It's not usually the favorite part of any conversation. We'd rather discuss how special our products are or our service and how you can enjoy both. However, the fact remains that pricing is an integral part of any purchase decision for most of us. Let us explain here how we arrive at our prices, and what you might consider as you review our prices and our products online or in a shop.
When you purchase a garment the following services are included:
First and foremost - also our favorite - is the research and sourcing of fabric. This is the largest cost and most important purchase on our end.
When purchasing fabric we must consider the consumption of yardage, and the size of the garment, as well as where and how it will be shipped. We also have to consider any additional tariffs and duty when purchasing fabric from an international source, which most of ours is. The time involved for the fabric to travel is also valuable.
The number of rolls and the number of garments projected to be made must be considered. There are grand companies that might purchase huge rolls of fabric and project making 1000's of garments. Therefore per yard their cost could be as low as .50 cents per yard, where as special runs of very special fabrics can run from 7.00 dollars to 15.00 dollars per yard (give or take a few dollars depending on commodity markets. in other words linen and cotton prices can fluctuate for mills).
After fabric is purchased, shipped, landed, duty paid, and brokers fees as well, it's able to be cut. Now, a pattern has to of been made, and fitted, as well as grading per size. This usually has been done during the design process. This cost can vary upon how many samples must be made to perfect the garment.
Once production can begin, the cut and sew of the garment includes everything from actual cutting, to zippers, and fusing, to how difficult the fabric is to work with and time it takes (stretchy or stiff). It also includes buttons and thread. Of course the labor involved is a large part of this cost.
The finishing is next. It is the cost of washing, pressing, folding, packaging, and all the detailed work to tag and mark a garment.
It's important to consider that on our end we have invested all of this only on projection. This has taken months to get to this point, and we have finance charges to get this far. Now, we have to ship and get paid. This usually takes another month or so... Only then and with costs of our overhead to sell being rents, insurances, staffing, and collection of payment can we finally see our profit. It doesn't sound all that glamorous now I'm sure. Without wholesale customers who have contracts to purchase larger quantities and therefore receive a lower price based on being able to sell more we have to work with small fabric mills and factories who can respect our special cuttings that are small as well. This drives our prices up, and why we are made with much more skill and precision than the 1000's of garments you can purchase at a large company.
I hope that a better understanding of what goes into our calculation of pricing helps you appreciate your purchase, and our partners to bring you the best value and products.
If we make 100 garments on projection, and can only sell through 75 of them, we then have to put 25 of them on sale, and lose our profits on those pieces, bringing the entire number lower on what we can make back on our initial investment.
**photo credit to imgflip.com
