Material service
Fabric and trim sourcing
Sourcing to a specification rather than to a price list — weight, stretch, recovery and hand checked against what the garment actually has to do.
What this is
Fabric is the largest single cost in most garments and the single biggest cause of a style failing. A fabric that is correct on paper — right composition, right weight — can still be wrong on the body because its recovery, drape or surface behaviour does not suit the construction.
We source against the construction. That means specifying the fabric in terms of what the garment needs, not just what it is: a four-way stretch for a bodycon with enough recovery to hold its shape, a crepe with the weight to carry a pleated drape without collapsing.
Sourcing runs from the stock fabric library for speed, or to specification where the requirement is specific. In both cases the buyer approves a physical swatch, and the approved swatch is retained as the production standard.
Who it is for
This is the right route if…
Brands specifying a fabric they cannot source
You know the requirement but not where to buy it at a workable price and minimum.
Brands whose fabric keeps failing in production
Recurring problems with recovery, shrinkage or colour consistency usually trace back to specification rather than the mill.
Brands consolidating suppliers
You want fabric, trims and production handled against one specification so responsibility is not split.
What you receive
Deliverables, not promises
- Physical swatches for every fabric and trim option proposed
- A specification stating weight, composition, stretch and recovery where relevant
- Retained approved swatches as the production standard
- Colour approval against a physical reference, not a screen
How the process works
Stage by stage
- Requirement definition
We translate the construction need into a fabric specification — weight, composition, stretch, recovery, hand and finish.
- Sourcing and shortlisting
Options are sourced from the stock library or to specification, and shortlisted against the requirement and the target price.
- Swatch approval
You receive physical swatches. Colour and hand are approved physically, because screens misrepresent both.
- Testing where required
Where the market or the buyer requires it, fabric is tested before bulk booking rather than after.
- Booking and retention
Fabric is booked against the confirmed quantity and a retained swatch is kept as the production standard.
Typical requirements
What the work depends on
- The garment's functionWhat the fabric has to do: stretch, hold shape, drape, take beading, survive a specific wash.
- Target price per metreSourcing without a price ceiling produces options you cannot use.
- QuantityFabric minimums are usually the binding constraint on a small run.
- Colour referenceA Pantone reference, a physical swatch, or a garment to match.
What to send us
Your briefing checklist
- The style the fabric is for, and what it needs to do
- Your target price per metre and the quantity required
- Colour references, physically if possible
- Any testing or compliance requirements for your market
- Whether you have an existing supplier we should work with
Commercial terms
What we can publish now
Verified figures are stated. Anything that depends on your specification is confirmed against it rather than quoted as a headline number.
| Facility | Intertek-verified manufacturing facility |
|---|---|
| Quotation response | within 24 hours |
| Minimum order quantity | 300 pieces per design (100–200 pieces per colour) |
| Sample lead time | 7–10 days |
| Sample fee | Confirmed at quotation |
| Bulk production lead time | 4–6 weeks after sample approval |
| Inspection standard | Confirmed at quotation |
How to request a quotation
Tell us what the fabric has to do, not only what it has to be. That is the difference between a swatch that works and one that has to be re-sourced.
Related services
Usually used together
Product Development
The stage between an idea and a producible garment: construction decisions, material selection, pattern drafting, sample rounds and a locked specification you can repeat.
Quality Control
Checks at cutting, sewing and finishing — because a defect found at the end of a run has already been repeated across the whole run.
Start a project
Ready to brief us?
Send what you have. We will tell you what is missing, what it will cost and how long it will take.