What do I need to give a garment factory?

The fabric already cut, an approved sample as a physical reference, the trims and notions counted out, and a spec sheet with the stitch type and the finishes for each seam.

Is it better to pay per garment or per operation?

Per finished garment, as long as it is clear what that includes. It is the only way to know the unit cost before you start instead of finding it out when the invoice arrives.

What happens if the production comes out different from the sample?

You have to agree on that before handing over the work. A serious factory will agree to remake the garments that deviate from the approved sample, but that is discussed at the start, not when everything is already sewn.

What to Ask a Garment Factory Before Handing Over a Production Run

The questions to ask a garment factory before you hand over your production run: pricing, lead times, minimums, and who takes responsibility.

Whatever you don't ask beforehand gets argued over afterward

Most conflicts with a factory are not about bad faith. They come from things nobody made clear at the start, which each side then assumed differently. These questions take fifteen minutes, and you ask them before handing over anything.

About price

Is the price per finished garment or per operation? It is the difference between knowing the cost and finding it out at the end.
What exactly does it include: sewing only, or also cutting, pressing, quality control, and bagging?
Who supplies the thread and the trims and notions?
Does the price change with the quantity? Ask how much, not whether.

About lead times

How long will this production take, counted from when they receive the cut fabric?
Do they have other work in progress? A factory with a full schedule is a good sign for quality and a bad sign for lead time.
What happens if they fall behind? Not to punish them, but so you can warn your customer in time.

About the sample and responsibility

This is the part almost nobody makes clear, and the one that causes the worst arguments.

Do they make a sample before starting the full production run? The answer should always be yes.
If the production comes out different from the approved sample, who takes responsibility?
If a garment comes out defective because of a sewing error, is it remade or is its price deducted?
What defect rate do they consider normal? A serious factory gives you a number.

What to hand over so the factory can do good work

A factory does not guess. Handing over the cut fabric, the approved sample as a physical reference, the counted trims and notions, and a spec sheet with the stitch type and the finishes for each seam clears up 90% of misunderstandings.

If the pattern has been properly tested before cutting, the factory only has to sew. That is the scenario in which production comes out right and within the promised deadline.

Frequently asked questions

What do I need to give a garment factory?: The fabric already cut, an approved sample as a physical reference, the trims and notions counted out, and a spec sheet with the stitch type and the finishes for each seam.
Is it better to pay per garment or per operation?: Per finished garment, as long as it is clear what that includes. It is the only way to know the unit cost before you start instead of finding it out when the invoice arrives.
What happens if the production comes out different from the sample?: You have to agree on that before handing over the work. A serious factory will agree to remake the garments that deviate from the approved sample, but that is discussed at the start, not when everything is already sewn.