This blog post is sponsored by our partner Swatch On. The content is inspired by the fabric sourcing marketplace they have created for emerging fashion designers. While this is a sponsored post, I would never share anything with you that I don’t believe to be a truly helpful resource. Promise. 

Sourcing fabric could very well be one of the most challenging aspects of product development. There’s often a desire to find the “perfect” fabric that can create an on-going sense of disappointment. There’s also an almost constant feeling of confusion and frustration– where are all the fabric options? Do I have to go to a trade show? What do you mean it’s not re-orderable?!

I hear ya, designers. You’re making a product, you have a vision, and you need options.

You also need low minimums, variety, the ability to order swatches without paying a fortune, and the availability for re-ordering as needed.

While that sounds like it shouldn’t be too much to ask, it often is. Mainly because the textile industry is still a little antiquated. And with the exception of a few key innovators, not much has changed in the last 60 years when it comes to sourcing your fabrics.

Because of this, it is your job as the designer, the visionary, and the founder of your company to educate yourself on fabrics, do your research, and figure out what are the best options for your product.

Here are the first three steps of sourcing fabric for your fashion brand.

Know What You Need

It’s important to have a clear plan as to what fabrics you’re looking for. If you approach a supplier having only a vague idea of what you want, you’re not only doing yourself a disservice but you’re also potentially damaging your relationship with the supplier. You should be able to answer these questions:

• What kind of fabrics do you want to use in your collections? (fabric structure, fiber, weight)
• What colors or color family are you looking for?
• Are you sourcing only eco-friendly fabrics? What, specifically (fair trade, vegan, organic,  etc.)?

Know What to Ask

It’s important to make sure that you’re asking the right questions. You want to talk the talk so that you don’t seem like a total newbie.

• Where are your fabrics made? (meaning, what country)
• Do you stock this fabric? Is it re-orderable?
• Is it 60”? (most fabrics are 60” wide, but some are 45”, this is important to know)
• Ask about price, MOQ (minimum order quantity). Use phrases like: “What’s your production minimum?” or “MOQ?”
• Ask about lead time. Use phrases like: “How long for sample yardage?” and “What’s the lead time for production?”

Know Where to Find Fabrics

When it comes to sourcing your fabrics, you have a few options, trade shows and referrals from fellow designers are popular ways to go. Online marketplaces are another option, and they can be very convenient. Our new partner, Swatch On, is one of them.

I recently learned about Swatch On, which is an online fabric supplier based in South Korea, serving a global community of emerging fashion designers. And I’m really excited about what they’re doing to shake up the industry of fabric sourcing.

As the world’s first fully-automated fabric store, they are leading the digital transformation of the fabric industry by offering a carefully curated, customized selection of over 100,000 different fabrics from over 2,000 wholesale suppliers based in South Korea. And each week more than 6,000 are uploaded to the site. Pretty cool.

Essentially, they’ve brought you an online fabric sourcing marketplace while also addressing and serving the specific needs of independent and emerging designers. (you know, all those things I mentioned above that can be so frustrating and disappointing.)

After having a phone call with Michelle Jung, the co-founder of Swatch On, discussing all things fabric sourcing, here’s what I learned (and love!) about what they’re doing to serve you, the next generation of fashion designers.

• No Minimum Order Quantity– yep, you can get as little as 1yd to create that sample before committing to it.
• Free Swatches– they invite you to build your very own swatch box of up to 20 fabrics (approximately 200 colors!)

As a reader of StartUp FASHION, you get a free swatch box and free shipping on the box!

You can browse through the Swatch On website and add samples that you want to receive to your Swatch Box. Once you sign up, you will see the offer applied to your account. Since this is an exclusive offer, make sure you sign up using the link below!

Snag this offer here.

P.S. If you’re a StartUp FASHION Community member, you also get a $55 fabric credit! (get the details on the Perks Page in the Community Dashboard). 

• Their fabrics are available for re-order- if a product goes out of stock, 99% of the time they will find a replacement (since they have access to more than  2,000 Korean Suppliers). They told me that their clients are satisfied with the replacements 95% of the time. No bad at all.
• These are quality fabrics- Swatch On clients present their collections at London Fashion Week, Colette, and have been featured in Vogue Magazine.
• Customs headaches be gone!- once you order yardage, they do their best to do all the customs prep/paperwork for you and are currently developing a system to pre-pay the custom fees at time of order to avoid any headaches.
• Impressive lead times– They ship your order within 3 business days and shipping time is usually 4-6 days anywhere in the world.

Take a look at this video to see how it all works.

I was really excited to hear from the Swatch On. I talk to designers every day and the headache, heartache, and stress associated with product development, fabric sourcing included, is never fun. The more the textile industry starts to embrace technology, the better. And I think Swatch On is doing just that.

I’m excited to check out what kind of lovely fabrics you all source from Swatch On. When you get your swatch box, post a picture on Instagram and tag @startupfashion and @swatchon_official so we can see!