FAQ

The following are a list of questions I have received from customers and prospective customer.I’ll need some time to work on the answers because I’m throwing up this site in fits & spates.

If you have questions you don’t see answered on this page or in a blog post, then email them to me at: JC [at] studio9apparel [dot] com and I will add them to the to-do list.

  • What are your hours of operation?
  • How do we work with you?
  • How do I place an order?
  • What format do you require to place an order or create a pattern?
  • What is the turnaround time from when I bring in a product (garment, bag, T-shirt, etc.) to when the pattern is factory ready?
  • What is your fee structure?
  • Do we pay up front for service, during or after?
  • Do you offer volume discounts?
  • Do you do large and small runs? What is max/minimum you handle?
  • Do we come to you or do you pick up from our location?
  • If not local, how is shipping handled?
  • Are there contracts and what is included/excluded?
  • Is there a confidentiality clause in your contract? Are all of your employees or contractors held to the confidentiality agreement? If so, how?
  • What type of guaranteed satisfaction do you offer?
  • What insurance do you have?
  • Do you have client eligibility requirements or do you work with designers at all levels?
  • What type of sourcing do you provide? Are you paid commissions or referral fees?
  • As a designer, why should we use a development facility vs. going direct to a factory?
  • What projects do you/do you not accept? i.e. gowns, dresses, suits, children’s wear, bags, backpacks, athletic ware, house wares (placemats, tablecloths, linens, curtains, etc.), aprons, hats, scarves, socks, lingerie, pet apparel, prison wear…)
  • Do you use fit models?
  • How is your pattern approved by a factory?
  • What is the next step after we utilize your services?
  • Do you need a rough sketch or can you create a pattern based on a garment or sketch?
  • Do you understand my customers? (high end gowns, suiting, skaters who only wear hoodies, etc.)
  • What is included in sourcing (service and tangibles)?
  • What makes S9A different, unique, qualified, best fit for me, etc.?
  • Is S9A commissionable or receive referral fees? If so, how and when applicable?
  • What is your quality assurance program?
  • What industry organizations do you belong to and are active in?
  • Are patterns, markers, and technical specifications sent electronically or are hard copies shipped?
  • Do you do CADs and/or pattern tag boards?
  • What is a tech pack? What is included? Why is the needed for outsourced production, in-house production or historical reference?
  • Would be great to have a fashion industry/pattern/marker/samples/etc. glossary of terms on the S9A website