[Papo]

(03-12-2014 06:02 PM)monster Wrote:  

(03-12-2014 04:41 PM)Papo Wrote:  

(03-12-2014 03:43 PM)monster Wrote:  

(03-12-2014 09:07 AM)Valhalla Wrote:  

Tshirts are a very saturated business

This, such small barriers to entry everyone gets in it.

You mention you have unique t-shirt ideas. Do a mockup in photoshop. Then what most people do is buy bulk t's then go to a screen printer with their artwork. More often than not the screen printer already has access to good bulk tshirt suppliers like American Apparrel, Royal, etc (google for more). There are a ton of screen printers either local or national depending on special printing techniques you may require or minimums req.

Then get a website and pound the pavement getting display booths at every local show you can think of that targets your demographic.

My designs do not invlove any screen printing at all. Also, I cannot use the bulk white cotton tshirts that are pre-made. My designs have patterns that have to be cut then sewn together.

I cant wait to pound the pavement once I have prototypes and a small order for samples or even to sell.

Bulk shirts are not "white hanes t-shirts"

Did you try googling the options available for screen printing? Burn outs from next level are dope as are the tshirts from everyone else for all fits and sizes.

Screen printing is not your typical "buy $50 worth of something and get a free tshirt" screen printing runs the range from jumbo printing to water ink etc, like http://extremescreenprints.com/ These are the professionals who do the garmet work for you so you concentrate on whats important: your unique selling proposition (your designs) and your marketing

I checked out you link above and saw the list of shirt makers they use from American Apparel to Tultex. They do use differenct types of fabric from pure cotton to tri-blend. Some of these fabrics I can probably use fine but I have to feel the quality. Also, the shirts cannot be pre-made. They have to be cut to a certain pattern that I designed then sewn together, these cut pattern pieces.

When I hear 'screen printing' I think of silkscreening where I feel the paint or film on the fabric. Its kinda thick. This is not what I want. I like where the color ink is soaked into and part of the fabric. I did see the page for ink optioins and different printing methods. I like the water based inks and also the discharge and hybrid methods. I think these will work for my designs.

Thank you.

[Papo]

At this point I have around 20 designs but only one prototype made. The tshirt garment factories is important but I really need to also connect with a local seamstress to make the other design prototypes. Unless the garment factories have their own seamstresses?

I think a good strategy move is to only reveal 1-2 of my designs at a time to a factory jsut in case I decide not to go with them or if they might copy my designs.

I also think I'll hae to pick the top 5 of my designs to go forward with at this time so I am not overhelmed. Its a good test of the market first I think.

[Feo]

Just to throw the idea out there..if you are messing with any girls in fashion/modelling having them rep your line would be a good start once you have product. I passed one of my girls a buddie's wholesale fabrics import contact and now all of her friends are buying from him.

[Papo]

(03-12-2014 08:33 PM)Feo Wrote:  

Just to throw the idea out there..if you are messing with any girls in fashion/modelling having them rep your line would be a good start once you have product. I passed one of my girls a buddie's wholesale fabrics import contact and now all of her friends are buying from him.

What is usually involved when you ask a girl or model to "rep your line"? You just give them some shirts to wear? If there's a contract involved, what are the main points in that contract? Are they being hired as a salesperson (representative) and they get paid (commissions, whatver..)? Or is is simply just asking a favor to the girl who your friends with?

[Abnormal]

Factories will definetely send you samples, you just pay for shipping.

Start by creating a list of factories, then ask them to send you their price lists and pics and then give them one of your images and ask/pay them to create and ship you sample.

Once again, from there you MUST have a serious Quality Control measures: either go visit them(highly recommended) or hire a company in China that will do all the quality check, production monitoring and will keep their eyes on the goods till it's loaded on the ship at the port. They usually charge 1% of the container's value. Check the numbers I might be wrong
Good luck, I hope you will thrive! Don't listen to naysayers! Ever!

[WestIndianArchie]

My final thoughts on your venture

Yes, you can find factories all over the world that can create essentially patchwork t-shirts.

Hop on a plane and go to China, Canton Fair will have dozens if not hundreds of manufacturers. Probably cost 3-5000 for the ticket, accommodations, transport, entry fee, and translator. There are entire communities devoted to this process.

The factory minimums will be in the thousands. You can source your own fabric, or you can work with the factory. It's not that daunting a task.

If you're cheap.and.have plenty of time.and patience, go to Alibaba and instant message the factory reps. You'll use dhl to mail your prototypes and.the factories interpretation.

Making your object is not the issue.

Can you sell it?

What you should be doing now is trying to get a local seamstress to make a bunch of your designs and advertise online to see if people will buy. Take them to an arts and crafts fair.

Make some locally, and price it the same as similar goods. You will take a loss, but you'll.also know whether your product is marketable.

As for intellectual property theft, it's just a part of doing business. With clothing, it's unlikely that some workshop in Guangdong is going to do the leg work necessary to sell your unproven design around the world cheating you out of your profits. And assuming your shirt is a hit, there's very little you can do legally in terms of design protection. Trademark yes, basic design, no. If you were going to enforce some right, the money is.coming out of your pocket for U.S. and Chinese lawyers.

WIA

(03-12-2014 04:58 PM)Papo Wrote:  

(03-12-2014 03:48 PM)WestIndianArchie Wrote:  

Before you spend ungodly amounts of money and time, check out teespring.com.
You handle the design and marketing, they handle everything else. EVERYTHING ELSE.

I know from personal experience that anything in this space, largely revolves around marketing. It's not something you can outsource, it's the lifeblood of the business, you learning how to acquire customers.

I've failed at least three times launching in this space, with countless trips to local factories, phone calls from manufacturers, and local seamstresses making prototypes and being ripped off.

After you've proved your concept, that's when you take your profit and try to improve on this model.

The end goal might be getting a booth at MAGIC in Vegas, and selling to Target or Macy's.

WIA

Thank you for the link. Unfortunately I cannot use them. As mentioned, my designs do not invlove any screen printing at all. Also, I cannot use the bulk white cotton tshirts that are pre-made. My designs have patterns that have to be cut then sewn together.

Im looking for a factory where I can show them my design patterns, and see if they have the capability to cut them and sew them together properly. And if they can do this efficiently in bulk or assembly line. Do you know if tshirt factories can do this? Meaning to cut for different or specific patterns? Think like, athletic cut and not so much boxy fit.

I also need to source specific fabric material from fabrics and textile suppliers and manufactorers or makers.

Quote:

and being ripped off.

Can you explain the kind of rip-offs are in this industry? It would be great to hear your stories of you experiences in this industry or space.

I have heard of the Magic show in Vegas. Just googled it and looks like I just missed it last month ago. There is another one in August.

Thank you.