The Lab
Expert guides, manufacturing tips, and trend reports for fashion brands.
EducationInterlock, jersey, rib, French terry, fleece or muslin? The right fabric and weight for every baby and kids product, and what makes a fabric safe next to baby skin.
EducationFibre content, care, country of origin, RN and CA numbers: what your garment labels must show in the US, EU, UK, Canada and Australia, and the common mistakes.
EducationNylon or polyester spandex, 90/10 or 80/20, 2-way or 4-way stretch? How to spec leggings and gym tops that stretch, recover and stay squat-proof.
EducationYou do not need every test in the lab's catalogue. The core tests for colour, shrinkage, pilling, weight and fibre content, plus the chemical and kids rules by market.
EducationAge or height? How baby, toddler and kids sizes work in the US, UK and EU, with a conversion table, grading tips and how many sizes to launch with.
EducationMost kids clothing hazards are designed in, not sewn in. A plain checklist for cords, snaps, buttons, zips, neck openings and trims, before your first sample.
EducationYour brand colour on fabric, exactly. What a lab dip is, which Pantone code to send, how colour is judged, and why custom colours need a bigger order.
EducationProto, fit, size set, PP or TOP? What each apparel sample approves, when you need it, who pays, and how to give feedback that saves a whole round.
EducationFrom brief to delivery in about 6 to 10 weeks. A week-by-week clothing production timeline, what slows it down, and how to save weeks on your first order.
EducationWant 100 pieces in your own blend, like 90/10 polyester spandex? Why custom fabric needs a bigger order, why the sample costs more, and three smarter ways to launch small.
EducationFabric, labour, trims, print, labels, packaging and freight: what really sets the price of a custom hoodie, plus the packed shipping weight for every GSM.
EducationA sketch alone will not get your hoodie made. Here is every section of a complete tech pack, how to build one without a design background, and a checklist to run before you send it.
EducationTold the minimum is 500 pieces when you planned for 50? The economics behind MOQ, realistic minimums by manufacturer type, and how to negotiate a smaller first run.
EducationSetup fees, per-unit costs, break-even points and fabric limits for every major print method, plus a five-step framework for matching one to your design and order size.
EducationChoosing the wrong fleece means 500 hoodies that miss your brief. How each fleece construction feels, wears and prices out, and which one suits your market.
EducationShrinkage is predictable physics, not bad luck. See realistic percentages for cotton, blends and fleece, plus how to test samples and set buyer expectations.
EducationGSM is the first thing a buyer judges by touch. Here is every weight band from 100 to 220+ GSM, the right range for each garment type, and four ways to verify a supplier's claim.
EducationNot all 100% cotton is equal. A plain-language breakdown of every cotton type, what each one really costs you, and which fits your brand positioning and price point.
