Apparel Search
Step-by-step guides for designers, brands and buyers, with links to the factory directories, manufacturing guides and free tools that help at each step.
Starting or growing a fashion business means a long list of decisions, from finding a factory to costing a style to shipping an order. These guides walk through the process in order, and point you to the Apparel Search resources that help at each stage. For deeper topic guides, see our Apparel Manufacturing Guides, and for calculators and planners, see our free tools.
This page is the industry half of our Fashion How-To Guides — consumers can browse the styling guides there too.
From first idea to first production order: customer, collection, tech packs, factory, costs and launch.
Read the guide →What to prepare, where to look, what to ask and how to compare and vet clothing factories.
Read the guide →Flat sketches, materials, measurements, construction and packaging, step by step.
Read the guide →Base size, points of measure, grade rules and tolerances, plus a clear customer size chart.
Read the guide →Match price terms, check minimums, add freight and duty, and weigh quality and lead time.
Read the guide →List milestones, work backward from delivery, add a buffer and track progress.
Read the guide →Estimate demand, split by size and color, check minimums and plan the cash.
Read the guide →Measure cartons, work out CBM and chargeable weight, and estimate the containers you need.
Read the guide →Match fabric to the garment, compare knit and woven, test swatches and work out how much to order.
Read the guide →Set standards, choose a sampling plan, classify defects and decide whether to accept an order.
Read the guide →Turn sales numbers into reorder, markdown and next-season decisions.
Read the guide →Choose styles, photograph them consistently, list details, set wholesale and retail prices and share a clear PDF.
Read the guide →Prepare, measure first, assess fit, record clear comments and approve the sample.
Read the guide →Find the right stores, pitch buyers, agree terms and deliver on time.
Read the guide →Stretch fabrics, seams, fit testing and finding an activewear factory.
Read the guide →Denim, washes, fit, construction and finding a jeans factory.
Read the guide →Shell, insulation, seams, hardware and finding an outerwear factory.
Read the guide →Yarn, gauge, cut-and-sew versus fully fashioned and finding a knitwear factory.
Read the guide →Materials, hardware, structure, sampling and finding a bag factory.
Read the guide →We are adding new guides regularly. Is there a topic you would like covered? Contact us.