For the fashion lovers and designers out there who want to create beautiful clothing that make people more confident and put smiles on their face by designing and making beautiful garments do you know the industry you love is the 2nd dirtiest industry out there? That being said you can still create styles that are beautiful and sustainable by following the below 8 tips of product development and production to a sustainable future!
1. Set a Time Table
People always say, “okay, I’m going to do this tomorrow!” and then they say the same thing tomorrow. Without a proper timetable as a guide you will miss important deadlines, then you will be rushing and having higher chances for mistakes.
2. Start Early and think sustainably.
Being early in your development is just as important as having a time table! When you start early you can really work through your collection and have time to source and compare prices and performances of sustainable fabrics like recycled polyesters, tencel, or organic cotton; trimmings such as buttons made of recycled paper and zipper made with recycled metal etc. Packaging is important also, so for packaging always think “lighter and smaller” and look into using recycled paper, biodegradable bags, etc.
3. Know Your Suppliers and Their People
Know your suppliers inside out! You want to really understand your suppliers as they are the key to your success so you want to meet the management, walk around the factory floor, storage, packing area, cafeteria, etc. This way you can see how the factory working condition is and how they treat their workers. It is especially important to look at the storage area because good factories work with good fabrics and trims!
4. Set Pricing and Budget
Knowing the price you can sell for and the cost
and having a proper budgeting plan is the lifeline of your business! This plan
can also show you have much budget you have for marketing, selling, logistics,
and other vital part of your business.
5. Be Clear and Exact of What You Want!
Having clear communication with your supplier is just as important as communicating with your client. Being clear on what you want and goal so your suppliers can help brainstorm with you and don’t have to guess! Not only this will avoid confusion but also save you time and money!
6. Have Backup Plans
Got to have backup plans as things can go wrong during your development or production stage, by having backup plans you won’t have to panic if things starting to go south!
7. Foster Trust and Respect
Although you are making products but it is very much a people business also, so you want to build relationships with your suppliers. Show them your collection afterwards and show them what they have helped in achieving and make everyone proud of their creation!
8. Keep Learning
With mobile internet and social media the fashion industry is moving fast also, so there are many new things to learn especially on new materials and manufacturing methods. So, visit fairs and conferences to see what the trends are and what are the new things, subscribe to industry related newsletters, and join organizations that can connect you with other like-minded entrepreneurs or professionals.