how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences?
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Discuss the various finishing services that can help showcase your brand. Topics include custom neck tag labels, hang tags, garment washes, folding, bagging and even shipment/packaging options.
how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences?
Re: how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences?
Thanks for posting, there isn't a lot of direct experience with this kind of thing written up on the forums, so it's good to get some more information.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tqualizerman
1) some suppliers will show you the best of the best samples they have, and they are fine tees.
2) some suppliers will then turn around and mix in cheap shirts with the nice stuff. We got orders of 50% great shirts/50% garbage shirts or 33/33/33 splits of different quality shirts when we first started.
I had wondered about exactly that. It's a shame my wonderings proved valid. So is the best way to avoid this to try and get references and work with a broker?
Re: how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Solmu
Thanks for posting, there isn't a lot of direct experience with this kind of thing written up on the forums, so it's good to get some more information.
I had wondered about exactly that. It's a shame my wonderings proved valid. So is the best way to avoid this to try and get references and work with a broker?
Short of going there yourself, yep. Having someone who can communicate between you and the supplier is the real key to everything.
That said, don't discount going over yourself. If you're really interested in being in business with China, spend the $2-3k and go. Half your expense is just getting there (I have stories about this...they're great.) but once you're there, its pretty inexpensive. You can get tours of the factories, and spend a week or so feeling out the culture. Your broker will probably extend the invitation to you, because it shows you're serious.
For me, this was a big key in understanding how it all works. Things are very different over there, in a thousand ways.
One thing that was a huge surprise to me was the fact that many "factories" exist in buildings no bigger than a typical home garage. Many of them are based on the first floors of run down apartment buildings. These types of first floor "factories" lined the streets in most of the manufacturing cities I was in while there.
They've got big metal garage doors that open up, and they stay open twenty four hours a day many of them.
A lot of these places are small machine shops who supply the larger factories, but of course they produce all sorts of products.
The larger factories are more typical, but they've got their own special quirks too. I HIGHLY recommend ANYONE doing business with China, or with an interest in China to track down where this movie is playing: http://www.mongrelmedia.com/films/Ma...andscapes.html
Its called Manufactured Landscapes and is basically a 'state of the nation' address produced by the filmmaker Jennifer Baichwal.
If you go to the site, you'll see an image of the factory workers organized into groups on the streets. This is taken a factory facility which operates like a small city. The factory floor is a kilolmete long, and there are a few thousand people working there.
There is essentially a team leader who address each production group, and they address what they are doing right and wrong. They basically relay messages down the chain from upper management to the workers. It is very regimented in these larger factories.
__________________
T-Qualizer: the t-shirt that flashes to the beat of your music - http://www.tqualizer.biz
Re: how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences?
thanks Michael.
May be start a new thread (or Rodney/Solmu can) and tell us more about the tech behind the shirt and other possibilities, like posters etc. Its very interesting too.
Re: how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences?
I have dealt with a couple companies in china in the past for clothing and other items. Its hit and miss it seems at least with what I have done.
You have to do your homework when dealing with china, some places I have dealt with were great, and others not so good. Many of them will send you amazing quality samples but when it comes down to sending your final orders some places will ship you a mix of good quality items and a mix of items that are worthless, or close to it. I’m not saying everyone is like that about in my experience it’s around 50/50
I have stopped dealing with china for most of part since I am getting a better quality items and better prices from Pakistan. Only thing is on the t-shirt side of thing the prices for the item itself aren’t much cheaper than I pay in Canada but the printing is WAY LESS.
Dealing with china or even Pakistan or other places these days is risky, so do as much homework as you can about the company you want to deal with. I learned the hard way and lost a lot of time and money. If anyone has any questions they can PM me and I will do my best in answering them. I hope this helped
Re: how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences?
We've done tons in China, but all in all - it's not really worth the problems, unless you have long long leads, or are running huge numbers....
Plus Mexico is closer.
For small and regular runs you'll probably not save much at all - something you could get done locally in an eigth of the time, and have someone to hold responsible for your product.
not to mention help the local economy.
__________________ www.eternyl.com The Eternyl Store - Blog - Studio
Re: how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences?
Quote:
Originally Posted by EternylStudios
Plus Mexico is closer.
To you maybe
Asian production does seem generally more popular here than with US businesses, which certainly makes sense when you compare the local options of the two countries, and the other outsourcing options of the US (such as Central and South America).
Re: how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences?
Yes true but didn't mentioned any country here also. Seems is ok for you in Mexico well France is not so easy + china can do many others small articles usually needed when you have a complete brand... Quality is good cause we really take care about this. That's why we are here to control quality and bring new idea to our customers.
Re: how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences?
I'm working in an apparel manufacturer in china, with 5 years exporting experience with US and Euro market.
As I know, lots of overseas wholesalers or trading companies would like to source products from China for the cheaper prices. But also they are afraid of the taking any risk cause China is far away from here, and the reputation of China is not too good. I total understand it, and extremely hate those **** Chinese suppliers break our reputation.
Anyway, now I would like to give you some suggestion on how to find a good supplier from China.
1.how to find suppliers from China?! If you would like to find a supplier from China,you can use search engines like Google,MSN. Also, alibaba.com,made-in-china.com are the best marketplace for you to find the ideal suppliers.
2.Contact several suppliers and get comparison. Asking one or two samples from each suppliers, usuallly, the samples are free of charge, if you have a express account for freight collect, then you don't need pay anything for those suppliers.
3.Sending a sample to those suppliers you're interested in, and asking a counter sample from them, then you can see how your products can be manufacture in the near future.
4.Never prepay 100% no matter how your order quantity is, a good supplier seldom ask 100% prepay from their customers.
5.If you'll do long-term business with China suppliers, you'd better find a purchase company there, cause they know more about China suppliers than you and also they can supervise the quality for you.
Finally, I would like to say not all china suppliers are bad just like not all of them are good. Open your eyes,be cagey,then you can get what you want.
Good luck to all of you!
Re: how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences?
Hi all the posters,
as Rodney mentioned this thread was not really to answer my particular concerns or questions only but more of a topic starter. Still, I want to thank everyone who shared their experiences re: this subject. There are some great posts out there. I'm really glad that manufacturers like vivi are participating too, I thnk it's a good chance to hear sort of "both sides of the story".
Re: how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annushka
Hi all the posters,
as Rodney mentioned this thread was not really to answer my particular concerns or questions only but more of a topic starter. Still, I want to thank everyone who shared their experiences re: this subject. There are some great posts out there. I'm really glad that manufacturers like vivi are participating too, I thnk it's a good chance to hear sort of "both sides of the story".
Look forward to reading more
You're welcome, Annushka. I also thank you for your this post, it makes me know more opinions from overseas wholesalers.
Re: how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences?
Hi. I have question regarding outsourcing from the other end of chain. I am a college student in Los Angeles. My family runs garment factories in Bangladesh exporting to Europe and Canada. Since I am in US, I would like to find US clients who need their brand line manufactured. Our factories get orders from reps of different brand lines baed in Bangladesh so I am not sure how to find potential clients skipping these middle men. I will be really happy to receive any advice or directions. Thanks.
Re: how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences?
Quote:
so I am not sure how to find potential clients skipping these middle men. I will be really happy to receive any advice or directions. Thanks.
I think traditional advertising methods would work. Find targeted venues where your potential customers are, and try to focus your advertising effort and dollars there.
Tradeshows like the ISS tradeshow in Long Beach next week will have a lot of potential customers who may be interested in buying custom blank garments.
Trade magazines like Impressions or Printwear probably have readers that might need your families services, etc.
This is a discussion about how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences? that was posted in the T-Shirt Tag Relabeling and Finishing section of the forums.
Re: how to outsource t-shirt production to china - any experiences? 
+ china can do many others small articles usually needed when you have a complete brand... Quality is good cause we really take care about this. That's why we are here to control quality and bring new idea to our customers.
