The Importance of Apparel Finishing Services

Often, the little things that are overlooked when it comes to apparel production, such as woven labels, swing tickets and branded packaging, make the biggest difference in brand messaging. When these elements are applied to high-end garments, it elevates the brand's presentation and sets a higher standard for the products they sell. This is why it's so important to work with a merch agency that understands the importance of these finishing services.

apparel finishing services refer to all additional processes done to a garment after it is cut, sewn and dyed to produce a finished and sellable garment. The most common apparel finishing services include hang tagging, sleeve and bottom hem labeling, neck tags and woven sleeve/bottom hemming. Other apparel finishing services include tagging, poly bagging, folding, pre-packing, and order fulfillment services.

Garment finishing is a large industry with many different options for production. It is essential to find a partner that offers a full suite of services that are matched to your company's needs. This will ensure that your brand is receiving the best value from your supply chain and the most accurate pricing.

The fabric finishing process involves coating and foam applications with various finishing chemicals to give the textile a soft hand, crease resistance or a shiny appearance. It is generally used for fabrics made of staple fibers such as cotton and wool, to reduce pilling, abrasion or lint. It is also a key process in the denim production cycle as it allows for the application of special dyes and washing techniques that are not possible when sewing.

In most countries, untreated toxic wastewaters from garment factories are dumped directly into rivers. This water is heavily polluted with chemical pollutants and negatively impacts the health of millions of people who live by the river banks. This is one of the main reasons why finishing companies must improve their energy consumption and invest in new technology to reduce their water emissions and chemical load.

Fabric finishing is a huge contributor to the environment due to high water consumption, air pollution and the use of toxic chemicals. Fortunately, there are now many alternatives to traditional chemicals in fabric finishing that are reusable, recyclable and biobased.

Garment finishing departments in most of the factories that have been surveyed are over-staffed and have huge improvement potential. Most of the departments are not properly organized, the time taken to finish a garment is excessive and there is an over-emphasis on delivery rather than quality. This can be addressed by establishing proper systems of work control and creating a culture for quality product production.