Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hello,

My partner and I are in the process of initiating a new venture that involves children's garments and accessories.  Since we are both parents, we have many ideas that we think will appeal to the mass market.  The challenge is that we cannot sew and trying to gain knowledge regarding materials needed where to go to get them and who to engage to help us build a prototype.  I live in the Northern VA area.  Any help you can recommend would be much appreciated.  Long term we would outsource for mass production but at the moment we need some local help getting started.  We are looking to get some information from the SBA but I see some great advice from participants at this site.  Would appreciate if you have any ideas on leads.  Thank you!

I can help you, just let me know your requirement. I am in China, i have good network with small / home based manufacturing business in China. I know many manufactures are doing oem and odm on product you metioned.I can give you free no obligation consultancy if you like. can help you make a prototype. 

I am not advertising here. I want to help you and be partner with you.

my google talk id : aboutwholesales@gmail.com

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First you need a sketch or picture of the garments you plan on getting made. Next you would need to get a pattern. Finally you would need the pattern to be cut and sewn professionally.

For starters I would approach a local tailor with fabrics that you have picked out and ask them if they could produce a few garments. Give them the pictures and/or sketches as a guide.

Good luck!

Prodigy thank you for the advice. I found one local tailor/sewing wholesaler today.  Now I have to shop around for the materials I need.  Other than fabric stores and craft stores any place else you would recommend?

Thanks again

Do a Google search. Look at sites like Fabric.com. They have thousands of fabrics and material types that you can order by the yard...plaids, denims, silks, you name it.

Hope this helps.

I suggest while you are creating the garment prototypes, also look at the entire costs involved in manufacturing garments and set your retail prices properly. Many people do all the hard work on their product only to find out later the pricing in the marketing is too competitive to make their business work.