Planning a clothing collection from China
Split the collection by construction and intended use, then give each specialist factory a shared size, colour and approval schedule. Approve fit after the intended care process, map safety requirements by style, and release production against recorded decisions. Coordinate the collection with Cambridge China Bridge.
Allocate styles by construction and capability
Build a collection register linking each style to its wearer, intended use, construction, fabric, care method and proposed factory. Assess factories against comparable finished garments and the processes they actually perform. Ask who handles dyeing, finishing, quilting and subcontracted sewing.
Use the existing product specification guide for the document structure. Add garment-specific fit and care checkpoints, then allocate styles by demonstrated capability rather than asking a general clothing supplier to manage every construction.
| Construction | Fit checks | Care and production checks |
|---|---|---|
| Knitted | Stretch recovery, neckline stability, body twist and relaxed measurements | Shrinkage, rib distortion, pilling and stretched seams |
| Woven | Movement ease, shoulder balance, sleeve shape and closure alignment | Seam slippage, puckering and unequal shrinkage between fabric and interlining |
| Filled | Fit with intended layers, arm movement and bulk at seams | Fill migration, clumping, leakage and drying behaviour |
Approve fit together with the care method
Write separate body measurements, finished garment measurements and grading instructions. Record where and how each measurement is taken, whether the garment is relaxed or stretched, and the acceptable variation. Check movement on the intended wearer, including seated fit, reaching and layering where relevant.
Measure and wear-assess samples before and after the proposed washing and drying process. Check shell, lining, rib and interlining together; differential shrinkage can distort a garment even when the main fabric looks acceptable. Use the wash-performance guide for the trial brief and the size-set guide before releasing cutting.
Map labels and safety by style and market
For Great Britain, government textile guidance requires labels to show fibre content, including fur and other animal parts. Collect composition records separately for shell, lining, filling and trims, then review the label wording against the actual construction. Keep fibre declarations separate from care instructions. The fibre-label guide explains how to prepare the supporting records.
Create a safety entry for each style and destination. OPSS guidance says general product safety regulations apply where no specific product regulations apply, and identifies dedicated nightwear safety regulations. Flag nightwear for a flammability and labelling review; request a scope assessment for protective clothing. For childrenswear, include cords, detachable trims and fastenings in the hazard review. Record Great Britain and Northern Ireland separately, as the existing certification guide explains.
Turn recurring failures into approval checks
Shrinkage failures include lost body length, twisting and lining pull. Shade failures include mismatched panels, trims or factories using the same colour name against different references. Approve physical colour samples on each actual material, compare them together under agreed lighting, and keep dye-lot identity through cutting and packing.
Seam failures include skipped stitches, puckering, slippage and broken stitching during movement. Grading failures include sleeves, armholes or rises changing inconsistently across sizes. Inspect strained seams on care-tested garments and compare the size set against the grade rules. Record the defect, affected styles and corrective action; ask for replacement evidence before closing the approval.
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Control quantities and approval dates centrally
Allocate quantities by style, size and colour using sales history, retailer commitments and trial feedback. Give each combination a named factory and material lot. Avoid splitting an identical style between factories until their fit, shade and construction have been compared. Reconcile factory totals with the collection register before issuing orders.
Work backwards from the required delivery date and enter named owners and agreed dates for material approval, fit, care trials, size sets, labels, production release and shipment inspection. Record dependencies: pending care results should block affected cutting. When approval slips, obtain a revised schedule and decide which styles to hold or ship separately. Cambridge China Bridge can coordinate these records with its own staff in China.
Frequently asked questions
Can one Chinese factory make my whole collection?
It may, but check evidence for each construction and identify subcontracted work. Allocate knitted, woven and filled styles according to demonstrated capability.
Should I approve garment fit before wash testing?
Approve initial fit for development, then confirm fit and measurements after the intended care process before releasing affected bulk production.
How do I match colours across clothing factories?
Share a physical colour reference, approve samples on each actual material and compare the collection together under agreed lighting. Keep approved samples and dye-lot records.
What if a factory misses an approval date?
Identify the dependent work, hold the affected release and obtain a revised schedule. Decide whether to delay the collection or ship approved styles separately.