When we look at a bag or a garment, one of the first things we check is the fabric, and while base fabric/material is the most important component of any fashion product, certain tinier components make the fabric or base material stay the way it does. For example, If you had a piece of fabric and nothing else, you will not be able to construct a lot of things, but additional supplies like sewing thread, pins, patches, rhinestones, buttons, hooks, zippers, etc help us transform that piece of fabric into a pair of pants. A fabric would simply stay a fabric if trims did not exist. Trims are components or materials of the Fashion products that help the base material/fabric mold into the designs we envision.
WHY ARE FASHION TRIMS SO IMPORTANT?
Fashion Trims have two main purposes. Functionality and Aesthetics. Trims in fashion are a medium of adding modular, functional details to a simple garment. Let’s take a look at a pair of pants. The zippers ensure the easy wearability of the garment, and the button ensures some sort of security and modesty to the garment. If those were not there you would probably see an elastic waistband, which is again also a trim. A bag has tonnes of fashion trims from buckles, clasps, straps, linings, zippers, rivets, hoops, rings, etc which all make the bag the way they are, to ensure maximum performance and comfort is provided. On the other hand, we also have fashion trims that serve a decorative or ornamental purpose. Trims like rhinestones, beads, embellishments, patches, etc can contribute visually as well as functionally. Most fashion designers and brands prefer simpler garments and love exploring the placements and types of trims and some even go to the extent of customizing their trim designs to match the brand’s image and aesthetics.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FASHION TRIMS FOR GARMENTS AND ACCESSORIES
SEWING THREAD
Sewing thread is most often the one fashion trim that is ignored or not acknowledged. Almost all garments, most shoes, bags, and soft accessories have this one trim in common. While sourcing/buying sewing threads does not create a dent during the cost planning and the final pricing, it still holds an extremely prominent position that decides the durability and appearance of the finished fashion product. While choosing which thread type to choose, it is important to consider the end use of the garment/product and the placement of the stitches. Depending upon your preferred composition, thickness, and structure, you can choose the sewing thread you prefer. Most factories source their sewing threads themselves unless you have an extremely specific and customized idea.
BUTTON
The button is one of the most well-liked and widely used Fashion Trims. It is also believed to be one of the oldest trims to have been created. Working with buttons can be interesting. There are so many styles and types to choose from like Wooden buttons, plastic buttons, Lacquer buttons, Metal buttons, Fabric Leather buttons, Shell buttons, Glass buttons, Snap buttons, Ceramic buttons, Decorative buttons, pearl buttons, etc. The choice of the button also depends on the design of the product, materials use, end-users of the product, etc. For example, it would not be recommended to use a ceramic or glass button for a pair of denim trousers, since denim trousers are subjected to a lot of rough usage and the delicate buttons will not be able to withhold the wear and tear. Deepwear has an extensive list of Fashion button manufacturing factories from all over the world that can manufacture any kind of button you wish to use. To know more, get in touch.
What to check while sourcing buttons?
- For good endurance Shank buttons or Donut buttons are ideal and so can be used in heavy-duty products like Denim products.
- If it is a metal button, it must be corrosion-free.
- Snap buttons shouldn’t be too loose or too tight, they should have the right resistance for efficient usage.
- The classification, composition, and size of the button must be well-informed and well thought through decision.
- If it is a washable fashion product, The wash fastness and the ability to retain colors even after washing(colorfastness) must be checked. The structural durability of the button must be checked. Woolen buttons or other fabric buttons appear gorgeous but must be avoided for products that require regular laundering.
- The color of the buttons must complement or match the products nicely.
- Should be comfortable to use and should not be very complicated
ZIPPERS
Zippers can be a hidden or prominent trim for your products depending upon your preference. Zippers are essentially just a sliding closure that has small teeth across both edges that interlock with each other. They can be used for a variety of products like Garments, bags, boots, Suitcase, pouches, and even adventure gear. You have a lot of zipper varieties like Concealed zippers, Metallic zippers, Plastic zippers, Separable zippers, etc.
LINING, INTERLININGS, AND PADDING
These trims are more functional than aesthetically inclined. They are essential components required for the construction of most Fashion clothing pieces and also some accessories, bags, and footwear. Padding can be any additional material added to a product to manipulate and/or support the fall and structure of the material. It can include cups, shoulder pads, sometimes knee pads, hip pads, a layer of felt inside quilts, etc. Interlinings are materials used in between outer material and lining. It is usually added to provide even more support to the material and is used in products like Blazers, Jackets, Hats, etc.
SNAP BUTTONS
Snap buttons are referred to by various names like snap fastener, pop buttons, pressure buttons, Press studs, snaps, etc. They are small circular buttons either made of metal or plastic, which lock into each other. One part is a donut-shaped disc whereas the other component has a protruding that fits into the cavity of the donut-shaped button. They can be attached to the product by either hammering them into the material or sewing them onto the product. Customizations can be done on the top button, which can be an interesting scope for branding.
EYES AND HOOKS FOR CLOTHES AND FASHION ACCESSORIES
This trim is made up of usually two parts, the hook, and the eye. To close a garment or product, the hook clings onto the loop. They are commonly available as tapes which can be sewn onto garments. They are most commonly seen used in fitted garments like Corsets and blouses. Another version of Hooks can be seen on pants and trousers, These hooks are much broader and bigger in shape and sometimes have an eye, but sometimes also can be used individually along with a fabric slot.
DRAWSTRINGS AND EYELETS
While drawstrings and eyelets are most commonly associated with hoodies and sweat pants, they are much more than just casual wear trims. It all boils down to how well and smartly you utilize and incorporate this particular trim that can take things from. While sourcing drawstrings it is necessary to factor in the thickness of the cord require, the kind of tips preferred. There are so many options when it comes to just drawstring tips, Metal tips, dipped rubber tips, plastic tips, and many more. Eyelets/grommets usually accompany drawstrings, they also can be individually used. They also need to be hammered into the fabric and can most commonly be seen on drawstring backpacks, Shoes, Hoodies, sweatpants, bags, waistbands, corsets, etc.
There are so many other types of Fashion accessories and clothing trims like Ribbons, buckles, clasps, Elastics, Lace, Velcro, rivets, Rhinestones, glitter, Hasps, sliders, Embroideries, Patches, sequins, Applique, Beads, Bows, Frings, Pom Poms, Tassels, Tapes, Ribbing, belts, jewelry clasps, magnetic clasps, and many more.
LABELS
Most fashion products have multiple labels that contain various details from the brand as well as the manufacturer for the end customer. Garment labels usually portray things like the Brand name/logo, Material composition, Country of production, safety details, care information, and other details about the product like style number, size, etc. They can be woven labels, damask labels, Printed labels, etc.
Different types of labels in Garments and other Fashion products
- Brand Labels – Brand labels are strategically placed for maximum visibility and recognition. They reflect the color, aesthetic, and design of the brand.
- Sizing Labels – Sizing labels usually contain the size of the products and sometimes also have which country’s sizing guide is the size based on. These labels usually also have the country of origin/production specified here.
- Material Labels – This label contains details like composition and the percentage of composition, it also contains safety information, in case the product contains specific materials that have the possibility of an allergic reaction. It also contains details about the care of the product after purchase.
Labels can be attached to a product in 4 general styles.
- Folded label, with one end folded and the other end open ( the label is attached to the product in this end)
- Flat label with no folds
- Flat label, where the ends are folded
- Looped label
What to include in the wash care label?
Care labels are tiny packets of information that can avoid big problems. They contain guidelines to best take care of the Fashion product, in terms of machine wash symbols, maintenance, cleaning, storage, and care for that specific product. They ensure that the product stays in great condition for a longer period after repeated usage and cleaning.
- The origin of production must be mennntioned on the care label.
- The origin of production must be mentioned on the care label.
- Care labels cannot be a tag and must be securely stitched or attached to the product, so that the customer can refer to it while purchasing.
- The manufacturer is usually responsible for making sure that the care bale is accurate.
- It is acceptable to import a product without the care label, but it is important to add the care label before selling the product.
There are several systems of washing label symbols that differ from one country to another like the International system, European system, Canadian system, Japanese system, and the American system. In the International System of Labelling, five main symbols are used in the below-depicted order. There are more specific symbols for specific instructions, but these are the most commonly used ones.
Hang tags
Hangtags are not usually attached to the fashion product of clothing and instead are hung through a piece of cord or string. They contain details like prices, branding, sizes, etc, Since they are not directly attached to the garment itself, they have a little more freedom in terms of design, material, and size, which is why they are usually bigger than other types of labels. They can be made with any material like Plastic, cardboard, Paper, Cloth, etc, and can be attached to the garment using pins, threads, grommets, chains, etc. Clothing label tags are a vital medium of promoting the brand and being creative with the branding as this is the first thing a customer usually looks at before buying a product.
Customizations of Trims, tags, and labels.
The average lead time of Fashion trims, tags, and labels manufacturing can range anywhere from 25 days to 60 days depending upon the complexity of the product, the design, and the level of customization required. If the branding trims of very unique designs like custom belt buckles require a new mold to be cast, the whole process of making the new mold, sampling, and production can take a considerably long time. Customizing Garment trims can be seen as a sign of premium brands and hence many companies, brands, and labels are now opting for custom trims, tags, and labels to add a touch of luxury to the products.
Sourcing Trims, Tags, and Labels.
Sourcing Fashion Trims, tags, or labels can be a little difficult if you don’t know where and how to search for quality suppliers. Since the trims, tags, and labels are smaller components, factories usually have bigger minimum order quantities, which range from 500 to 10,000. At Deepwear we have factories in China, India, Morocco, Turkey, Thailand, Serbia, and other countries. All these factories have been personally visited and audited by the Deepwear team, to ensure things are up to the International quality standards and the suppliers are reliable and genuine.
Sustainable trims in garments and accessories
Although fashion trims, tags, and labels constitute to be a tiny part of a fashion product, it becomes one of the most important hurdles to cross when it comes to sustainability in terms of recycling, upcycling, or disposal. Most garments and fashion products have sustainable materials but do not use sustainable trims, which end up making the garment difficult to recycle. But with newer innovations and research, sustainable fashion trims, tags, and labels can now be seamlessly used in the place of conventional pieces. Sustainable fashion trims might include things like recycled polyester sequins, biodegradable embellishments, etc, Sustainable fashion tags use Recycled Cardboards, recycled PET plastics, or simply biodegradable materials to make the tags. Sustainable fashion labels might use organic fabrics or tapes made out of recycled polyester to make the labels. To explore and replace your current trim options with sustainable ones, get in touch.
This is one of the biggest advantages of working with Deepwear, we offer 360º services which means, we can assist you in the production of every single component your brand requires right from yarn, fabric, to buckles, zips, tags, labels, packaging, etc. Our fashion manufacturing in China, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Morocco, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Bulgaria, Netherlands, UK, USA, and France ensures we have a better positioning when it comes to global fashion manufacturing. We do not just restrict our services to Fashion manufacturing, we also provide Design consultation, Fashion Tech packs, Fashion sourcing, Quality control, Fashion supply chain management, Imaging, Logistics, etc.
