How much time does it take to produce a fashion collection? There are several factors involved. If you are a new fashion designer, you will have limited resources: you might not have a factory, patternmakers, or dedicated designers. Plus, you might not have the largest clientele yet. For all of these reasons, it can take a long time to produce a fashion collection. To make it easier for you, there are tips that you can follow to reduce the amount of time needed to create a fashion collection.
Minimum order quantity
MOQ stands for Minimum Order Quantity, which refers to the amount of items that you must order from a supplier. Manufacturers typically set the MOQ at a certain number of units or items for each style, material, and color. This number may change with time, which can have an impact on your cash flow, profitability, and financial health. Here’s an overview of MOQ and how to get the most out of it.
MOQ is a requirement that a manufacturer sets for you to order a certain number of items. It can range from no minimum order quantity to a 500-piece order minimum. This number is too low for an early-career designer who does not have the capital to purchase a large quantity of items. Nonetheless, if the manufacturer’s MOQ is too high, the designer may have to negotiate a higher price.
If you need more than six hundred pieces of a particular style, you should consider going with a manufacturer that offers multiple colors, sizes, and SKUs. While this method might seem too good to be true, it’s not uncommon for smaller designers to struggle to find a manufacturing partner. As the CEO of Chicago-based streetwear label Nineteenth Letter, I had trouble finding a reliable partner. And the high minimums were crippling his ability to negotiate materials and quality.
While MOQ is a necessary measure to protect the factory from losses, it should not be a deal breaker. In many cases, it is easy to work out a lower MOQ after seeing a sample order list. Once you’ve found a reliable factory, you can negotiate the terms of the contract. This should not be intimidating and you should try to negotiate the terms before the sample orders arrive. When dealing with a factory, remember to ask about the MOQ and negotiate the price before you start.
Fabric minimums
The minimum orders for fabrics and trims for a fashion collection depend on the manufacturer and the factory you’re working with. Different factories have different minimum orders, but generally the more you order, the less you’ll pay. The higher the quantity per run, the more quickly your garments can be made and shipped. Buying in bulk also lowers your costs per garment. It is also beneficial to work with suppliers that offer low minimums for their products, as this will allow you to get a better price per piece.
The minimum order quantity refers to how many yards of fabric you need to order. The minimum quantity can vary for sample orders and bulk orders. What’s in stock? You can buy fabric that’s already finished. If you’re working with a mill, you can choose fabric off the roll or purchase it as-is. Otherwise, you can opt for deadstock fabric, which is a rejected fabric from another company. It may not pass quality control inspections and could be environmentally friendly.
Seasonality
The notion of seasonality in a fashion collection is controversial, and has been criticized by many leading designers. Some argue that the fashion calendar is based on a complex mechanism that is influenced by the needs of many parts of the industry, including buyers, industrial producers and retailers. In reality, the calendar is divided into two seasons: Spring and Fall. For the most part, however, collections remain consistent throughout the year.
While fast fashion has become more seasonal, the number of seasons has increased. There are now 52 collections a year and most stores restock every week. In this climate, the amount of clothing is being consumed quickly. A brand must know its target audience and focus on items that won’t go out of style in a season. If a brand is operating in a country where there are few seasons, seasonality is not as important.
In an ideal world, clothing would be sold year-round based on their availability. While seasonality used to help retailers sell more clothes during the colder months, seasonal fashion emphasizes versatility, longevity and style that outlast trends. In this world, priorities have shifted away from frivolous items. In addition to reducing unnecessary product, a fashion company would also benefit from less overstocking. Similarly, a less seasonal fashion collection would mean less waste in terms of inventory and materials.
In the same way, seasonal colors reflect the seasons in nature. In nature, there are four seasons, each of which has traditional colors and hues that are associated with the season. There are also transient seasonal colors that are associated with a season. A few years ago, neon hues made a splash on the Spring runways. But this trend has since disappeared. Nonetheless, the concept of seasonality is still important in clothing design.
Keeping a cohesive story
When creating a fashion collection, keep the following in mind: the composition of the clothing must be consistent, evenly proportioned, and easily understood. Keeping a cohesive story is key to commercial success. When establishing a brand story, consider the image that you want to portray. What do you think your ideal customer would be like? Is she a young, hip, creative woman with a sense of style?