Rainwear; Many Small OEMs or A Couple Large OEMs

[IC3BURGH]

I have a question relating to the Ryder Cup post, but I didn't want to hyjack the topic.

 

A high percentage of Bicycles are made in the same factory. For instance, I am 95% sure Giant bikes are made along side Specialized bikes. Why are bikes so similar to rainwear? They are both fairly technical manufacturing processes, with highly specified materials.

 

Some of the best names thrown out in that discussion are ProQuip, Zero Restriction, Galvin Green, FJ. Now this stuff isn't your normal cut & sow job and requires a good deal of technical knowledge not only on the fabrics, but proper ways of creating seams, etc.

 

Now my question is: Who makes all this stuff? Do they all have seperate manufacturing footprints? Or does one or two of these companies provide design and requested materials, and the other provides the manufacturing base?

 

Why do I care? Because if I know that for instance Zero Restriction and Galvin Green are manufactured in the same place, then I can ignore the technical details for the most part, aggregate quality reviews on both products, and shop merely on fit, looks and price.

[Llortamaisey]

The manufacturing is typically outsourced by the brands you mentioned. There are actually several manufacturers that have the capabilities of creating rainwear for those brands so I highly doubt that Galvin Green and Zero are made in the same place. I could see the material used for both brands coming from the same fabric mill, however, but I do not know that for a fact.

[Jimmy Mac]

I am not absolutely sure for each of these companies, but in general:

The raw material can either be custom designed and woven (usually more $), or it can be ordered from stock offerings (usually less $) from large textile companies.

Typically, apparel labels draw up very specific cutting, sewing, material, and sizing instructions. Really, pretty much every tiny detail of how the garment is constructed - including how those seams are made. Then they bid the actual manufacturing out to companies that specialize in mass manufacturing of that type of product. China, Bangladesh, India, wherever.

I know that makes it sound like these garments are commodities, but they're really not.

The biggest determinant of quality isn't really where the garment is made - it's oversight. It's the "Parent Label" making sure everything is made exactly to spec and really holding the manufacturers to their highest possible quality. So while ZR and Galvin Greene may be sewn in the same plant, there could be quite a difference in quality depending on who is watching over the process.

As for the technical details, etc. Those are determined by the designers a the parent label, not the manufacturers. Each of these companies may specify entirely different weaves of fabric and construct clothes in a different manner. I wouldn't simply dismiss them as being identical based on where they're sewn.

[Llortamaisey]

[quote name='Jimmy Mac' timestamp='1345478423' post='5503388']
I am not absolutely sure for each of these companies, but in general:

The raw material can either be custom designed and woven (usually more $), or it can be ordered from stock offerings (usually less $) from large textile companies.

Typically, apparel labels draw up very specific cutting, sewing, material, and sizing instructions. Really, pretty much every tiny detail of how the garment is constructed - including how those seams are made. Then they bid the actual manufacturing out to companies that specialize in mass manufacturing of that type of product. China, Bangladesh, India, wherever.

I know that makes it sound like these garments are commodities, but they're really not.

The biggest determinant of quality isn't really where the garment is made - it's oversight. It's the "Parent Label" making sure everything is made exactly to spec and really holding the manufacturers to their highest possible quality. So while ZR and Galvin Greene may be sewn in the same plant, there could be quite a difference in quality depending on who is watching over the process.

As for the technical details, etc. Those are determined by the designers a the parent label, not the manufacturers. Each of these companies may specify entirely different weaves of fabric and construct clothes in a different manner. I wouldn't simply dismiss them as being identical based on where they're sewn.
[/quote]

Very good points Jimmy. I know I was blown away when I found out that the same manufacturer made $15 poly golf shirts for an inexpensive brand at the same factory they made $90 poly golf shirts for an expensive brand. Like you said, the only difference was the tech packs and level construction from the parent labels.

It's almost like a brick mason. The same guy can be cheap and fast by laying the bricks in a simple fashion or he can take his time and be very expensive by laying bricks in an intricate design.

[BlkNGld]

Keep in mind that just because they're made in the same factory does not make them identical in quality. You can have multiple designs in the same factory, different fabrics types or thickness could be specified, or certain steps or treatments left out for cost reasons.