When looking to get uniforms made for your brand, the allure of cheap offshore manufacturing can be hard to ignore.

Indeed, going offshore may seem like the best value for money. But when you consider how many people are involved in garment-making & branding process the idea may not seem so rosy.

To manufacture or brand a garment you need designers, production managers, machine operators, pattern makers, fabric cutters, sewers, etc.

So what happens when these people are operating in different corners of the world?

Thanks to the internet & technology such as skype, facetime, whatsapp etc. getting products manufactured in other countries seems like it would pose few problems.

However, this isn’t always the case.

Issues with time difference, combined with tight due dates mean that sometimes, things requiring clarification cannot be checked. Waiting to clarify them would compromise the manufacturers ability to deliver the product on time.

In fact, most manufacturers won’t actually have much contact with the people that commissioned them for the job. They are given the information required to complete the job & follow it to the letter.

It doesn’t matter if there is a mistake in the info - it's not their problem.

When clear communication is not a priority corners are cut, things go wrong & you rarely end up with your dream garment.

What does this mean for you?

Unless there is an obvious mistake in the garments you received from an offshore manufacturer, it’s unlikely you’ll get any sort of refund. Even if the garments are nowhere near the quality you were after.

In this case, you either devalue your brand by wearing the shoddy garments. Or you waste more money & time by getting new ones (probably made onshore).

Even if the garments that are coming to you from overseas are great, there are other issues that might derail your uniform endeavour.

For example, Australian Customs may seize the garments & require you to pay a fee (for duty, gst & customs clearance) before they can be released to you. Or worse Australian Customs finds the garments are counterfeit & will not give them to you at all.

Alternately, upon receiving the final invoice from the offshore manufacturer you may find that you have been quoted in another currency. Conversion may mean the price is much higher than you originally thought.

But, the biggest unforeseen issue is the cost of freight which is often left off the bill until the very end when it is too late.

So, what’s the alternative?

Here at House of Uniforms, the sales people, managers, administration & production units all operate under one roof. Everyone is within walking distance & works the same hours.

This means, if there is ever an issue or something that needs to be clarified it can be done quickly & clearly. There are no vague descriptions of these roadblocks or remedies, they can literally be shown on the physical garment.

This attention to detail & collaboration is what helps us create the best version of the garment you envisioned. It could not be achieved if we weren’t in the same space every day.

Not only are we in direct communication with each other but we are keen to talk to you to find out exactly what you want. Our goal is to present customers with products they will love.

Contact us today to find out what’s possible.