Materials make the product. The fabric or yarn you choose sets the look, the feel, the price and the minimum, so sourcing is one of the most consequential parts of development. Here is a brand's guide to how it works.
Stock versus custom materials
Stock materials are available without a custom order, which keeps cost, minimums and lead times low. Custom materials are developed to your specification, which gives you a unique result but carries its own minimums and setup. For most brands, and almost all first runs, stock materials are the smart choice.
How sourcing affects cost and MOQ
Material choice is one of your biggest levers on both cost and minimum order quantity. Custom-developed fabric or yarn can push your minimum up sharply, because the material itself has a minimum. Choosing stock materials is often the single most effective way to keep a first run affordable.
Quality and consistency in materials
Material quality and consistency between batches matter as much as the initial choice. A manufacturer with established material relationships can source consistent, quality materials and reproduce them on reorders, which protects your product over time.
Why your manufacturer should source for you
Sourcing materials yourself means navigating suppliers, minimums and quality you cannot easily judge. A full service manufacturer sources for you, using relationships and knowledge built over years. Engelite has sourced materials for Australian brands since 1956. Tell us the look and feel you want and we will find the right material for the result and the price.