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How do I Become a Garment Manufacturer?

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In order to become a garment manufacturer, it is important to first have the necessary materials, equipment, and work space. There are garment manufacturers that work on many different scales. A manufacturer that produces t-shirts, for example, may produce tens of thousands of units per year. A manufacturer that produces unique one-of-a-kind dresses or specialty gowns such as wedding dresses, on the other hand, may produce under 100 garments in a year. The volume of business done by a garment manufacturer will strongly influence the amount of work space needed and the number of employees required.

One of the best ways to learn any business is to start at the bottom. If you want to become a garment manufacturer, then apply for jobs in the field. This way you will be able to watch the way that the business is run and learn from your experiences as an employee. It is best to work for a manufacturer in the niche that interests you the most. If you want to work with sportswear, then try working for a garment manufacturer that produces this sort of clothing.

A cotton T-shirt, a garment of clothing.
A cotton T-shirt, a garment of clothing.

Even if you can't find a position in the niche that interests you, working for nearly any kind of manufacturer will help you on your path to becoming a garment manufacturer. While some of the sales procedures and business model aspects may be different, you will still learn quite a bit about the industry. In addition to your experience as an employee, consider taking classes that relate to the field. Classes in business, marketing, and accounting will all relate to your future work as a manufacturer. So will classes in textile, fashion, and design.

Garment manufacturers produce clothing items.
Garment manufacturers produce clothing items.

If you work for a small company, it might take less time than you imagine to work your way to the top and ultimately become a garment manufacturer. This is one way to achieve your goal. Another way to become a garment manufacturer is to start your own business. You should only do this after you have a good amount of experience and have made some good business contacts. Starting your own business is never easy and always requires a good deal of money up front, but it will give you the luxury to work in the exact niche that interests you while directing the operations and focus of your business exactly as you see fit, in a way that meets your ultimate vision for the business.

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

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    • A cotton T-shirt, a garment of clothing.
      By: Kayros Studio
      A cotton T-shirt, a garment of clothing.
    • Garment manufacturers produce clothing items.
      By: PhotoSG
      Garment manufacturers produce clothing items.