Workshop with V.Mora-Find Fabrics Fast!
Just like a painter needs to know paints, a designer must understand and be very knowledgeable about fabrics. The more you know the easier it is to be creative, and design the fashion line you have envisioned.
When you are designing a fashion line, one of the most essential creative choices you have is the type of fabric or fabrics you want to work with for your sampling and production process. Having an extensive understanding of the enormous variety of fabrics available to you and knowing their primary characteristics and function can give you an in-depth knowledge that empowers you to make better creative, design, manufacturing, style, and quality choices for the specific vision you have for your line. In this blog, I will review the importance of knowing about fabrics and where you can source them. I will also give you some exciting news about an intensive “Find Fabric Fast” Workshop we will be hosting July 25th.
To a fashion designer launching a new line, sourcing fabrics can feel like rummaging through the final sale before Christmas at Bergdorf's. It’s a frightening nightmare! Thankfully, you’ve come to the right place. We have helped brands, like yours, source the most quality and affordable fabrics for 20+ years, both domestically, and offshore.
Sourcing as a Designer:
When you are only creating a product sample, you may be tempted to source fabrics from a local retail fabric store or hobby shop; however, that can often be a big mistake because when you decide to go into production, the fabric you chose for your sample may not be available any more. When you design a collection you need to source from reliable suppliers who are able to provide the fabric you choose season after season. Otherwise, you can be creating possible quality, design, and manufacturing issues as you go into the future. The fabric you might have to substitute because the fabric you used in your sample is no longer available, may not perform the same way as what you used for your sample. This could force you to make alterations in your design plans, technical specs, pricing, quality expectations, and many other issues. It’s always a good idea to source from a dependable supplier so that there are not unwanted surprises when you choose to move into full production.
Developing a Sourcing Strategy:
With this important fact in mind, you can see why it is important to develop a complete sourcing strategy for your fabric from sampling all the way through the production process. I always advise to keep a swatch book with the various suppliers names, ways to contacts, and specific swatches of fabrics that they offer. In order to do this, it is a good idea to attend fashion industry trade shows, and to simply reach out and contact suppliers as part of your day to day operation. As your book and knowledge of fabrics grows, you can narrow down your favorites and consider them first. If one of your favorites cannot supply the fabric you like, then reach out to others in your book. Your swatch book will grow to be priceless research as your experience with the various suppliers expands over the years.
It is also important to build relationships with your favorite suppliers. They are a vital component in achieving your vision and having a strong relationship with them can bring many tangible and intangible benefits as your business grows in the future. Part of building the relationship includes knowing what their minimums are, understanding how to speak to them, and how their organization expects a purchase order for their business to look like.
Join the Find Fabric Fast Workshop:
One of the most efficient ways to learn about fabrics and sourcing is to attend the V.Mora “Find Fabrics Fast” workshop on Monday July 25th at 2pm EST. You can actually sign up for HERE.
In this intensive workshop, I will give you in depth knowledge of fabrics, sourcing, and suppliers that I have learned in over 20 years in the fashion industry. This will put you on the fabric fast-track so that in a few hours you will learn more about fabrics, sourcing, and suppliers than you might learn in 10 years of trial and error, and costly mistakes.
I am going to tell you exactly who to call for specific fabrics, what to say, how to narrow down your options, and how to fill out an order. This is my tested and proven strategy that took me many years and many costly mistakes to perfect into an art.
I will show you exactly how to create your sourcing strategy, and how to execute it so that you can feel successful and accomplished when you actually go out and implement the strategy you prepared. I will teach you what you need to know to narrow your fabric search down from 100’s of swatches to only 1 or 2 quality selections. That can also help you narrow down your choice of trade shows so you attend only the ones that you know will carry the fabrics you are looking for.
I will also explore the types of fabrics available for you to work with and explain concepts like why do all the French Terry Cloth fabrics feel different? Can I reorder this? Does it come in Colors? Can I customize this fabric?
Just like the chaos of the Bergdorf’s sale, there’s a way to navigate the madness of sourcing fabrics, given the right tools. By ‘the right tools’ I mean, not just physical assets (although that helps). It can also come from years of experience and networking.
If you’re looking to dip your toe into the world of sourcing, and want to network with the best contacts in the business, then you have a great opportunity ahead of you. Our “Find Fabrics Fast” live workshop makes this opportunity accessible to any designer in the world. Sign up now CLICK HERE.
Do you need help with producing your line? At V.Mora we can help you through the entire production process from designing, to sourcing and so on through our Production Development services. If you are in need of the following Development and Production services:
Sourcing
Technical sketches
Pattern Making
Prototype making
Sample Making
Fittings
Digitizing and Grading
Marker Making
Manufacturing
Please contact us at: vmorainquiry@vmora.com
