Can I use my own fabric suppliers?

Yes, using your own fabric suppliers is allowed in the Co-Pilot program as long as the suppliers meet Hula Global's quality, compliance, and operational standards.

However, the intricacies of fabric sourcing and its relation to manufacturing, costs, timelines, and the overall success of production require guidance for when it is beneficial to let Hula Global do the sourcing.

The right fabric is extremely important for an apparel brand. It impacts how the product looks and feels, as well as its durability, comfort, performance, and production feasibility.

Because of the importance of fabric, Hula Global does not impose restrictions on external suppliers. Instead, it conducts a structured validation process to make sure that fabric brought into production meets the factory's and brand's expectations.

You may add your own contacts to the Co-Pilot system if you currently have a working relationship with a fabric mill, trader, or supplier you wish to include in the process. This is particularly applicable to brands that have done sampling, developed proprietary textiles, or wish to maintain continuity with prior collections.

Many designers and boutique label customers prefer to manage their own fabric sourcing because they have a particular aesthetic, and sustainability and/or performance criteria that they do not wish to compromise on.

While you have the option to use your own fabric supplier, this does not guarantee that the fabric will be accepted for production. Hula Global will evaluate the fabric based on several criteria.

The fabric must meet certain quality standards, including weight, composition, shrinkage, and color fastness, and be sufficiently durable to avoid production issues. For example, a fabric that is visually attractive may be detrimental to production if it is unpredictable during the cutting, sewing, washing, and finishing processes.

Second, the supplier needs to be able to meet the fabric minimums. Many brands, especially start-up brands, do not understand how fabric MOQs (minimum order quantities) work.

Regardless of how small your total garment order is, fabric suppliers typically require a minimum order quantity of a certain number of yards per color or quality. If your chosen supplier has high fabric minimums, it can add to your costs or require you to order more material than you actually need.

Third, Hula Global assesses whether your fabric works with the machinery and expertise of the factory you selected. Some fabrics need special machinery, such as technical stretch fabrics, heavyweight knits, coated fabrics, or soft-boiled silks.

If the assigned factory is not equipped to work with those kinds of fabrics, Hula Global may propose another supplier or recommend a change to your fabric to prevent any production challenges.

If your fabric supplier meets the criteria, the Co-Pilot team will collaborate with them for the production process. This includes managing fabric testing, approvals, and timelines for delivery to keep production on schedule. You will maintain the right to be creative and control sourcing while gaining the benefits of oversight and quality control from Hula Global.

Nevertheless, if your supplier does not comply with the standard requirements, be it their performance, lead time, certifications, or fabric properties, Hula Global would advise against working with them on bulk productions. This is not intended to limit your options but to aid your brand in avoiding costly blunders or pollutants.

In such cases, Hula Global provides an alternative solution, and this is possible through their ability to source fabric on your behalf, which is usually the most recommended for first-time founders or brands without well-established relationships with supplier partners.

Hula Global works with a network of vetted fabric mills and suppliers from different countries and thus can match your design aspirations with quality fabric, considering your brand’s budget and requirements.

When you let Hula Global source the fabrics for you, they take into consideration your price point, your brand positioning, your end use of the garment, and other relevant factors.

This is a way of eliminating the wrong choices for fabrics and making the entire apparel manufacturing process smoother for you. It is also a time-saving option because you do not have to deal with various suppliers.

Another important factor to consider is the transparency of costs. Since your supplier will be handling the costs, you will need to be prepared to deal with any possible fluctuations or issues when it comes to your fabric costs, delays, etc., when you use your own supplier.

Hula Global, on the other hand, will handle this when it comes to Co-Pilot, offering you a much smoother process.

From a strategic point of view, a number of brands begin by using the sourcing arm of Hula Global to source material for their first production run. However, once they gain experience and understand the material needed, they start using their own fabric suppliers for future production runs.

Ultimately, however, it is a flexible rather than a restrictive program. It recognizes that some founders enter with their own sourcing in place, while others may be just starting their journey.

For both, whether you work directly with a fabric supplier yourself or through Hula Global, the outcome is still the same—efficiently, ethically, and to a high level of quality, your garments are produced.

In short, the Co-Pilot program allows you to work with your own fabric suppliers, provided they meet Hula Global's quality and compliance requirements. If they do not, or if you would prefer a smoother process, Hula Global can source suitable fabrics for you.

This gives a balanced approach in which you have full creative control yet professional manufacturing support, which makes this Co-Pilot program fit for both newcomers and experienced fashion entrepreneurs.

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