How to start a clothing line producing overseas?

The best answer to this question depends on the quantity you will start with.

If you are doing small quantity, then your cost of goods sold will be so high that your profit margin will be very low. The first question we need to address is what profit margin are you willing to accept? Your profit margin depends on your retail price. My experience is that if you are a start-up doing small quantity and you are price sensitive, then even if you do sell through 100%, your actual final profit will be so low that it does not make sense to do small quantity manufacturing anywhere in the world. The only way small batch manufacturing makes sense is if your retail price is very high.

For example, if you do small quantity T-shirts and the price per T-shirt is $7 - which is very high compared to T-shirts made in Bangladesh ($2) - but you sell that T-shirt for $60. Then you've got a good business case. But if you have to sell that $7 T-shirt for $15. Then you have a weak business case.

In any case I can help you think through the whole process of manufacturing low MOQ apparel, hats, backpacks, you name it in Vietnam. And I can help you do the financial projections to determine if your business idea has legs.

When I made my first video course I read from a script I wrote so forgive me if my voice and facial expressions seem uber serious and stoic. While I am very serious and passionate plus stoic, when you meet me in person I smile, laugh and try my best to make the journey of producing small MOQ apparel in Vietnam fun and happy. I hope you enjoy learning about my history in Vietnam and I hope to meet you here one day.

Allow me to ask you three questions.

1. Will producing overseas lower your garment cost?
2. Do you want to reduce your garment cost?
3. Are you specifically interested to produce in Vietnam?

The answer to the first question, will producing overseas lower your costs, is usually yes because of lower minimum wages in countries like Vietnam (Min. Wage is $200/month in Vietnam). It really depends on your quantities. Sometimes producing small quantity in countries where labor costs are low still does not make business sense. My expertise is helping people that have small quantity orders to produce in countries like Vietnam. In any case, I can help you figure out if it makes business sense and prepare you to work with factories in Vietnam based on my 14+ years experience here in Ho Chi Minh City.

My best advice is to have your tech packs ready and know exactly the quantity breakdown you want. This is how to start a clothing line producing overseas quickly. See my Quantity Breakdown List below.

I can introduce you to factories. Are you prepared? My concern is that if I introduce you too soon and you start working directly with the factory, you will have more questions than answers after meeting them. Often the factory will not follow up as promised because they sense that you are new to the game. I have seen it happen a hundred times. Are you ready to get insider advice on how to start a clothing line producing overseas before talking to the factories to get price quotes and samples?

In short you will need tech packs, the right quantity per style and a downpayment. Have these three things locked and loaded before you approach a factory. If you apply this tip on how to start a clothing line producing overseas and have these three things, you can proceed quickly.

I know what stumbling blocks you will face and I can consult for you. Work with me and hit a home run your first time up to bat. There is a lot work though and since you are in the driver's seat you will have to make tough decisions. My job is to guide you, not make decisions for you. I make sure you are aware of all options and don't make catastrophic mistakes.

Contact me today to schedule a meet and greet chat using Calendly,