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Custom clothing manufacturing for fashion brands

Scale your fashion brand

 

Leverage the benefits of China clothing manufacturing with Highlife

If you are thinking of taking your fashion brand to the next level, don’t let your lack of in-house resources or knowledge of the China market hold you back. With over a decade of experience in the industry, a portfolio of satisfied clients and offices in China, Hong Kong and Australia, Highlife is here and ready to help you with your custom clothing manufacturing needs.

Manufacturing clothing in China and SE Asia can offer a significant competitive advantage for fashion brands wanting to scale their businesses; the quality is excellent and prices are still advantageous. We know because we manufacture our own quality retail labels in China and SE Asia before shipping to retailers in Australia.

Highlife supports brands realise their ambitions with our full design to shipping service, leveraging on our own in-house experience of garment design, sourcing fabrics, manufacture, QC and shipping.

Custom clothing manufacturing in China and SE Asia - Highlife has helped many brands produce some of their best selling lines

China custom clothing manufacturing can offer a significant competitive advantage for fashion brands who want to scale their businesses – we are here and ready to help


Highlights of working with Highlife

Full service from concept to delivery with in-house design and QC teams, and a dedicated shipping division - Highlife Freight Management

Expert guidance, experience and our connections allow you to leverage the benefits of clothing manufacturing in China and SE Asia

Our network of suppliers means that you are not limited in styles, fabrics, production techniques or finishes for your brand

Working with start-up and established international labels. Discretion is assured.

We know the details matter: YKK zippers, quality trims, performance fabrics, Western sizes and much, much more

Australian / Chinese owned and managed ensuring clear communication throughout

Delighting clients since 2013

Who we work with

From startups to established international fashion labels

Highlife is proud to work with a number of renowned brands, helping them take their businesses to the next level by leveraging the competitive advantage gained from custom clothing manufacturing in China and SE Asia.

Each client’s story is different. We have worked with clients who are taking the first steps in making their fashion brand a reality, and we have worked with clients with established brands looking to upscale.

Because of our factory connections, we are also able to support the diverse needs of our clients, from high-performance fabrics and design for a dancewear business to 15XL designs for another business specialising in garments for big and tall men.

Our service is not limited to garments as we also supply bags for retail for an international sportswear retailer.

Whatever stage you are at, we can help reap the benefits of China garment manufacturing.

Jeans on display in a retail store

How we work - a process that focuses on quality

When you work with Highlife, we take care of it all, from design to delivery. With more than a decade of experience in garment manufacturing, we have set up an efficient production process that ensures quality checks and sign offs are made at all the key points with a focus on delivering quality garments to schedule.

The several stages in the production of garments are outlined and explained below.

Understanding your requirements

In the design stage we work to understand your requirements and to create an accurate specification. If necessary, and usually only for more unique projects,  a Tech Pack will be created. As we have produced so many garments we already have specs for most items – another benefit of working with Highlife!

The approval of patterns and fabric samples gets us ready for the important Sampling Stage.

Depending on your project, we may follow the following processes:

  • Understanding your requirements
  • Design concept or reference sample
  • Sketch designs & estimate
  • CAD / Digital mockup
  • Logo and label designs
  • Fabric & design approval
  • Sourcing of fabrics and accessories, trims & notions. Note that we will always use quality items such as YKK zippers.
  • Quotation and payment terms
  • Tech Pack with full specification for non-standard items
  • Pattern making for non-standard items
Fashion designer looking at fabric swatches

Pre-production checks

Sampling is important in eliminating errors and ensuring estimates are accurate. At each stage errors and assumptions are ironed out so you can be assured that you know what you are getting once production starts.

Depending on the complexity of your garment design, the following stages may be applied:

  • Prototype (Muslin) samples
  • Fit samples
  • Sew-by sample
  • Grading and size set samples
  • Sales samples
  • Pre-production samples
  • Mark making

Your concept becomes a reality!

Once manufacturing starts sampling is still done to ensure that the quality is maintained and the garments stay true to the approved pre-production samples. Pre-shipment inspection by the Highlife QC team before packing is the final step in the vigorous QC process.

  • Cut & sew
  • Top of Production (TOP) samples
  • Cut & sew inspections
  • Finishing – buttons, YKK zippers
  • Garment printing / embroidery
  • Assembly & finishing inspection
  • Pressing & finishing
  • Pre-shipment inspection by the Highlife Team
  • Packing with accessory labels, custom packaging

Final checks and your shipment is on its way

Shipping is managed by Highlife Freight Management, a division of Highlife Trading Company. Your order will be shipped via road, rail, sea- or air-freight depending on the schedule and budget as outlined in your original proposal.

Highlife fulfilment services

We are also able to fulfill individual garment orders directly to customers for online stores, shipping from our factory saving time and handling costs.

Garments in a warehouse ready for shipping
Packed garments on conveyor rollers for shipping

If you’d like to learn more or you would like to request a quotation, please complete our enquiry form and let’s get the conversation started!

Send in your enquiry!

Frequently asked questions

Where are your factories located?

Most factories in our network are based in southern China with some located in Indonesia and in India. These areas have a well-developed supply chain infrastructure and has good communication links for transportation. In addition, our China office is located in Shun De, Guangdong, which means that our team can easily visit the factories for checks and to maintain relationships.

How are your factories vetted?

Our due diligence checks include a physical visit to the factory by our Mandarin speaking team as well as an audit of the facility’s organisational structure, human resource management, factory resources, performance, environmental responsibility practices and financial position.

Highlife continually checks and can provide documentation that our factories do not use child or forced labour. Employees must have the Freedom of Association, the Right to Collective Bargaining, access to adequate Compensations and be exempt from discrimination on any basis, harsh disciplinary practices, and unreasonable working hours. Above all else, it is imperative that manufacturers provide a safe and healthy working environment for all employees.

Do you organise international shipping?

Yes we organise international shipping through our Highlife Freight Division which specialises in shipping, whether by road, rail, sea or air. 

Highlife Freight Management also provides a standalone shipping service for other factories and brands and we are renowned for our efficiency, favourable costs and on-time delivery.

What is your procedure for quality control?

We take pride in our work and your satisfaction is a top priority for us so we have procedures in place to minimise errors and ensure that you are delighted with your delivery.

Those procedures include the vetting we do of our factories, the pre-production checks and sign offs as well as the checks that are done during production and finally, the checks done by our own in-house QC team before shipping. This allows us to boast 99% satisfaction levels with our orders.

Is our order too small for manufacturing in China / SE Asia?

We can accept very low quantity garment orders but of course the cost will be higher per piece than for large orders. This is simply because admin, production and shipping costs are split over fewer items. However, the cost is often still competitive.

Can you handle very large orders?

Most of the factories we use are optimised for very large orders and their core business is supplying garments for large brands worldwide. 

Because of our relationships with these factories they can also support us with smaller MOQs, which is usually a bigger challenge in sourcing.

Can you help with the design?

Yes we can help with design. Firstly, we have produced so many garments that we probably have a pattern that is a close match for your design which can then be customised for your specifications. Alternatively, our pattern makers can work from a sample or your sketches to create patterns and samples for your design.

We can also help brands create brand artwork, labels, hang tags and packaging.

Can you supply eco-friendly fabrics for our garments?

Yes we can and we can organise certification such as that provided by the Global Recycled Standard. Some of the fabrics we have used include ‘Better Cotton Initiative’ fabrics and EcoGreen and REPREVE which are both performance polyester fabrics made from post-consumer recycled plastic.


Highlife's Fashion Labels

Highlife designs, manufactures and distributes a range of high quality ready-to-wear menswear for retailers in Australia and New Zealand under the Maurio, Perrone, Cartane, Fred Stuart and ATLAS labels.

Maurio Menswear

The Maurio menswear brand has been a success for Australian and New Zealand retailers since 1994 with its line of well-cut suits, dress shirts and casual wear that meet an everyday budget. The Maurio range includes a range of sustainable popular bamboo fabric shirts.

Perrone

Perrone is a more premium label where you can expect higher-end fabrics such as 100% cotton, more intricate trims, embroidered labels and shirt decoration. Perrone is available through our seasonal indent catalogues.

ATLAS

The ATLAS label offers core men’s casual wear such as polo shirts, shorts and fleece tops. Our labels are known for their timeless, functional designs with larger sizing up to 11XL on some ranges.

Request our most recent retail catalogue

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