Still haven't found where to source apparel

iwhiz

7 years ago

I think importexport can help you, search for him in wf

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Importexport

7 years ago

Originally Posted by b20ba

It's been 1 and a half month since i'm looking for a clothing manufacturer for my start-up clothing brand.

I've been told to stay away from Alibaba, as they aren't real manufacturers
(They have way too high prices too, I tried to collect quotes).

I've tried looking through Google Maps near China industrial districts in order to find a clothing factory, contacted some but in vain.

I've tried contacting textile suppliers, they won't refer me to an apparel manufacturer.

I've been told to order blank apparel and print it locally, which is something that I could do if it isn't so much more pricy.

I've tried googling "mexico apparel manufacturer" , "asia apparel manufacturer", etc.

Could anyone who's been there enlighten me up a bit? I don't know which way is the best to go and where to keep looking.
I'm willing to pay for a good referal (I'm sorry, I am not paying for an e-book).

Thanks, Sam

Originally Posted by iwhiz

I think importexport can help you, search for him in wf

Thanks @iwhiz, but the OP has said he will pay for a good referral, which if he gets is only one person's opinion and may be from someone who does not have a clue, but he won't pay for an eBook that can show him where to find numerous good manufacturers who are safe to deal with.

I don't understand why, unless he has been scammed by some of the large number of pseudo "experts" offering useless and often misleading eBooks that are compiled by totally inexperienced people on the various freelancing sites or Fiverr or Gigbucks etc.

P.S. I do not sell lists of suppliers or even individual supplier details. I teach how to safely source from genuine manufacturers.

Here's a valuable hint for the OP: Also look at countries other than China.

"If you think education is expensive - consider the cost of ignorance."

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Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com

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xxspinalxx 7 years ago

Hey Sam,

Looks like you are in the same boat i was around 3 years ago (actually think my post was similar). Starting from a complete newbie my friend had designs on paper that we thought would be cool on clothing.

I guess the best thing is to get a little more information like:
-What are you planning to do with the items (cheap give away type or high end label)
-How many are you looking to get

I actually have found several things about the supply or garments.
1. You can get small quantities of clothing that is good quality and cheap from local stores (in NZ the shop is Kmart)
2. you can get bulk cheap items from suppliers in your area like Gildan, Haynes etc.
3. You can get Higher end items for low quantity from AS Colour which do say 3 shirts for bulk pricing, although they are around $10 a tee - we have used these as a great streetwear item and they have become a standard for most printers
4. you can get locally made items to suit your custom designs but now they cost around $18ea without a print!!!

I can go into more info about the printing process etc if you need but let me know what your looking for in a product
- Thanks
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Auctiondebteliminator

7 years ago

I also have a follow-up question:

Why do you want to sell clothes?

Was this an idea that popped into your head one day, or did you go out, find decent demand, with manageable competition, with a commercial intent, coupled with profitability?

If so, what was your method? What were your numbers?

I'm not advocating putting your niche out there for everyone to see if you've done all of the necessary hard work.

However, you have to have numbers make decisions for you - not a wake-up-in-the-middle-of-the-night-convinced-you-have-the-next-million-dollar-idea process.

ADE

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Oziboomer

7 years ago

Maybe go to the East China Fair 1st - 5th March in Shanghai at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre(SNIEC). One of the largest fashion sector trade shows in China. Stay around for a few weeks and make some contacts and attend the CTFE and Intertextiles show on the 18th.

Thanks

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muay

7 years ago

Try Pakistan for clothing suppliers, mostly good quality. Most are based in Sialkot province. There is a Sialkot chamber of commerce which may be of benefit. I have previously imported a few cartons of Martial Arts uniforms and leather equipment from suppliers out there. Quality was good, no real headaches.

I hadn't any experience when I did it first and managed to get through it by reading the information on UK customs site. I am more confident having done it before and also having recently read one of Import Exports books on China Sourcing it may be something I would venture into again.

I am not going to recommend a company as I think the company I used were middlemen/agents that contacted me after a UK company I ordered personalised gear from left the Pakistan guys with my gear and didn't pay them.

The Pakistan company got hold of me through the branding of my martial Arts School and I managed to negotiate a very good price �� as they were left with branded goods that they couldn't sell to anyone else.
I made another order with the company after that first order and there were a few hiccups which led me to believe I was dealing with agents and not a factory. Still very good mark up on what I could sell items in UK for though so overall I was happy enough.

My commitments changed a lot after my brief experience in importing and I didn't follow up on it as I became too busy building my wife's massage spa business, running my Martial Arts School and working full time too!

When I was doing my due diligence on the company I was dealing with my research found that there are a LOT of clothing factories in Sialkot and also a LOT of agents.

There may be others here who can help further with Pakistani factories.

Thanks
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Importexport

7 years ago

Originally Posted by muay

Try Pakistan for clothing suppliers, mostly good quality. Most are based in Sialkot province. There is a Sialkot chamber of commerce which may be of benefit. I have previously imported a few cartons of Martial Arts uniforms and leather equipment from suppliers out there. Quality was good, no real headaches.

I hadn't any experience when I did it first and managed to get through it by reading the information on UK customs site. I am more confident having done it before and also having recently read one of Import Exports books on China Sourcing it may be something I would venture into again.

I am not going to recommend a company as I think the company I used were middlemen/agents that contacted me after a UK company I ordered personalised gear from left the Pakistan guys with my gear and didn't pay them.

The Pakistan company got hold of me through the branding of my martial Arts School and I managed to negotiate a very good price �� as they were left with branded goods that they couldn't sell to anyone else.
I made another order with the company after that first order and there were a few hiccups which led me to believe I was dealing with agents and not a factory. Still very good mark up on what I could sell items in UK for though so overall I was happy enough.

My commitments changed a lot after my brief experience in importing and I didn't follow up on it as I became too busy building my wife's massage spa business, running my Martial Arts School and working full time too!

When I was doing my due diligence on the company I was dealing with my research found that there are a LOT of clothing factories in Sialkot and also a LOT of agents.

There may be others here who can help further with Pakistani factories.

I am glad you found my book helpful.

Agents in low cost countries can sometimes offer very good prices, but the inevitable fact is that if you are not dealing with the actual manufacturer you will be paying more.

This is why my book goes into so much detail on how to tell who really is a manufacturer.

"If you think education is expensive - consider the cost of ignorance."

Thanks

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Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com

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DanyB

7 years ago

[DELETED]

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Importexport

7 years ago

Originally Posted by DanyB

Hi, We are a sourcing company in China. We can help find for you competitive pricing manufacturers of apparel from our network of reliable suppliers, inspect quality and process all import issues.

If you pay more, you pay for professional buyer representation services. which is logical. at least you get the assurance that what you buy is what you pay for without scams.

I can check with our suppliers we have and prepare a quote for you. If you can PM me with more details on your budget, type of quality, design and quantities...

Cheers,
DanyB

I have taught hundreds of people in 36 countries how to safely source products in China and other countries. They do it all themselves following the safe practice that I teach.

Only one has reported being scammed and that is because he did everything wrong. He did the opposite of what I recommended in relation to 3 major aspects of sourcing.

All of the others have had no problems with bad suppliers, or poor quality products. Some of them have posted on this forum about how amazed they are at the low prices they are paying for their products.

You may find people like the OP willing to pay for your services because he is not willing to learn safe sourcing practice for himself, but my book buyers do not need such a service as yours.

"If you think education is expensive - consider the cost of ignorance."

Thanks
1 reply

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Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com

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DanyB

7 years ago

Originally Posted by Importexport

I have taught hundreds of people in 36 countries...

You may find people like the OP willing to pay for your services because he is not willing to learn safe sourcing practice for himself, but my book buyers do not need such a service as yours.

Hi, SORRY but you are comparing a guidance book about "Do-it-YourSelf Sourcing" which is not the same as on-site serious professional Inspection and Sourcing services.

When you are talking of "SAFE SOURCING" you are cheating people in the way that they will never face real world product quality problems ("ONLY 1% scammed reader".), all this using your book and without any quality inspection previously made in China.

Moreover all this in only 83 pages and without any reliable supplier listings...

You may find people interested in your tuition book but, even with all that knowledge on sourcing, don't make them believe they can buy SAFELY without risks of product defects, health safety and even custom issues all by themselves when it comes to real business with China.

By pretending it replaces a professional middleman on-site, they will end up pretty deceit.

Thanks
1 reply

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Importexport

7 years ago

Originally Posted by DanyB

Hi, SORRY but you are1 comparing a guidance book about “Do-it-YourSelf Sourcing” which is not the same as on-site serious professional Inspection and Sourcing services.

When you are talking of "SAFE SOURCING" 2 you are cheating people in the way that they will never face real world product quality problems (“3 ONLY 1% scammed reader”.), all this using your book and 4 without any quality inspection previously made in China.

Moreover all this in only 83 pages and 5 without any reliable supplier listings…

You may find people interested in your tuition book but, even with all that knowledge on sourcing, don’t make them believe they can buy 6 SAFELY without risks of product defects, health safety and even custom issues all by themselves when it comes to real business with China.

7 By pretending it replaces a professional middleman on-site, they will end up pretty deceit.

You have made a number of assumptions and accusations, so I have numbered them for reply.

I have vast experience in the China trade, first as an exporter to China from 1978 to 1987, then as an importer from China since 1987. I have visited numerous factories in China during my countless visits to that country. I do know what I am talking about.

1. There is a big difference between professional inspection services and professional sourcing services.

Depending on what service you want, inspection services will check during production, after production, prior to packing, prior to the goods leaving the factory, or at the port. There are internationally recognized inspection services with impeccable reputations, but there are many in China whose reputations are questionable.
Sourcing services will try to locate product suppliers for you to your specification. Sometimes they will offer to do inspections also. How reliable those inspections may be is anyone's guess. They will usually claim to get the best supplier and the best prices. They may introduce you to a genuine manufacturer, or they may introduce you to a trader. They may even be traders themselves. It is extremely difficult to be sure that they are actually working for you. In many cases they are working for suppliers on commission, as well as charging the buyer for their services.

2. If I was cheating people, how do I get so many people writing to thank me for what my book has taught them? I only publish a few on my website and they are all provable should anyone claim to the FTC or other authority that they are not genuine. By the way, the FTC gets to see the proof, not the complainant.

3. Not 1%. Only one! That is out of hundreds and it is worth repeating that he did everything wrong against the advice in my book. a) He sourced through Alibaba b)He placed a large initial order c) He paid by Western Union. In other words he was exactly what scammers love to see, but the other hundreds of my students who follow my advice have not been scammed.

4. I do recommend quality inspections where appropriate, and I provide details of 100% reliable quality inspection services.

5. Unlike a lot of internet marketers who don't know much at all about importing, I do not sell supplier lists. What I do is show people where it is safe to source, how to be sure you are dealing with reputable manufacturers, how to get the best prices, and how to negotiate small orders if the manufacture quotes a big MOQ.
6. My book deals with all of these issues and the advice I give on those matters is right, because I have been there, done that, for a very long time. I understand the Chinese way of doing business and I keep up to date on current matters to do with sourcing, and importing. I have been involved in international trade all my long working life.

7. I don't pretend. My record speaks for itself. If I have failed in any way you can be sure there would be plenty of adverse comments, but you will not find any on this forum or other business forums. My book readers do successfully replace middlemen and save a lot of money by doing so.

"If you think education is expensive - consider the cost of ignorance."

Thanks

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Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com

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sam240

7 years ago

Originally Posted by muay

Try Pakistan for clothing suppliers, mostly good quality. Most are based in Sialkot province. There is a Sialkot chamber of commerce which may be of benefit. I have previously imported a few cartons of Martial Arts uniforms and leather equipment from suppliers out there. Quality was good, no real headaches.

I hadn't any experience when I did it first and managed to get through it by reading the information on UK customs site. I am more confident having done it before and also having recently read one of Import Exports books on China Sourcing it may be something I would venture into again.

I am not going to recommend a company as I think the company I used were middlemen/agents that contacted me after a UK company I ordered personalised gear from left the Pakistan guys with my gear and didn't pay them.

The Pakistan company got hold of me through the branding of my martial Arts School and I managed to negotiate a very good price �� as they were left with branded goods that they couldn't sell to anyone else.
I made another order with the company after that first order and there were a few hiccups which led me to believe I was dealing with agents and not a factory. Still very good mark up on what I could sell items in UK for though so overall I was happy enough.

My commitments changed a lot after my brief experience in importing and I didn't follow up on it as I became too busy building my wife's massage spa business, running my Martial Arts School and working full time too!

When I was doing my due diligence on the company I was dealing with my research found that there are a LOT of clothing factories in Sialkot and also a LOT of agents.

There may be others here who can help further with Pakistani factories.

I was born and raised in that city. Sialkot is actually known for sports. You'll find their products in Kmart to dicks sporting good. The only thing is, they will print on sports related custom product. If you're looking for a t-shirt printing, I would say its a tough market. I actually went there a couple of years ago and I tried to get my t shirts printed. I got them printed but the print quality was cheap. Now that maybe because I was only getting 15 shirts printed.

Thanks

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colindres

7 years ago

Hello Friend
Nicaragua is a good place to make what you need.
You can even search online Nike will be producing cloths here at Nicaragua.'
Contact me for more information.
Thank you,

Thanks

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onsett

7 years ago

Try this sourcing girl on Fiverr. Usually she's either booked (looks like that now) or extremely responsive.

Find a product you want to sell (or similar to one you want to manufacture) on Alibaba or Amazon, then have her do the work of finding all possible manufacturers.

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Importexport

7 years ago

Originally Posted by OnsetSEO

Try this sourcing girl on Fiverr. Usually she's either booked (looks like that now) or extremely responsive.

Find a product you want to sell (or similar to one you want to manufacture) on Alibaba or Amazon, then have her do the work of finding all possible manufacturers.

I am sure that for the $15 she charges she would not be able to list the many thousands of possible manufacturers.

For example, one of the sourcing sites that I use has over 56,000 manufacturers of clothing. It covers many countries including China. It is definitely not Alibaba, where most of the suppliers listed are traders masquerading as manufacturers. The site I refer to does not allow suppliers to pay to be listed.

Product sourcing is easy if you know some simple rules, and you have complete control if you do it yourself, rather than trust it to someone you have never heard of.

"If you think education is expensive - consider the cost of ignorance."

Thanks

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Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com

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NewParadigm

7 years ago

someone interested in apparel should be able to make a killing! i ordered a couple jackets and noticed dang near every listing on amazon/ebay were overseas and their sizes were wayyyyy offf. Even ordering 2-3 sizes bigger, they were still too dang small. Tons of comments/feedback saying the same. Geez people, get the dang sizes right for the US and you'll make a killing!

i think most people get burned once like me, figure its too costly to ship back. get stuck with it. BUT....NEVER order again from those sellers. Get the dang sizes right and you'll have a ton of loya l customers and word will spread fast.

Thanks

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Monkmoney

7 years ago

Cant you just contact a broker who will help

Thanks
1 reply

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Importexport 7 years ago

Originally Posted by Monkmoney

Cant you just contact a broker who will help

I know that most people don't read more than the last couple of posts on a thread, but if you just scroll back to post #12 you will see the comments by a "broker" (sourcing agent), and my reply.

In post #9 I wrote "Agents in low cost countries can sometimes offer very good prices, but the inevitable fact is that if you are not dealing with the actual manufacturer you will be paying more."

I suggest you read the whole thread. It is not very long.

"If you think education is expensive - consider the cost of ignorance."
- Thanks
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Use emotions and perceptions to build a great brand. Ask me about my book LabelsThatExploit. For safe sourcing and easy importing from 41 countries globally, see https://provenglobalsourcing.com
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