DEVELOPMENT
GENERAL
PRICING
PRODUCTION
DEVELOPMENT
How long does it take to develop a particular style?
That depends. The development phase of work is very difficult to quantify in terms of time. Sometimes we hit it on the first proto; others may take 4-5 revisions. Along the way, there are shrinkage, fit, spec changes, etc. so it will vary depending on the garment that is being developed.
What happens to patterns once we finish development?
We keep all our patterns in our system--we use Gerber, version 98--and can make a copy of all patterns onto a disk and provide that to the customer once the production is completed. Usually, customers take back the hard patterns, which we prefer as well.
GENERAL
What is the advantage of working with your company?
The biggest advantages people find working with us are:
1) That you're able to save time by going to one place instead of having to run back and forth between the pattern maker, the grader/ marker, the cutter, the sewer, and the dye house—we are the 1-stop shop for most people.
2) The ability to produce garments in smaller quantities to suit your budgets.
3) You are able to produce almost all types of garments at our shop, instead of working on only knits or wovens.
4) We are flexible to work with most of your existing needs--we work a solution around you, instead of fitting you into our services.
Where are you located?
We are based in Santa Ana, California, in the heart of surfwear territory. We are a 40-minute drive from Los Angeles, so we have access to all the fabric, trims, and accessories sources that all other apparel companies do.
Do you do couture work?
No. For that, you probably want to go to Evans Group International.
I'm trying to find a company that does everything under one roof. Why is it so hard to find them?
The reality is, global competition has impacted domestic production infrastructure. Therefore, it is quite challenging to find companies out there that are a vertical production house where you can start with your designs, and ship the final product. We've tried to find companies like us out there, and there really aren't that many.
BUT, there are still a lot of talented people here working, and we've found a pool of these artists and craftsmen, put them under one roof so that we can help our customers turn their fashion ideas into reality. We're not just a business, but we're also trying to make a difference in our industry, and in our community by providing a channel where designer entrepreneurs can have a partner to help them grow their business.
What kind of work do you do?
We do a lot--dresses, shorts, shirts, jackets, skirts, slacks, children's wear. Basically, we have experience with a lot of knit and woven fabrics, and do a lot of tops. What we don't work with are tailor-level clothing, underwear, swimwear, and accessories (handbags, shoes, and the like). You can find samples of the work we do under the Gallery page.
PRICING
Are you the cheapest?
No, we aren't the cheapest. You can find a lot of contractors in LA and OC that are cheaper. But, they usually also want larger production quantities, and more importantly, they do not provide the additional services that we do. Most of our competitors are purely just sewing contractors, and you have to have the right product for their facility or else they won't work with you. We go beyond that, and help with trim, laundering, lab dip, and other related work that is needed for producing garments.
Also, we believe that as a company, we have a social responsibility to pay our workers honest wages that respects their humanity. So, although we may not be the least expensive, we do sleep well at night knowing that we've done right by the Golden Rule. We stand by our quality, and the overall service that we offer under one roof. Besides, aren't there better things for you to do with your time?
Why do you need a deposit to begin work?
As the contractor, we are the source for the actual creation of garments. We want to take care of our employees, and make sure that they get paid. That's it, period.
Why do you need our credit card information?
When we work on production, there are often miscellaneous charges such as lab dips, trim purchases, sample yardages, etc. and these need to be paid for immediately. We pay for it first, and then charge it to the customer's credit card.
PRODUCTION
What services do you offer?
We offer development, pattern-making, grading, marking, first samples, sample duplicates, cutting/sewing, finishing, packaging, and shipping. We also offer blank tees and private label programs.
Do you do all your production domestically?
Yes. We are proud to be made in the USA. There are a lot of talented people here, and great work is still being produced here.
If I do work with you, can I have the fabric sent directly to you?
Yes. When you have placed an order, fabric can be sent directly to us and we can store it until we cut and sew it. This is very common for our long distance customers, since a lot of fabric originates from LA already.
What is your turnaround time?
We typically turn items around in 4-6 weeks, depending on the quantities ordered. Of course, any delay in fabric or trims and details will adjust the schedule accordingly.
What are your minimums?
For tees, minimums are 300 pieces, with mixed sizes. For other garments, we usually ask for a 100 piece minimum per style with a maximum of 2 colorways. Of course, if you absolutely can't hit that, we'll help you out as well. But, the pricing will adjust upwards to account for the smaller quantities.
Can you source fabric?
We can source basic fabrics such as jersey, ribbing, fleece, and wovens, but customers are usually pretty particular about their fabrics so it's not something that we do too much of. However, if you are not that familiar or particular, then yes, we can help in fabric sourcing or at least point you in the right direction. We recommend attending one of the bi-annual LA Textile Shows held at the California Market Center.
How about screenprinting and embroidery?
We don't offer these services, but we have partnered with a few companies that do these types of work. Just give a call, and we can point you in the right direction or we can manage this step if you like as well. Of course, there will be a fee for our time managing this work.
