Thread: How To Design And "Manufacture" A Clothing Item?

Hey everyone,

I hope you're doing great!

I have an idea for a unique piece of clothing for pets actually

I've got the general design in my brain right now, and going to make a super-crude prototype "garage style" and if it works out I'd like to get a *real* well thought out design mocked up and then actually manufactured.

Honestly, I have no idea how to design clothes in a way that a manufacturer would understand, or who to even contact at all.

I've done some googling, and looked around here a bit, the best I've found is ThomasNet® - Product Sourcing and Supplier Discovery Platform so far for manufacturers.

But I wanted to see if anyone has any pointers or could send me down the right path.

I really appreciate your help, and happy Wednesday!
-Sean

I personally would go to a fabric store and look at all the different kinds of fabric that would best fit your design (and realize that different fabrics have different properties...if you need it to stretch a little or be washing/drying machine friendly, etc etc...the store workers can help you with this) . I'd buy the fabric and take a rough sketch of what I wanted to the nearest seamstress (or any kind of sewing store....they have tons of people there with serious sewing skills that would not mind at all sewing your idea for a coupe o'bucks).
If this is something as simple as just sewing fabric together, then I wouldn't think you need to contact some big company to get a professional prototype.
I can knit, crochet, sew etc....because I taught myself how with the help of the internet and my late grandma's old busted sewing machine/needles. Nothing wrong with picking up some thread and a needle.....