Online Clothing Study

Question: Is the lab test done before dyeing the fabric & printing? Please explain the stages and how to get these approved? … asked by Amita

Yes, partially, the lab test can be done prior to fabric dyeing and printing process. At that stage physical properties of a fabric, such as yarn counts, fabric construction (EPI and PPI), fibre contents etc. can be tested. Though fabric tests (Fabric Package Test) can be done after dyeing and printing process.

Normally fabric parameters are tested on finished fabric or on the finished garment. Each buyer has a set of test requirements which are mentioned in their quality manual and a copy of test requirements is forwarded to their nominated labs.

For fabric package testing (FPT) you have to send fabric samples to the testing labs that are nominated by your buyer. The testing lab will do all tests that are required by the buyer for approval of your fabric that is going to be used in garment making.

If you are only looking for dyeing and prin…

In this post, you will find answers to the following questions related to maker making in garment production.
What is a marker? What is marker making? What is the marker efficiency? How to calculate marker efficiency for the manual marker as well as a computerized marker?
What is a Marker? A marker is a diagram of a precise arrangement of pattern pieces for sizes of a specific style that are to be cut from in one spread. (source: Apparel Manufacturing, Glock and Kunz)

What is Marker Making? Marker making is the process of determining a most efficient layout of pattern pieces for a style, fabric and distribution of sizes (source: Apparel Manufacturing, Glock and Kunz). Factories those don’t have a CAD system perform this process manually. In manual marker making to make an efficient marker one need time, skill and concentration. Now-a-day Marker making is mostly done by CAD systems which give accuracy, increase control over variables and reduces the time required in making markers.
W…

In a garment factory, the production manager’s day starts with production reports. Production manager enters to the factory floor with questions such as - How many garments are made last production day by each line? Compare actual production with production target given to the floor in-charge and line supervisors. What were the issues for low productions? Why too much quality issues?Who is responsible for not achieving yesterday’s target?  Production managers get answers to their question in reports with data.
In this industry, line supervisors are very smart to tell you numbers to show good line performance and hide their shortfall. So, instead of discussion and verbal reports, most of the managers believe in written and printed reports.

To know the factory’s day to day performance very well what all production and production-related reports must be made and reported to higher management? Each factory has its own set of policies and system to run their factory. So, list of productio…

There is a tendency in young professionals to move out from day job and start something their own. Having work experience in the garment industry, we primarily look for business opportunities within this industry. Keeping this thing in mind, I have shared some small business ideas that are related to the garment as a product and some business ideas are services for the garment industry.

Each business can be started in small scale. If you are on the same board you may be interested to hear something on small business ideas those are garment industry based.
Small-Scale Business Ideas 1. Small-scale garment factory set-up You can set up a small garment factory with your own tailoring or manufacturing experience. Setting up a readymade garment manufacturing unit is considered as top one among the other small scale business ideas. To scale production, you need to hire a few tailors and supporting staff. Make garments and sell finished garments to retailers or whole sellers in your city. Y…

This guest post is by Todor Stojanov

The usage of Standard Measuring Positions is very important during the measurements inspection procedure because it will ensure avoiding of many mistakes and misunderstandings between suppliers and customers (buyers)
The most of the faults that appear in the measurements inspection process are result of the suppliers and customers using different measuring positions, which will implicate giving different measuring results at both sides. In order to avoid this kind of problems, suppliers and customers need to use same standard measuring positions.

I am writing this article to reply to the question asked by Rakesh (name changed).

He wants to calculate his line efficiency but he doesn't have all parameters that are required to calculate line efficiency. He has information on daily production, daily shift hours and a number of operators but don't have garment SMV. He wrote:

Please help me to find the efficiency of a line from the following details.
Daily Production: 2000 pieces,Working Hours: 10 Hours,No of machines (Operators): 50 and SMV - unknown 
To calculate line efficiency normally we use standard formula and find the efficiency figure. The standard formula used to calculate efficiency of a line is as following

Line Efficiency % = (Garment produced by a line* Garment SMV * 100)/ (No. of operators * working hours * 60)
But as Rakesh doesn't have SMV of the product he was making, he can’t calculate the efficiency of his line using above formula. Without having garment SMV you can't determine line efficiency…

Question: What is operator training? Uses and advantages of operator training in mass apparel manufacturing? Classification of operators and explain operator training modules. 
... asked by Modhu
What is Operator Training? A structured way used to build operator sewing skills, teach machine handling and material handling and to impart basic knowledge about the sewing machine and quality of stitch. After completion of training, a trainee is expected to operate a sewing machine on his own and can sew garments. Operator training includes both theoretical classes and practical classes and lot practice on sewing machines.


Use of Operator Training: Operator training has multiple uses in mass garment production.

#1. Sometimes the factory needs to hire fresh trainees to fill operator shortage. A structured training course is required to convert fresh trainees into trained operators.

#2. Many times it is found that some sewing operators who are hired for sewing task are not properly trained…

by Chandan Saha

The Textile & Clothing trade in the global market is fast changing with the scaling up of uses of textiles in diverse areas. Asian countries including India play a dominant role in the international trade of the global market. China has the major share in textile and clothing trade in the international market etc. Both Bangladesh and Hong Kong have a significant share. However, India is still on the back seat. It is reported that Asian counties export most of textile and apparel to Europe and North America and USA etc.
Asian countries are gaining in textile trade due to lower costs compared to African, European and South American countries. As per the Global Textile and Apparel Industry: Vision 2015, World textile and apparel trade is expected to reach US$805bn by 2015 from US$650bn in 2010. At present few countries like Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan contribute major share in Forex earnings of their country from Textile and Clothing trade, t…

The garment manufacturing process involved a number of processes from order receiving to dispatching shipment of the finished garments. A process flow chart helps to understand how raw materials are moved from one process to another process until raw materials are transformed into the desired product (garments).


To be noted that a process flow chart made for the garment manufacturing processes will vary based on manufacturing facility and product types. As some companies do whole process in single plant when others do production jobs and other auxiliary processes are outsourced.