Small Production Runs
Small Businesses Clothing Manufacturer.
(76-02-03). The London Pattern Cutter is a clothing manufacturer for small fashion businesses and startups. But we do far more than manufacture clothing. We support and advise you through the entire process.
We work with a number of highly experienced fashion industry professionals, to provide you with the very best help and advice throughout.
We provide a whole range of services, teaching, mentoring and advice for our clients. Not least, we offer small production runs, with no MOQ (No minimums).
Fashion Startup Clients.
As one of the very few clothing manufacturers for fashion startups, we always advise our clients to begin slowly, with a small capsule range and small production runs. While It does cost more per garment than larger runs, it is the safest option for UK start-ups.
Fashion Startup Workshop.
We highly recommend our invaluable one-to-one Fashion Startup Workshop for anyone interested in learning how to start and run a small fashion business.
This is an indispensable short introduction to the fashion business, conducted by our resident fashion business adviser, Emile Carr. The workshop can be provided either face to face, or via Zoom.
TO CONTACT EMILE emile@thelondonpatterncutter.co.uk
U.K. Manufacturing.
Most UK factories have a minimum order quantity ( MOQ ). Either a total minimum, or a minimum per size / per colour.
With the resurgence of domestic clothing manufacturing there are now far more factories offering small runs with no minimums to new customers.
But good factories offering small runs at a reasonable price are rare.
Larger factories may offer small runs, but will charge an exorbitant rate. Often these larger factories work for premium brands . These brands have the clout to beat the factory down on price.
The factory will use the kudos gained from the premium brand to inflate their prices to the smaller clients. But they will farm the work out to smaller factories or home workers.
These factories may charge a very high sampling price to deter the more flaky customer.
Production Price.
The factory production price constitutes a large part of the total costs for making your garment. So it is important to get a reasonable making price.
It is the factory making price along with the fabric price that is the area where most savings can be made for the small business.
Although I do think that it is worth paying the high factory price in order to ensure good quality, a better way would be to find a small factory that can produce the quantity of garments you want at the price that you want.
This of course, is easier said than done. While there are such factories in the U.K. they will tend to be very small with little flexibility.
CMT.
Most U.K. clothing factories provide a CMT service. That means they will cut, make and trim your garments. But they dont supply fabrics or trimmings such as zips or buttons.
We do work with some small factories and we are always looking for new such units, but they will often be booked for months ahead. We can even help sourcing your fabrics and zips.
What Equipment Do We Have ?
3 X industrial flatbed
3 X industrial four thread overlocker
1x Five thread overlocker
1x Jersey industrial binding machine
2 x Industrial Coverstitich machine
1x Industrial Babylock/Superlock Machine
1x Industrial Bar tack
1x Industrial Keyhole Buttonhole
1x Leather walking foot machine
1x Woven binding machine
1x Industrail 3 Step Zig Zag machine
1x Industrial Twin Needle Machine
1x Industrial Saddle Stitch/Prick Stitch Machine
2x Industrial Steam Iron & Vacuum Boards
1 x 6 needle Industrial Flat Seaming Machine
TO CONTACT EMILE emile@thelondonpatterncutter.co.uk