The Fabric Sourcing Complete Guide: Countries, FAQ, Where and How
The textile industry is expected to reach $1.2 trillion dollars by 2025 and is one of the largest industries in the world. This is due to the fact that everyone needs a clothing item or the other, which leads to a constant demand for fabric and textile products all over the globe. Fabric sourcing is an important business activity for both large scale and small businesses. If you don’t have enough knowledge about the industry, you are most likely to have a hard time with sourcing for the right materials.
at HUACI Sourcing, we are devoted to helping you through product sourcing and many other import activities including fabric sourcing. This article will explain all you need to know about fabric sourcing, where to source, how to source, and what you should consider before sourcing and during sourcing.
Chapter 1: Which Countries You Should Consider When Sourcing Fabric
When sourcing for fabric, it is important that you go to the right place. If you don’t make enough research, there’s a higher chance of buying substandard fabrics or overpriced products. However, in this guide, we have gathered enough information on the best places to source for fabric without much hassle. There are varieties of fabrics to choose from from the textile markets in these countries. These include China, India, Turkey, Pakistan, South Korea, The UK, and Italy. You’ll learn the peculiarities of the textile industries of these countries and what to expect in this chapter.
Sourcing Fabric From China
China has one of the largest textile industries in the world with their production accounting for 54% of the global production. The Chinese textile industry produces more than 60 million garments per year with almost 4,700 aces of cotton farms, the largest producer in the world. China is also the largest producer of cashmere, silk, and flax and is the largest textile manufacturer and exporter in the world. Many companies have production bases in China due to the low production cost. This is then reflected in the low cost of products and abundance of varieties of textile materials. This in turn has led to a high export volume as China accounts for more than 43.1% of the global textile exports.
Sourcing Fabric from India
India is second to only China in the global textile industry with up to $40 billion in textile exports. India is also the second largest producer of cotton and the largest producer of jute in the world. A lot of raw materials such as wool and silk are produced in abundance by their textile industry. 18% of the total silk produced globally comes from India as it is the second largest silk producer in the world. The country’s textile industry also accounts for 27% of their foreign exchange inflow and more than 4% of the country’s GDP. By 2021, the textile industry is expected to have reached a total worth of $223 billion. India is definitely among the best places to source for fabrics.
Sourcing Fabric from Turkey
Turkey’s textile industry contributes to more than 10% of the country’s total GDP. Turkey is acclaimed as the seventh largest exporter of textile products in the world, with more than 7% increase in textile exports each year. Turkey is a rich source of quality and affordable raw materials with creative and innovative designs. There are varieties of products to choose from their textile markets with large quantities of cotton materials and knitted fabric. Turkey also has a valuable textile exporting sector with more than $17 billion total value.
Sourcing Fabric from Pakistan
The textile industry in Pakistan contributes 8.5% of the country’s total GDP. About 45% of the total labor force in the country work in the textile sector. Pakistan has the third largest spinning capacity of any Asian country with a capacity of 12 million. Pakistan also has an abundance of cotton as they are the 4th largest cotton producer in the world. Other textile materials produced there include synthetic fiber, filament yarn, silk, wool, and jute. The six major textile production sectors in Pakistan include Weaving, Spinning, Processing, Printing, Garment manufacturing, and Filament yarn manufacturing.
Sourcing Fabric from the UK
The UK is another place to get high quality fabrics, especially wool. The wool produced is durable, crease resistant, and recoverable, due to geographical factors. This makes the materials suitable for high frequency suits. The textile industry contributes more than £26 billion yearly to the UK’s economy,
Sourcing Fabric from Italy
The textile sector in Italy is well known for the advanced dyeing and finishing process done with high end technology. The careful finishing techniques leads to quality products which are also trendy at the same time in terms of colour, texture, and overall feel. Italy is also a good source for raw materials with quality fabrics made from Egyptian cotton and Australian wool.
Sourcing Fabric from South Korea
The South Korean textile industry is well known its variety of synthetic fibers which are less conventional. The special fabrics have interesting designs and colors while they also feel good to the touch. However, if you prefer more of cotton products, then South Korea isn’t the best place to source for them as they specialize more in synthetic fiber production.
Conclusion
Based on the cost and presence of varieties, China is the top place to consider when sourcing for fabrics. Many large scale and small scale businesses source for fabrics from China, as their textile industry is responsible for more than 40% of the world’s total output. However, it is also advisable to check out fabrics from other countries in order to have an all round experience, but based on findings, China is still the best place to get a variety of high quality fabrics at reduced costs.
Chapter 2: What You Should Ask When Sourcing Fabric
When sourcing for fabrics, there are some important questions you must ask in order to make sure you get high quality and safe products. These questions will also help you get an idea of the price, availability,and the type of materials you want to purchase. The following are the questions you should ask when sourcing for fabric:
MOQ
The MOQ is an abbreviation which stands for Minimum Order Quantity. For large quantity suppliers, the minimum order quantity might be more than hundred yards. If you only need a small quantity, then it would be better to get alternatives from a low minimum supplier. Companies with a low minimum order quantity usually have a MOQ of around 20 to 100 yards. If your business is still new, it’s better to work with a company that has a low MOQ.
Length per roll
It is important to know how many meters of fabric are present in a fabric roll before buying. There are different lengths of fabric rolls and it is important to clarify before buying to know what you are getting. A single fabric roll usually has 25 to 100 meters of fabric. The length depends on the linear meters per kgs. A linear meter refers to the length measured in a straight line. You still have to ask for the fabric width also as the wider the width, the less fabric you’ll need. The fabric rolls also differ based on their weight. Light fabric will have longer rolls than heavy fabric.
Quotation (for sample and mass production)
The quotation is another thing you should ask for when sourcing for fabric. You may require a sample and then ask for the quotation. This would help you compare the price with other suppliers to get a favourable business deal. The supplier prepares the quotation which describes the products, the price, and the terms and conditions. The sample should be sold for higher than the normal price.
Quotation unit
The quotation unit refers to the unit price of each product. It is simply the price per fabric roll. The supplier may also offer discounts depending on the quantity you want to purchase. In China, quotation units normally are kg, yard and meter.
Composition
One of the most important things to ask for is the fabric composition. The fabric composition refers to the fabric colour, material, texture, and weight. You can also ask if there are any modifications available depending on your preference. For example, there are lightweight versions of some heavy fabrics, likewise different colors, textures, and overall outlook.
Generally, fabrics have two major compositions: natural fibre, and synthetic fibre. In some cases, there may be a fabric made of a mixture of natural and synthetic fibres e.g Poly Cotton, which is a mixture of polyester and cotton. The fibre composition is usually an abbreviation like AC for acetate, CO for cotton, JU for jute, PL for polyester, SE for silk, etc.
Fabric width
When sourcing for fabric, you should not totally assume the fabric width is standard, you should check before buying. Most handwoven fabrics are usually thinner than the usual machine woven fabrics. Some fabrics can also be wider than what you think which will mean you can buy less than what you plan to buy. Though fabric prices are calculated by the length and not the width, it is still necessary to get the width size. You also need to get the fabric width in order to prevent fabric wastage due to a shortage or surplus.
In stock or not?
Fabrics can either be a stock item, or a made to order item. Stock items are fabrics that are constantly in stock. These are easy to reorder as they are always in stock. Made to order items refer to items which are made available based on the customer’s order, i.e you send in the fabric specification and the supplier or company provides the fabric after your order. Made to order items have a longer lead time as they have to be customized to your specifications. Therefore, the minimum order is usually higher for made to order items. There may also be continuity problems with made to order fabrics as the manufacturer only makes them with each single order you make.
Lead time
The lead time is simply the time between the order and when the products get ready to ship. Made to order items will have a longer lead time than in stock fabrics. There are many factors that affect the lead time, factors such as order quantity, product workmanship, factory production schedule and manufacturing capacity. However, the major factors that affect the lead time are whether the products are open stock or made to order.
Continuity
This question is important especially if you would like to make repeat orders. Continuity implies that you can get the same fabrics again. This is very important to prevent disappointment and to make sure your future orders will be uniform with your current order. Continuity is highly important especially when you want made to order fabrics.
Ethical fabric sourcing
By ethical fabric sourcing, we mean textile products that are produced under sustainable conditions. It also refers to the supplier’s ethical standards and whether the products have the necessary certifications and have undergone the appropriate safety tests. Ethical fabric sourcing also covers factors like working conditions, sustainability, and the use of animal products. It is necessary to check if the manufacturer follows the ethical standards.
Chapter 3: What Fabric Testing You Should Consider When Sourcing Fabric
Fabric testing is another important part of fabric sourcing, it is important to make sure the products have been put through the necessary tests to assure you of their quality and safety.
The fabrics must meet the standards of the country you wish to import them to. You can get the testing done by a third party or you can request for the certifications from the manufacturer or supplier.
Flammability tests are an example of the important tests that must be conducted on the product. Highly flammable fabrics pose a high risk to both importers and the final consumer. Flammability is affected by some factors such as fiber content, fabric weight, construction, finishing, and fabric material.
Other tests that are necessary include; performance tests, dimensional stability tests, weather testing, thermal tests,tensile properties, resistance tests, and seam strength.
The general tests include; chemical testing, fiber identification testing, eco-testing, color durability tests, antibacterial/antimicrobial tests, machine wash testing, and surface coating tests.
These tests may vary depending on the region, for example, the EU has some standard textile tests and regulations. The best thing is usually to get a third party to conduct the tests because supplier tests are not always reliable. The third party inspector will visit the supplier and get samples which he would send for laboratory tests.
Though you might spend some extra money on third party fabric tests, it is very important to do so to prevent seizure or forfeiture of your fabrics upon arrival, especially if you are getting a large quantity. It is also helps you gain customer trust and satisfaction. You won’t retain customers if you sell low quality fabrics. There are some companies that offer testing services with offices in many countries.
Chapter 4: What Fabric Defects You Should Check During Fabric Sourcing
Before placing your final order, it is important to check the samples for defects and other problems. This is very important especially in order to ensure customer satisfaction.
Sometimes, the fabric may pass safety tests but may have some defects which can affect customer satisfaction. During fabric inspection, you would be able to notice some fabric defects like color shading variation and drop stitches.
Apart from affecting customer satisfaction, fabric defects can also lead to wastage or shortage, especially if the defects make some parts of the fabric unusable. You may have to cut them away after getting them if you didn’t inspect beforehand.
The industry standard for measuring fabric quality is the 4-point system. In this system, the inspector gives penalty points per fabric roll based on the size of the defect, the quality of the fabric roll, and the significance of the fabric defect.
The fabric defects included in the 4-point system include: Horizontal lines, shade variation, stains, Uneven dyeing, drop stitches, misprinting, knots or neps, abrasion marks, needle lines, splicing, holes, snags, etc. We’ll explain these defects further below.
1.Shade Variation
Shade variation is a visible fabric defect in which there is a different depth of shade or colour depth on a fabric roll or piece to piece. It is when fabric rolls of different shades are combined during cutting and bundling. Shade variation happens when: different fabrics are mixed during production, different production processes are used/ different production conditions, the fabric stretching is unequal, and errors made during cutting, numbering, or bundling.
Shade variation can be prevented by proper numbering and bundling, it can also be prevented on the part of the supplier by using the same production process for each fabric bundle. The supplier and you also should view each fabric roll carefully to make sure they are of the same shade.
2. Horizontal lines
You should check out for visible irregular lines that run horizontally on the fabric. You can notice this type of defect easily if you take a look at the whole fabric roll. Horizontal lines are majorly caused by bobbin faults during manufacturing and also when the thread tension is irregular, leading to some loose areas on the fabric. The manufacturer is responsible for preventing this.
3. Stains on the Fabric
A stain is any patch or spot on the fabric containing unwanted color. The fabric can get stained at any point during production, after production, and during the transport of the product. Stains can be caused by dyes, oil, dirt from many sources, and during handling of the fabric. You should ensure you deal with a manufacturer that carries out regular maintenance of equipment. The production or storage area must also be well cleaned and free from contaminants.
4. Uneven patches
There may be irregular dyeing or printing marks on the fabric surface which are quite noticeable. This can happen when; low quality fabric is used, the dyeing or printing process isn’t supervised properly, and other manufacturing errors. Once again, you should ensure the fabrics are carefully inspected before you purchase them.
5. Drop stitches
Drop stitches are missed stitches which leads to holes in the fabric. These can appear on any spot on the fabric. It is important to check for this because the fabric can start to wear out at the drop stitching point.
6. Printing errors
If the fabrics are printed fabrics, you should check if there are errors in the printing process like wrong colors and patterns or wrong arrangement of the colors or patterns. To prevent this, make sure you always send clear fabric specifications to the manufacturer and that the manufacturer understands what you want before he begins production.The only way to correct this type of error is to change the affected fabric which leads to increased production cost.
7. Knots/neps
These are uneven fibers on a fabric that form knots or tangled masses. These can be caused by foreign objects in the fabric material which were not removed during processing. They can also be caused by mechanical errors or faulty fibers.
8. Abrasion lines
Abrasion lines are discolored areas or marks which are caused by rubbing or chafing. These happens when the fabric rubs on a hard surface or uneven surface. You should check if the fabric has enough abrasion resistance before you purchase it. Nylon is the textile material with the highest abrasion resistance.
9. Splicing
This fabric defect is among the most visible defects. It is caused when the ends of two pieces of fabric overlap. This happens during the production process when a roll of fabric has been exhausted and another one is being used. The overlapping ends are weak and end up producing a waste material as the end is rendered useless. This type of defect carries a 4-point penalty under the 4-point system. Though splicing is unavoidable, you should still set a limit per fabric roll. You should discuss this with the supplier to minimize wastage.
10. Snag
A snag is a loose part of the yarn that rises from the surface of the fabric. This is caused by sharp objects or sharp machine points. There is a fabric test known as the mace snag test which helps to detect how much the fabric is prone to snagging.
11. Holes
There is a small hole or a hole in the cloth surface, and the hole formed on the cloth surface due to the break of the coil.
Chapter 5: What Are the Major Fabric Sourcing Channels
It is important to get the right manufacturer or supplier during fabric sourcing, and there are many ways to do that. Fabrics can be sourced online, at trade shows, or through fabric sourcing company/fabric sourcing agent.
Fabric Sourcing Online
This is one easy way to source for fabric. There are many online suppliers with different products, you just have to choose one that has what you need. You should ensure that you get the necessary details before making a purchase. There are popular online fabric.com, moodfabrics.com, and fabric depot.com. Fabric.com is a subsidiary of Amazon inc, and is the top online fabric store. The online store was founded in 1993 as a wholesale distribution avenue. There are many fabric materials ranging from denim to silk, faux fur, linen, nylon etc. The website also offers shipping services to a lot of countries.
Moodfabrics.com is one of the top fabric shopping destinations in the world. Founded in 1991, the online store plays an important role in the fashion world with many customers and clients. Online sourcing can be problem free as long as you get a trusted supplier. Another way to source for fabrics is through fabric sourcing trade shows.
Fabric Sourcing Trade Shows
Trade shows are particularly useful for upcoming designers and other fabric businesses. There are fabric and fashion exhibitions at trade shows and you have the chance to check out many textile products from different manufacturers and suppliers. Well known trade shows include: Textile forum, Premiere Vision, DG Expo, Texworld USA, The Sustainable Angle,etc.
Textile Forum is held in London two times a year and is a luxury fashion fabric show launched in 2001 with many participants from major fashion brands like Louis Vuitton, Nike, John Lewis, Elvi, etc. The show features textile materials like lace, silk, wool, leather, cotton, stretch, prints, and nylon.
Premiere Vision is a fabric trade show held in Paris and New York twice a year. It features the six major fabric supplying industries on the global stage. This was founded in 1980 with the aim of structuring the fabric market.
DG Expo is a fashion expo for designers and retailers. The added advantage this expo offers is that there are business seminars and classes on textiles and the textile industry in general. The DG Expo hold three times a year in New York, Miami, and Dallas.
The Sustainable angle is a fabrics expo hosted by a non-profit organization and it focuses on innovations in the textile industry that improves sustainability in fashion. This expo features manufacturers and suppliers who produce fabric in an eco-friendly environment. The expo also features sustainable fabric collections. The expo is also available for livestreaming.
Fabric trade shows are very beneficial because you have the chance to check out varieties of quality fabrics while you can also meet with other small scale and large scale suppliers and manufacturers.
Fabric Sourcing Companies/Fabric Sourcing Agents
This is the easiest way to source for fabrics in that you do not have to do it yourself. There are fabric sourcing agents or companies that can help with the whole process while charging a decent price. Just state your specifications and they’ll help you source for the right manufacturer while ensuring they get quality fabrics. FAMI SOURCING also provides this type of service. We can help with product sourcing based on your specification and budget. We also help with manufacturer validation, production follow- up, shipping and delivery. This helps you save a lot of time and stress and you’ll be assured of the quality while getting your fabrics on time.
Chapter 6: Sourcing Fabric for Different Purposes
There are some steps to take based on what the fabric is to be used for and where it would be used.
Sourcing Fabric for Small Businesses
There are some options you can choose from if you are sourcing fabric for a small business. If you are sourcing from a retail shop, make sure the supplier is trustworthy and that he can guarantee continuity. We’d advise you to test the supplier with a small quantity before buying more. However, you should still have many fabric stock keeping unit if you are starting a clothing line or if you are a reseller. The best thing to do is to work with a fabric sourcing company/ agent because they are close with many suppliers and can help you get the best price at favourable terms. The other option is to go directly to the supplier or manufacturer. This can cost you some time and money especially if you’d be traveling, for example to a country like China.
Sourcing Fabric for Clothing Line
When sourcing for fabric for a clothing line. There are two major things you need to ensure: Continuity and Quality. You must be able to get your preferred fabric from the supplier at various times when you need them. Also, you should check each fabric roll for fabric defects, and to also make sure they match your order. If you forget this, you might discover some defects when it might be too late for you to return them. You should also have a flexible preference when sourcing for fabrics, you may or may not get the exact fabric you have in mind. Fabric expos are very useful when sourcing fabrics for a clothing line.
Sourcing Fabric for Baby Clothes
Regardless of whether you are a small batch or large batch manufacturer, it is important to make sure the fabrics follow the required safety standards when sourcing fabric for baby clothes. For baby clothes, the fabric should be free from objects like loose buttons or bows that can be pulled off and may cause a choking hazard. There is a test for this which is called the Pull test. The lead used in the production of the fabric must also not be more than 100 ppm in a garment, and not more than 90 ppm in fabric finishes. There are other chemicals like Phthalates which are poisonous to children at a certain level. The other important the fabric must go through is the flammability test. The fabric must not be quick to ignite or burn.
Conclusion
These are the important things to know about fabric sourcing and we hope you have found the guide helpful. This guide will go a long way in making your fabric sourcing process a smooth one. If you have any questions or you require our services, do not hesitate to contact us.
Highly commendable Efforts “Roger Zhong” … Extremely helpful Information provided by you for the serious Individuals connected to the “Textile Industry” … May, “Allah” bless you in the Journey you indeed need/wish to excel … “Ahmad Qureshi from “Pakistan”.