Maybe you’ve spent months (or years) designing that collection in your head—the one you know would work. You’ve reached a point where producing in small quantities no longer makes sense. You need to make the leap to volume manufacturing.
And this is where many people freeze. Where do I start? Do I need a lot of money? How do I find a factory that won’t rip me off? What documents do I need? Can I manufacture from Spain, or do I have to go to China?
Relax. Manufacturing a clothing collection at volume is more accessible than it seems when you know the right steps. In this guide, I’ll tell you everything you need to know to get started—no unnecessary jargon and with the honesty you deserve.
What Does “Manufacturing at Volume” Really Mean?
Before you dive in, let’s clarify some concepts. Manufacturing at volume means producing significant quantities of garments, generally starting from several hundred units per style. There’s no magic number, but when we talk about volume, we usually mean orders that justify working with professional factories rather than artisan workshops.
Why does this matter? Because factories that work at volume have minimum order quantities. In other words, they’re not going to fire up their machines to make you twenty t-shirts. They need quantities that make the process profitable.
These minimums vary depending on the type of garment, the manufacturer, and the region. Some European factories accept minimums of 200-300 units per style. Others, especially in Asia, may require 500, 1,000, or more. Knowing this from the start will help you plan better.
7 Steps to Create Your First Collection at Volume
1. Define Your Collection Clearly
Before looking for manufacturers, you need to be absolutely clear about what you want to produce. How many styles will your collection have? What type of garments? For which season? How many sizes? What colors?
A well-defined collection doesn’t mean having everything perfect, but it does mean having clear answers to these basic questions. If you tell a manufacturer “I want to make casual clothing” without further details, they won’t be able to help you. If you tell them “I need to produce 500 units of a basic organic cotton t-shirt in three colors and five sizes,” now we’re talking.
My advice: start with few styles. It’s tempting to want to launch twenty different designs, but managing a volume production with that many references is complex and expensive. Three to five well-executed styles are more manageable for a first collection.
2. Prepare Your Technical Documentation
This is where many entrepreneurs get scared, but it doesn’t have to be complicated.
To manufacture at volume, you need tech packs for each garment. These documents include technical drawings, exact measurements for each size, material specifications, colors with precise references, and all construction details.
Don’t know how to create tech packs? No problem. You can learn the basics, hire a freelance technical designer, or work with an agency that includes this service. What matters is that you understand that without professional technical documentation, communication with factories will be chaos.
Tech packs are your lifeline. They’re the difference between receiving exactly what you ordered or getting an unpleasant surprise.
3. Calculate Your Real Budget
Let’s talk about money—because that’s what really worries people. Manufacturing at volume requires initial investment. There are no shortcuts. But you don’t need to be a millionaire to get started either.
The main costs include: sample development (prototypes before production), materials (fabrics, trims, labels), manufacturing (the factory’s work), shipping and logistics, and a margin for contingencies.
As a very general reference, a small first collection of three styles with 300-500 units per style may require an initial investment of between €10,000 and €30,000, depending on the type of garments and materials chosen. More complex garments or premium materials increase the budget.
My recommendation: always add an extra 15-20% for contingencies. Unplanned costs always come up in first productions.
4. Find the Right Manufacturer
This is probably the most critical step and where the most doubts arise. You have several options:
- Manufacturing in Spain or Europe. Proximity, easier communication, shorter delivery times, lower carbon footprint, perception of quality. Disadvantages: generally higher costs, fewer options for some types of garments.
- Manufacturing in Asia. More competitive costs, large production capacity, variety of specialties. Disadvantages: distance, time zone and cultural differences, long shipping times, higher minimum orders.
- Manufacturing in other markets like Morocco, Turkey, or Portugal. Each has its strengths depending on the type of garment.
How do you find manufacturers? You can search directly at trade shows, online directories, or contact factories one by one. Or you can do it the practical and simple way with Krativas. We advise you throughout the entire process from start to finish.
5. Validate with Samples Before Producing
Never, ever, under any circumstances, approve a volume production without validating physical samples first.
The normal process is: you send your tech packs to the manufacturer, they produce one or more samples (prototypes), you review them, request corrections if necessary, approve the final sample, and only then does production begin.
Samples cost money and time, but they’re infinitely cheaper than receiving a thousand poorly made garments. Check everything: measurements, seams, colors, fabrics, labels, finishes. If something isn’t right, now is the time to fix it.
6. Plan Your Timeline Realistically
Fashion runs on calendars. If you want to sell your summer collection, you need to have it ready months in advance. And volume production has timelines you can’t magically speed up.
A typical timeline includes: tech pack development (2-4 weeks), manufacturer search and selection (2-4 weeks), sample production (3-6 weeks), corrections and approval (2-4 weeks), volume production (4-8 weeks depending on quantity), shipping (1-6 weeks depending on origin).
Adding it all up, from having the design to having the garments in your warehouse can take 3 to 6 months. Plan with margin.
7. Don’t Forget Logistics and Storage
You’re going to receive boxes. Many boxes. Where are you going to store them? How are you going to manage inventory? Do you have a system for preparing orders?
Many new brands underestimate this aspect. Manufacturing at volume means managing stock, and stock takes up space and requires organization. If you don’t have your own warehouse, look into fulfillment options or logistics warehouses that can store and ship your products. It’s an additional cost, but it can save you many headaches.
How Do I Create a Clothing Collection at Volume Without Complicating My Life?
Let’s be honest: managing a volume production on your own is possible, but it requires time, knowledge, and a learning curve that can be costly.
The alternative is to work with professionals who have already walked that path. Companies like Krativas handle the entire process while you focus on designing, selling, and growing your brand. It’s not cheating. It’s being smart with your resources.
Krativas: Your Partner for Volume Manufacturing from Spain
At Krativas, we help brands like yours make the leap to volume production without complications. We’re a 360° fashion agency that manages the entire cycle: from tech pack development to delivering your garments ready to sell.
It doesn’t matter if it’s your first collection or if you already have experience. At Krativas, we adapt to your project and accompany you every step of the way.