A Guide to the Garment Production Process Explained

Understanding the garment production process can give you a deeper insight into clothing. Our custom clothing manufacturers generally follows the processes mentioned below.  

Clothing Design  

Generally speaking, most large and medium-sized clothing factories have their own designers to create clothing style series. The clothing design in clothing enterprises can be roughly divided into two categories: one is ready-to-wear design, which establishes a set of custom oversized t shirts based on the body proportions of the majority of people and then mass-produces the clothing. When designing, it is necessary not only to select fabrics and accessories but also to understand the equipment of the clothing factory and the skills of the workers. The second category is fashion design, which creates various styles of clothing according to market trends and fashion trends.  

Pattern Design  

Once the design samples of the clothing have been confirmed by the client, the next step is to draw patterns in different sizes according to the client’s requirements. The drawing of enlarging or reducing the standard pattern is called “pattern grading,” also known as “size nesting.” At present, large clothing factories mostly use computers to complete the grading of patterns. Based on patterns in different sizes, it is also necessary to make production patterns and draw the layout chart.  

Production Preparation  

There are many preparations before production, such as necessary inspection and testing of the materials needed for production, including fabrics, accessories, and sewing threads, as well as pre-shrinking and finishing of the materials, and the sewing and processing of samples and sample garments.  

Cutting Process  

Generally speaking, cutting is the first step in clothing production. It involves cutting fabrics, linings, and other materials into garment pieces according to the layout and marking requirements. This process also includes layout planning, fabric spreading, material calculation, adjusting for fabric defects, nesting, cutting, inspecting the cut pieces, numbering, and bundling.  

Sewing Process  

Sewing is a highly technical and crucial step in the entire garment manufacturing process. It is a process of combining different pieces of clothing into a complete garment through rational stitching according to different style requirements. Therefore, how to reasonably organize the sewing process and choose stitching, seam type, machinery, and tools is very important.  

To improve the sewing process and establish standard procedures, it is essential to thoroughly understand the current production situation in the workshop. To understand the workshop situation, it is necessary to conduct surveys, research, and analysis. When applying the basic analysis method, it is usually best to start with a rough analysis and gradually deepen it to reach a detailed analysis, as shown in the figure below:  

For example, when making a pocket, according to its production process, it can be divided into three operations, one of which is the pocket-sewing operation. If we analyze the working hours for the pocket-sewing operation, it can be further divided into four working elements. If we analyze the actions involved in the pocket-sewing operation, the working element of picking up the pocket can be further divided into four action elements. The analysis continues in this manner.   
The standard sequence for process analysis is: product analysis → operation analysis → time analysis → motion analysis. Conducting analysis in this order is the most effective method.  

The Purpose of Process Analysis  

1，To simplify the work process;  

2，To move away from relying solely on skill;  

3，To reduce working hours.  

II. Content of Product Process Analysis  

1，Analyze the style, fabric, accessories, size, quantity, and sewing requirements based on the processing technology requirements, specifications, and product samples.  

2，Change manual operations to mechanized processing, and study the processing technology to try to use special attachments, such as funnels.  

3，Fully discuss the workshop processing capacity (worker skills, equipment, equipment layout, etc.) to ensure the smooth implementation of production process management.  

4，Carefully consider what value consumers are looking for in the product to avoid overworking and excessively high product quality.  

5，Conduct pre-production trials to see the results (first make samples and trial-manufacture components).  

III. Requirements for Process Analysis  

1，Carefully study and understand the processing technology requirements.  

2，If there are parts that are difficult to process, carefully study the process methods. (If they are forcibly processed, the product quality will be reduced.)  

3，After the study is completed, report to the design department for approval and then change the processing technology.  

4，Further improve the templates, funnels and other tooling accessories.  

Quality Control of Ready-to-Wear Garments  

Quality control of ready-to-wear garments is an essential measure to ensure product quality throughout the entire manufacturing process. It involves identifying and addressing potential quality issues that may arise during production and establishing necessary quality inspection standards and regulations.  

Inspection of garments should be conducted throughout the entire production process, including cutting, sewing, buttonholing and buttoning, and ironing. A comprehensive inspection of the finished products should also be carried out before packaging and storage to ensure product quality.  

The main contents of finished product inspection include:  

1，Whether the style is consistent with the confirmed sample.  

2，Whether the size specifications meet the requirements of the process sheet and sample garments.  

3，Whether the stitching is correct and the sewing is neat and flat.  

4，For garments made of striped or checked fabrics, whether the stripes and checks are correctly aligned.  

5，Whether the fabric grain is correct, and whether there are any defects or oil stains on the fabric.  

6，Whether there is any color variation within the same garment.  

7，Whether the ironing is satisfactory.  

8，Whether the fusible interlining is firmly attached and whether there is any glue seepage.  

9，Whether loose threads have been removed.  

10，Whether garment accessories are complete.  

11，Whether the size label, care label, trademark, etc., on the garment are consistent with the actual content of the goods and whether their positions are correct.  

12，Whether the overall shape of the garment is satisfactory.  

13，Whether the packaging meets the requirements.  

Post-Processing  

Post-processing includes packaging, storage, and transportation, and it is the final step in the entire production process. Operators, in accordance with the packaging process requirements, will neatly arrange and fold each piece of finished and ironed clothing, place them into plastic bags, and then pack them into boxes according to the quantities specified on the packing list. Sometimes, ready-to-wear garments are shipped on hangers, with the clothing hung on racks and delivered to the delivery location. In order for the factory to deliver on time and catch the sales season, it is necessary to analyze the styling structure and processing characteristics of the clothing products. Only after establishing standard technical documents for each production link, including pattern making, sample design, process specifications, cutting process, sewing processing, ironing, and packaging, can high-quality, high-quantity, low-cost clothing that meets the needs of consumers and customers be produced.