and if youcan't think, or believe, that you won't make any. The best we can do is share. Still, as I'm "growing up", I think of all the mistakes my parents tried to save me from, but words just don't compare to hands-on experience. Not to mention, I made my fair share of "major" mistakes in my previous career-life (technical writer), even after I had years of experience. People get tired, stressed, and busy - and things happen. Making everything as clear as you can is the best you can do to reduce the potential for mistakes. Congrats on getting into school!! :-) After seeing the factories, it’s easy to see why you have to spell everything out - provide a map, a picture, anything and everything you can. I agree with you - this can’t be stressed enough.

We learn so much from mistakes and if youcan’t think, or believe, that you won’t make any. The best we can do is share.

Still, as I’m “growing up”, I think of all the mistakes my parents tried to save me from, but words just don’t compare to hands-on experience.

Not to mention, I made my fair share of “major” mistakes in my previous career-life (technical writer), even after I had years of experience.

People get tired, stressed, and busy - and things happen. Making everything as clear as you can is the best you can do to reduce the potential for mistakes.

Congrats on getting into school!!

:-)

]]> By: ayomide http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-649 ayomide Sat, 02 Jun 2007 05:34:04 +0000 http://startupkidsline.com/2007/06/01/my-first-sewing-contractor-experience/#comment-649 Hey, sorry that happened. I guess you have to make a few (costly) mistakes trying to figure out what you need to do for your line. One thing I have learned in the industry, working with oversees manufactors is that you can't assume that anyone besides yourself will understand what you want. They won't call you even if you know the mistake you made was big and any thinking adult would not go ahead and make your product with that mistake. You will have to explain things like you are expalining to a child. Even though it will feel so wrong. It still sounds as if you are doing well. Keep up the good work!! Hey, sorry that happened. I guess you have to make a few
(costly) mistakes trying to figure out what you need to do for your line. One thing I have learned in the industry, working with oversees manufactors is that you can’t assume that anyone besides yourself will understand what you want. They won’t call you even if you know the mistake you made was big and any thinking adult would not go ahead and make your product with that mistake. You will have to explain things like you are expalining to a child. Even though it will feel so wrong. It still sounds as if you are doing well. Keep up the good work!!

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