I know some great workshops that offer apparel design and development in Ho Chi Minh city. If you need accessories I can introduce you to small backpack and leather bag workshops as well. Silk scarves is also a product that Vietnam is strong in and I can introduce you to artisans that will help you with design and development. They are going to have a ton of questions before agreeing to work with you. Let’s go over some of those questions before I introduce you.

Have you chosen the technical specifications for your fabric?

Getting the fabric right is super critical and super difficult the first time around. It is difficult if you don't know the technical aspects of fabric. Like most things in life when you start to do a deep dive into a subject you get overwhelmed fast. The basic technical specifications for fabric are: the fiber, the yarn, the weaving or knitting structure, the weight and any finishing like wicking or anti-bacterial. And don't forget the color. Color is defined as a Pantone color which you can get from the Pantone website. Once you know what exact fabric you want and how to source fabric then you can do your own design and development. Having good relationships with textile mills is the key to develop new fabrics. When you visit factories, be sure to write down the technical specifications for your fabric as you figure them out. I can help you get started by explaining the basics. What I learned in a year I can explain in a day.

Do you want to get quotes from more than one factory?

After the design and development is done, then do you want to get multiple quotes from 3 or 4 factories? I recommend you do. You will need tech packs if you want to get many quotes. Ask the design and development company to provide tech packs as part of their deliverables. With well done tech packs you can get accurate quotes from unlimited factories.

Do you want to pick from a catalog?

The easiest way to start a design process is to choose existing styles and modify them. Ask the design and development service if they have a catalog of styles for you to choose from. If they do, the chances of you finding something close to what you want is slim. One thing you can do is get inspiration from other websites or magazines and put together your own catalog. Or you can buy samples locally and modify them locally and ship to Vietnam. The design and development workshop can then copy your modified physical samples as a starting point.

Do you need help with your fashion illustrations and flat sketches?

Apparel design and development services in Vietnam include fashion illustrations and flat sketches. The fashion illustrations are not necessary but can help inspire the team if you are willing to pay for them. Flat sketches are needed for the technical team to understand the big picture of what needs to be made. The flat sketches are also important for calling out technical details so the factory doesn’t miss something like a hidden pocket or re-enforced seam.