Custom Import Apparel

Our import division is the fastest growing segment of our business. As much as we prefer to manufacture garments domestically we cannot ignore the advantages to importing custom apparel. The higher the value added, and the higher the amount of labor, the more sense it makes to import. The bottom line is that you are competing in a marketplace that is saturated with low cost import apparel, and to penetrate you must not only have the styling, the fabrics, the colors and the graphics customers want but you must compete on price. Typically, for a mid labor intensive garment with some value added graphics (embroidery, screen printed, patches etc) you can buy 5 import garments for the price of 3 domestically produced. With higher labor/value added that can change to 6 imported garments for the price of 3 domestically made. More importantly, the methods employed overseas include many hand labor applications that simply cannot be done domestically due to prohibited labor costs. This translates to signifigantly greater capabilities overseas with decorating and decorative stitching techniques.

If you are entertaining the thought of starting an apparel line then you may wish to weigh the possibility of custom manufactured imported apparel versus domestically made custom apparel. We can help you weigh the pluses and minuses and assist you either way. Our import division simplifies the task of getting a quality made garment to your specifications landed and delivered to your door!

Hot Trends in Import Apparel

Our import division has been seeing a discernable uptick in business over the past 6 months, despite the economic turmoil. Leading the way is polo shirts and polo derivatives. With workplace attire moving towards casual and lifestyle branding catching fire, polos make the perfect customizeable statement. Our resources make for the best names in golf, and our long standing relationships make the process of fully customized wearing apparel simple. Customers simply provide the artwork for labels, custom neck and vent taping, buttons, and logos, provide direction for fit and fabric type, and we are off and running. The most popular fabrics are a 40/2 6 ounce pique (the plied yarn makes it incredibly smooth and consistant) and we find bamboo blends to be coming on strong. Bamboo imparts natural anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties, and, when combined with organic cotton, adds to the sustainable/organic movement story. A bit of spandex is often used, in either fabric, to impart added mobility/recovery.

If you are seeking a reliable, consistant, quality supplier for custom private label import apparel you are home. Style Source facilitates every aspect of the process, from development to samples to manufacturing, logistics and quality control. We will quote you (in most instances) a landed, duty paid, delivered to your door price (excluding freight). If you wish to use our LDP pricing, we will set you up with our customs broker, who, along with us, will manage all transportation scheduling, paperwork, duties, tarrifs, fees, and customs declarations. You only need to review and approve samples, place your order, and receive the goods.

STYLE SOURCE TO BEGIN ACCEPTING AMERICAN EXPRESS

Yes, it's true, we have caved in and set up our systems to begin accepting American Express cards as of June 1, 2009. We have had many customers want to use their rewards cards in the past and found their fees out of line with the other major cards. However, Am Ex has become more aggressive and are now competitive. We are pleased to provide this additional flexibility and now accept Master Card, Visa, Discover and American Express for your private label apparel manufacturing needs!

Delivery assumptions may be dangerous to your business!

I recently had the experience of explaining to a good customer why her assumptions about deliveries were not relevant to current operating conditions. Upon reflection, I have to giggle a bit because I made the very same assumptions when ordering from a vendor recently. One would think, with business as slow as it is, that production channels would be wide open and , subsequently, deliveries would be quite speedy. When I went to order some custom colored yarn from a specialty spinner I had that assumption in mind. I called my salesman and we had the usual discussion on the economy and I then said" I know you normally quote 4 weeks, but considering how slow it is will I see it in two weeks? He laughed, and said "well, actually, we have laid off half our people, the plant is running only one shift, and we have depleted our colored stock and are only ordering it as we need it, so your delivery will be closer to 8 weeks". Now, my customer, who needs fabric from this colored yarn made into garments, waited until he was depleted of inventory and for an order to come in before contacting me to make more. He assumed I had some fabric on the floor awaiting his order, which he expected filled in 3-4 weeks. I, in turn, had depleted our fabric inventory in that color on his last order and did not replace it on speculation like I normally would, as his ordering had slowed to a trickle and we were at the end of the ordering season.

What is the lesson here? If you want to insure you do not lose orders due to out of stock positions and are counting on rapid just in time response from your vendor you might want to discuss your needs and expectations with that vendor now. They may have laid off workers, cut shifts, or even be operating three days a week. Dyers and finishers have to fire up boilers and often would rather shut down certain days than run short shifts. Vendors supply inventories are being managed much closer, as carrying costs are a controllable cost factor. The supply chain may repeat in this manner so that delays from the source compile with each hand they pass through.

In times like these it becomes imperitive to remain in close contact with the vendors you most rely upon. You need to communicate the position you are maintaining and your expectations in regards to deliveries so that an understanding of the likelihood of meeting those expectations is clear. Do not expect your vendors to have the supernatural ability to forecast your needs and have the resources to bear the costs of dedicated inventories. Partnering is a sure way to insure the path to on time delivery will remain open.

FURTHER CLARIFICATION OF THE CPSIA

Recent clarifications now include the exemption of dyed and undyed textiles as well as sewing threads. Read about it at http://www.apparelmag.com/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=CD746117C0BB4828857A1831CE707DBE&tier=4&id=A9831B619F124BDEB96A283859BEC7B3

DEALING WITH THE DOWNTURN-WHAT HAVE WE DONE FOR YOU LATELY?

Ok, so every day we get up and face the same depressing news and fear for the length and depth this downturn may take. We all have businesses to run, and as sales decline we find the need to fill in but have the issue of purchase minimums from vendors. At Style Source, we take our needs as a sign that our customers likely have those same needs. Our response is to temporarily lower our minimums to accomodate you. Effective February 1 we have lowered our re-order minimums to 10 dozen of a style/color. This means that any style you have ordered in the past may be re-ordered at a 10 dozen minimum with no surcharge. For new developments for existing customers, we will now accept 20 dozen minimums with a $225 development surcharge to cover some of our development expenses ( the 30 dozen minimum waives development fees). Our $375 development fee for new custom apparel remains in place for first time customers. These changes allow for greater flexibility and lower inventory investments.

Style Source remains one of the few alternatives for U.S.A. made custom private label apparel at low minimums. Fortunately, you do not have to sacrifice quality, timeliness or superior customer service for the flexibility we provide to clothing decorators, printers, embroiderers, tie dyers, or hand embellishers. We source fabrics and trims for you, create patterns, grade, make samples and provide technical input in both construction and apparel design. We are your one stop shop for all of your apparel needs.

CPSIA Delayed for 1 Year on Apparel Products

A just released statement has provided a one year moratorium for those apparel producers concerned about the new lead and pthalate testing requirements. Read the latest at
http://www.strtrade.com/wti/wti.asp?pub=0&story=30183&date=2%2F3%2F2009&company

This is particulary good news for crafters, as the policy wonks will actually now take the time to evaluate the impact these new requirements may have on specific industry segments and weigh the potential threats to children against the potential economic harm on products that were non-threatening in the first place.

One question we have been trying to have answered is cumulation. Current metal snaps are all made with lead as a componant, measured around 90ppm. The lead cores are typically coated with non-toxic coatings , which is nearly impossible to remove. If a garment contains 10 snaps would the garment then be rated at 90ppm X10 ? Could a child possibly get all ten snaps in its mouth when they are securely attached to different parts of the garment?

We now have a year to ponder, reflect, and act upon the supply chain to insure we are addressing lead as a hazard and minimizing its use. Sanity has prevailed!