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Which apparel consultant do you need?

Most first collections need two or three of these people, not all of them. Here is what each one does, so you can hire for the part you're actually stuck on.

Not sure it's worth hiring at all? Compare the time and cost of doing it yourself →

Technical designers

A technical designer turns a sketch into the tech pack a factory quotes and sews from: measurements, construction, stitch types, trims and a size chart. If factories keep asking you questions you can't answer, this is usually who you need.

See 23 technical designers →

Pattern makers

A pattern maker drafts the flat pieces the garment is cut from, and corrects them after each fitting. A good first pattern is the difference between two sample rounds and five.

See 12 pattern makers →

Apparel product developers

A product developer runs the whole path from idea to a production-ready sample: fabric, factory, samples, fittings and costing. Brands launching their first collection usually start here.

See 22 apparel product developers →

Fit specialists

A fit specialist runs fittings on a live model or form, writes the corrections and checks the next sample against them. Worth having when samples keep coming back almost right.

See 22 fit specialists →

Sourcing consultants

A sourcing consultant finds the factory and the fabric for your product and run size, and negotiates the first order. Ask where their factory relationships are, because that is what you are paying for.

See 18 sourcing consultants →

Production managers

A production manager takes an approved sample through the bulk run: purchase orders, materials, timelines, quality checks and shipping. Most useful from your first production order onward.

See 17 production managers →

3D and CLO3D designers

A 3D designer builds the garment digitally in CLO3D or Browzwear, so fit, proportion and colourways can be checked before anything is sewn. It can save a sample round, and gives you images to sell from early.

See 5 3D and CLO3D designers →

Textile and fabric developers

A textile developer finds or develops the fabric itself: weight, content, hand feel, colour and testing. Worth it when the fabric is the product, or when your mill's minimums are the problem.

See 11 textile and fabric developers →

Graders and marker makers

A grader scales the approved base pattern to every size in your range; a marker maker lays those pieces out to waste as little fabric as possible. Both come in once the sample fits.

See 11 graders and marker makers →

Quality control consultants

A QC consultant inspects production against the approved sample and the tech pack, before you pay the balance and before it ships.

See 11 quality control consultants →

By category

Womenswear consultants (24)Menswear consultants (20)Activewear consultants (17)Swimwear consultants (8)Denim consultants (17)Knitwear consultants (15)Outerwear consultants (13)Intimates and lingerie consultants (8)Kidswear consultants (12)Streetwear consultants (7)Tailoring consultants (8)Leather goods and apparel consultants (7)Plus-size consultants (4)Loungewear and sleepwear consultants (6)Workwear and uniforms consultants (6)Outdoor and technical apparel consultants (5)Accessories consultants (4)

By location

Consultants in Orange County (2)Consultants in California (9)Consultants in New York (3)Consultants in Los Angeles (3)Consultants in UK (4)Consultants in London (2)Consultants in San Francisco Bay Area (3)Technical designers in California (7)Pattern makers in California (4)Apparel product developers in California (6)Fit specialists in California (6)Sourcing consultants in California (6)Production managers in California (4)Textile and fabric developers in California (4)Graders and marker makers in California (4)Quality control consultants in California (4)

Everyone

All 35 consultants on Runsheet, or search and filter the directory.