When to Outsource Apparel Design: A Complete Guide (2024)
Want to launch an apparel brand but stuck on how to get it all done? This guide was created by Amanda Rango of ARD Fashion Consulting, a designer with over 22 years of experience who helps closely held brands launch and scale their fashion businesses. You’ll be provided with essential information and a complete guide of when to outsource your fashion business and how to get started.
This guide will address your questions related to designing apparel including:
What is outsourcing?
When do I need to outsource?
What are the benefits of outsourcing fashion design?
How do I find a fashion designer?
What are the right questions to ask a fashion designer?
What is Outsourcing?
The practice of outsourcing is when services or job functions are obtained from a third party, meaning, not completed within your organization.
Though easily defined, outsourcing is not as straightforward as it may seem. Fashion designers and brand owners need to understand the complexities of outsourcing as well as develop a sound strategy for outsourcing within the business.
Why would I outsource?
Outsourcing is not an all-or-nothing option. I’ve seen all types of outsourcing within emerging fashion brands.
Brands often outsource some elements of their business to fill a gap in experience. As an entrepreneur, it is nearly impossible to be a master of all parts.
Sometimes I come across a talented designer who needs help with overseas production. Other times, I find people with great ideas but lack the design experience to bring the product to life.
That’s where ARD Fashion Consulting comes in…
Our team of creatives at ARD Fashion Consulting, utilize their decades of specialized creative skillset to create a turn-key experience for our clients. Whether you need assistance with a full product development cycle or just graphic artwork, we can guide you in the right direction and provide what you need.
If not for experience, brands will often choose to outsource projects to fill a gap in workload. Teams on larger brands don’t have the capacity to take on new projects and initiatives. To propel brand growth without time or people constraints, large brands will opt to outsource to someone like ARD, to get their new project moving forward in the right direction..
I’ve worked with large corporations who are unable to hire and train in the timeline that the project requires. Corporations also get a ton of value out of outsourcing to contractors like me who come with less overhead expenses.
What You Need to Know Before Outsourcing
Outsourcing design elements might be a great step for your business, but it is important to understand a couple of key points before making the leap:
Investment: There is a common misconception that outsourcing = cheap. Cost might even be a deciding factor for whether or not you pursue external design development. However, the skill that fashion designing and quality product development require is far from easy. Coming from someone who constantly hears horror stories about people who have found “cheap” designers, you often get what you pay for.
Alignment: The addition of a third party means that it is much more important to have clear communication on the final expectations of your partnership. You should understand what deliverables to expect as a client and what will be needed from you to complete the work. Communication is the heart of everything, from timeline to desired aesthetic.
When Should I Outsource Fashion Design
I recommend outsourcing fashion design when it becomes a hindrance to the success of your brand. I’m fully supportive of people who wish to experiment with the resources at their disposal. However, there might come a time when you have to explore other options beyond yourself.
You might find that your samples keep coming back from your vendor incorrectly.
You might struggle to communicate with factories that won’t take you seriously.
You might be unhappy with the creative direction and need an outside opinion.
You might have great ideas but don’t have the bandwidth or knowledge to do anything about it from an execution and quality perspective.
If you find yourself here, it might be time to outsource your design process. That begs the question, “How do you find a fashion designer?”
How to Find a Fashion Designer for Your Brand
The tricky part about outsourcing is finding the right partner. Once you layer on a creative element like design, the challenge only gets harder.
The good news is that through my years of experience, I’ve worked with some OUTSTANDING creatives. It’s all about looking in the right places.
Freelance Websites: A lot of brands start their search here. Websites like Fiverr and Upwork can give you access to plenty of talent to choose from. Hiring is fast and you can shop the market for a freelancer in your budget. The quality of work is highly dependent on each individual and it can be hard to know what you’re getting until you’ve already made the investment.
LinkedIn: It’s common for talented designers to leave their corporate jobs and go an independent route. These designers often look for work on LinkedIn. It’s a great place to find talent and validate their experience. This requires a bit more digging on your part, but can pay dividends in the long run.
Small design houses: This would be a freelance designer turned full company. This is someone who has more resources at their disposal and is made up of a team of experts rather than an individual. Your investment will be higher but you can expect a higher level of output and a more professional and elevated experience.
My Recommendation
I’ve seen the best brand outcomes emerge from design teams, rather than the other options. This is especially true for small businesses looking to get their company off the ground. Entrepreneurs who rush this process might find themselves disappointed and discouraged.
Outsourcing your apparel design is supposed to make your life easier, not the other way around! Outsourcing should give you the return on your investment (and time) which allows you to focus on other areas of your business and ensure that the scope of work is being carried out successfully. The key is knowing the right questions to ask so you know exactly where your money is going. I’m a huge fan of trusting your gut. If you’re vibing with a designer and you feel comfortable during initial conversations, chances are you can trust your gut.
Before Finding a Fashion Designer
You should have a clear direction of your brand before you approach a fashion designer. The ideas do not have to be fully fleshed out, but the more information you have, the better. Some questions YOU may be asked include:
What is the name of your brand and do you have brand guidelines, like logos prepared?
What types of products do you want to offer and what makes them unique in the marketplace?
How many styles or products do you want to offer in your collection?
What do you expect the retail price point of your products to be?
What brands would you consider competitors? Both direct and aspirational.
How would you describe the overall aesthetic or vibe of what you offer?
What type of MOQs (minimum order quantities) are you willing to start with when purchasing your product(s)? (25, 100, 500, 1000, 5000 units?) This is a huge help when sourcing the right manufacturer(s) for your products.
Once you are able to answer these questions, you’ll have more productive conversations with a potential fashion designer for outsourcing.
If you want a more in-depth look at what to expect when starting a fashion brand, this blog post by ARD Fashion Consulting is a great place to start. The guide was created so that you feel prepared and less intimidated as you take the leap into the fashion industry.
Questions to Ask a Fashion Designer
You should think of outsourcing fashion design as if you were hiring a designer that is part of your company. This decision can change the trajectory of your product and ultimately your brand. Here are some questions to ask a designer before making an investment:
Can I see a portfolio of your past work?
The first and most important question to ask. This will tell you if they have experience in your product category which is important to find. Most fashion designers can work across multiple categories (wovens, knits, tops, bottoms, etc) but a proven track record in your specific niche is beneficial. It will also give you an indication if that designer is the right fit for you.
What services do you offer?
Not all designers offer end-to-end development like ARD Fashion Consulting! A designer might be able to make a tech pack but be unable to build accurate measurements or conduct fittings, for example.
What does an “x” investment with you include?
You should get the exact deliverables with associated costs written out before signing anything.
Will I get ownership of the source design files at the conclusion of our project?
You should! However, I’ve seen some files get held “hostage” to keep that person as a secured client.
What timeline should I expect for this project?
Their ability to produce deliverables should align with your expectations of when you hope to launch your project. Always pad yourself with time because there can be unexpected delays when it comes to fashion design, especially at the starting stage of a brand.
This list could go on and on but this is a great place to start! It can seem intimidating, but as this Forbes article states, small businesses are really giving corporations a run for their money. Outsourcing is just the beginning of possibilities!
Resources for Fashion Apparel Design
I hope this guide provided you with an idea of when and how to start outsourcing your fashion apparel design.
If you’d like more assistance designing your fashion apparel collection, ARD Fashion Consulting is a full-service design and production firm that helps clients launch their brands from concept to creation. We work in all of the areas highlighted in this guide with decades of industry experience at the corporate and entrepreneurial level.
Check out our website at ard-consulting.com to schedule a discovery call or read more informative blog posts like this one!