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Designers and outlets that are looking to hire the right clothing manufacturers have a few things to consider beforehand. Not all clothing manufacturers in New York City are on the same par, or are going to be able to provide what you’re looking for, so here are some key factors to consider before you commit.

Start With Your Product

The first step is knowing what it is that you’re trying to produce. Different clothing manufacturers have different capabilities and specialties, whether it’s in New York or in China. If a manufacturer is not equipped to handle your particular needs for your product, be it a t-shirt or a purse, then keep looking.

Know Your Price

It’s important to know the end goal that you’re aiming for with your product’s price. If you want to be able to sell them in your store for a certain amount, then you will need to make manufacturing choices in terms of location, shipping, and tariffs, that enable you at the end of your journey to sell those shirts for the intended price.

Conduct Interviews

As strange as it may sound, you’ll want to get a point of direct contact with any potential manufacturers that you’re considering working with. Conducting interviews can help you determine whether or not they’re going to be a good fit, in terms of what they can offer your product and in your overall impression of them as a business. This connection point gives you clarity and confidence about your decision.

Practice Round

See if they are willing to allow you a test run with them for your product. Discuss design options with them, and choose a product that you’d like them to create a sample of. This will give you a first look at the relationship that you could potentially cultivate with their team, as well as the type of quality you can expect from them.

Negotiate

Once you’ve tried their work on for size and decided that you like what you see, it’s time to negotiate the terms of your potential clothing manufacturing agreement with them. The prices and conditions are an important component of the negotiations, and although you may be more limited in what you have control over at first, the more established you are as a brand and as a client of theirs, the more negotiating power you will have.

As you continue your search for clothing manufacturers in New York City and elsewhere, keep these important factors in mind to help you make the wisest choice for your business.