If you’re not a fashion designer, you may not be aware of the complexities of sourcing materials. When you go to a fabric store, such as Mood in NYC or large chains like Joannes Fabric, the prices they offer are retail prices.
For a fashion company to thrive, they absolutely need access to materials that are sold at wholesale price. And here the problem ensues…most distributors or manufacturers of fashion fabrics require large quantities to be able to reach the minimum for wholesale ordering. These minimums can range from 50-3000 yards, which is more than excessive for a small start-up. It would be foolish to purchase such a large quantity when your brand has yet to fully establish itself in the market.
Luckily for us, we came across the DG Fabric Expo held in New York, Miami, and San Francisco, which caters to small fashion retailers. The selection of product is slightly narrowed, but these incredible companies stand up for the newbies! If you are just starting out in the world of fashion design, go check out http://www.dgexpo.net/ now!
From soft laces in four different varieties and 15 different colors, to sexy meshes and soft burnout velvets, we sourced over 50 beautiful fabrics with very low minimums. Even still, there are always issues that arise, from fabrics going out of stock, to shipments being damaged, to colors varying greatly between sample and production. The best tool is to stay organized with your distributors, and on top of your inventory!