Responsibilities of a Garment Merchandiser in Apparel Industry

Garment Merchandiser:

Garment merchandiser is like a bridge between the buyer and industry. He has to look after every job like buying the raw materials which is required to finish the product, making the garment, finishing the garment, preparing documentation and finally shipping. Actually, he is the main responsible person to make the product in timely. As its importance, this article has presented a vast discussion on the roles and responsibilities of a merchandiser.

Garment merchandiser works in apparel industry

Duties of Merchandiser in Readymade Garment Industry:

An apparel merchandiser should follow the below responsibilities:
  1. Internal & external communication,
  2. Sampling,
  3. Preparing internal order sheets,
  4. Accessories & trims in-housing,
  5. Preparing purchase orders,
  6. Getting approvals on lab dips,
  7. Advising and assisting production and quality department,
  8. Taking responsibility for inspections,
  9. Giving shipping instructions and following shipment.
All the above responsibilities of a garment merchandiser have explained in the following:

1. Internal & external communication:

merchandiser has to communicate not only with the buyers but also with the others such as suppliers, nominated factory owners, fabric manufacturers etc.

2. Sampling:

It is one of the most important task for all the apparel merchandisers. Here, sample have to developed according to buyers instruction. Different types of sample should be developed here such as proto sample, fit sample, fit sample, photo shoot sample, sales man sample, size set sample etc.

3. Preparing internal order sheets:

An apparel merchandiser has to prepare various types of internal order sheets such as costing sheet, booking sheet etc.

4. Accessories & trims in-housing:

After confirmation of a garment export order, a garment merchandiser has to book and in-house all kinds of trimmings and accessories according to buyer’s instruction.

5. Preparing purchase orders:

Different types of purchase orders should be prepared here by the garments merchandiser such asfabric, sewing thread, trimmings and accessories etc.

6. Getting approvals on lab dips:

It is the other important task of an apparel merchandiser. At first, lab dip should be done by maintaining buyer’s recommendation and submitted by the merchandiser to the buyer for its approval. If it’s ok then buyer approved it for running garment production.

7. Advising and assisting production and quality department:

A garment merchandiser must have to make good relationship with the garment production and qualitydepartment for smooth and fault free production. This also creates a great impact on shipping the product timely.

8. Taking responsibility for inspections:

Inspection should be done before shipping the product to the buyer. Here, merchandiser plays a significant role to inspect the product by using strong quality department or third party quality inspector.

9. Giving shipping instructions and following shipment:

It is the last and final tasks of an apparel merchandiser. Here, garment merchandiser advises various instructions to the commercial department about shipment of a garment export order. By maintaining those instructions, commercial department will ship the products to the buyer.

Top 25 Interview Questions and Answers for Garment Job

Interview Questions and Answers:

Interview is a common scenario for any kinds of job. Each and every applicant has to face it. It can be very easy or tough which totally depends on the instant situation of viva board. During interview, you may face with your known topics or not, but you should be confident there. This article has presented some important interview questions and answers which may help you in your interview.

13. What is L/C ?

L/C means letter of credit. It is commitment by an opening bank on behalf of the importer in favor of the exporter that the bills drawn by them on the importer countries covering the shipment of specified items and quality of goods within stated period. It will be paid in exchange of documents under certain items and condition.

14. What is invoice?
After sending the garments goods to the importer country, the documents mentioning the price is sent to the buyer for collecting is called invoice.
15. What is quota?
It is an agreement between governments of the importer country and the exporter country. In details it is the quantities of garments of different categories upon the manufacturing countries according to the business policy.
16. What is FOB?
FOB means free on board. If the price of the goods is mentioned in invoice without transport cost then it is called FOB.
17. What is C&F?
C&F means cost and freight. If the price of the goods is mentioned in invoice including transport cost then it is called C&F.
18. What is CIF?
CIF means cost, insurance and freight. If the price of the goods is mentioned in invoice including transport cost and insurance cost then it is called CIF.
19. What is category?
Category is a number which indicated what type of fabric is used for making the particular garment and it also indicated the type of this garment.
20. What is face of fabric?
The surface of the fabric that is intended to be seen because it presents s better appearance than the other side due to its characteristics i.e. weaves, luster, finish etc. in many fabrics, especially industrial fabrics, face and back are identical.
21. What is faced cloth?
A term sometimes applied to the fabrics that have a separate set of warp or filling yarns on the back of the cloth i.e. pile fabric, flannel fabric.
22. What is fusing?
The term generally refers to partial melting. In bonding, fabric layers are joined together by fusion of an adhesive under heat and pressure.
23. What is the abbreviation of G/D?
G/D stands for grams per denier.
24. What is gauge?
In knitted fabrics, it is a measure of fineness or number of wales per unit of width across the fabric. Higher gauge numbers indicate finer texture.
25. What is grading?
When different sizes of patterns are made from the master pattern of the garment is called grading.

Letter of Credit (LC)

Letter of Credit (L/C):

L/C means letter of credit. The technical term for letter of credit is ‘Documentary credit’. It is a common word for merchandisers in apparel merchandising. L/C is a payment term generally used for international sales transactions. It should be mentioned that L/C deals only in documents but not goods. L/C works in favor of both of the Buyer and seller. The bank that issues the L/C is termed as Issued bank or Buyer’s bank. The bank which advice the L/C to the seller is called Advising bank or Seller’s bank.


L/C for Garments



There are mainly two types L/C. these are-
  1. Master L/C,
  2. Back to back L/C.
Both of those are described in the below:

1. Master L/C:

When a L/C is opened to import goods directly from the exporter is called master L/C. This L/C is issued by the buyer (Buyer’s bank) to manufacturer. Master LC has higher financial value than back to back L/C.

2. Back to Back L/C:

When a L/C is prepared by the manufacturer to collect raw materials for production from the suppliers is called Back to Back L/C. Back to Back L/C has 70-80% financial value of master LCs.

Difference between Master L/C and Back to Back L/C:

SL No.
Subject
Master L/C
Back to Back L/C
01
Definition
This type of L/C is prepared by the buyer to import goods from the manufacturer.
This type of L/C is prepared by the manufacturer to collect raw materials from raw materials supplier for the production.
02
Issued Bank
Issued by the buyer’s bank.
Issued by the manufacturer’s bank.
03
Types of L/C
It is a basic L/C.
It depends on master L/C
04
Purpose
To import goods from the manufacturer.
To collect raw materials from the Raw material suppliers.
05
Financial Value
It has higher financial value than Back to Back L/C.
It has lower financial value than master L/C.

Sample | Sample Room | Sample Room Activities

Sample:

Sample garment is very important in readymade garment business. A sample is that by which any person can understand the production, qualities, and performance of the total garment export order. Sample is made in the sample room according to buyer’s instruction. It can ensure the garment buyer as well as to the customer about the pre and post condition of the garments order. Sample is also used to take required ideas from the market about the business promotion of that order.

Sample Room:

Sample room
Sample room in reaymade garment industry
Sample room is the most important section in the readymade garments industry. A sample room is that where design ideas are taken from drawing to tangible garment. It is that kinds of production room where required amount of sample (2pcs or 3pcs or more) can be made according to the buyer’s recommendation.
It should be noted here that, the most experienced and well performer employee engaged in the sample room section. The sample room is consists with the fashion designers, pattern makers, sample pattern cutters, fabric specialists, sample machinists, fit specialists who all are expert in their specific area.
 
After making the pattern of the garments, it’s lay down onto the required quality of fabric and cut out the necessary amount of pieces for the particular style. After that, cutting fabric sent to the sample machinists who complete all kinds of sewing operations by using different types of sewing machines. Finally, quality controller checks the garments by following the buyer’s recommendation and submit to the garments merchandising department.
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Activities of Sample Room:

There are some important activities of every sample section in the garment manufacturing industries which is pointed out in the below:
  1. To make the proper sample by following buyer’s instruction.
  2. To understand the requirements of buyer.
  3. To fulfill the requirements of buyer.
  4. To inform the accuracy or confirmation to the buyer that the bulk production is going to be right.
  5. To confirm the measurement and fabric requirements.
  6. To make the perfection in the pattern and marker.
  7. To make perfection in the fabric consumption.
  8. To make perfection in the garment costing.
  9. To utilizes the skill operation with skilled operator during garment sewing.
  10. To get understanding completely to the operators and management as well about the upcoming garment production of that order.
  11. To combine the overall performance of a garment export order.

Fusing Process Applied in Apparel Industry

Fusing Process in Garments:

Fusing process is one kinds of alternative method of fabric joining which is vastly used to attach the interlining. At present, apparel manufacturing cannot be imagined without fusing process. As its importance, this article has presented a details discussion on fusing process with its classification and defects.






Fusing Machine
Fusing Machine

Types of Fusing in Garments:

There are three types of fusing process used in garments which are mentioned in the below:
  1. Reverse fusing,
  2. Sandwich fusing,
  3. Double fusing.
All the above processes have explained in the following:

1. Reverse fusing:

In this process, the fabric of interlining is spread on the fusing bed and the part consists of resin is directed upward. Then the fabric of garments is spread on the resonated part of fabric and fusing is done there. This is called reverse fusing. In this process, the area of interlining is comparatively small than the fabric of apparel, as a result proper spreading is difficult here.

2. Sandwich fusing:

Generally, fusing is done by continuous fusing machine where the heat is applied from both sides of fabric. In this process, two pairs of fabrics are fused i.e. the two interlinings are placed between or in the middle of two fabrics of apparel. If the heat and pressure are not applied properly then four layers may be joined due to the effect of striking back during fusing. By using this process, the production can be increased but needs more time. It may have unsatisfactory in fused garments.

3. Double fusing:

In this process, two types of interlining are joined with the garment fabrics in a step during fusing. There is needed to control the temperature during fusing and it must be able to set the interlinings parts and garment parts properly. This type of fusing is generally done in collar and the front part of jacket.

Defects of Fusing Process:

There are mainly two types of faults found during fusing. Those are explained in the below:

1. Striking back:

When two parts of fabrics are joined by pressure and heat during fusing, it must have the control to the temperature and pressure. Sometimes the pressure and heat are not controlled properly during fusing so that the resin is passed through the lower part of fabric. It is called striking back.

2. Striking through:

When two parts of fabrics are joined by pressure and heat during fusing, it must have the control to the temperature and pressure. Sometimes the pressure and heat are not controlled properly during fusing so that the resin is passed through the upper part of fabric. It is called striking through.

List of Garment Machine with Specifications and Functions

Garment Machine:

Garment machine or garments machinery plays an important role for making the finished product in readymade apparel industry. There are different types of garment machine used during garments manufacturing. This article has presented all the garment machine of apparel industry with their specifications and functions.
Different Garment machine used in RMG industry

List of Apparel Machinery with Specifications and Functions:

SL No.
Name of Machine
(Company Name)
Function of Machine
Remarks
01
Hand or paddle sewing machine
(Butterfly, China)
Sewing the garments
Working condition
02
Industrial single needle lock stitch machine (Taking, China)
Sewing all types of fabric)
Working condition
03
2-Needle plain sewing machine
(Sunsir, China)
Sewing the garments
Working condition
04
Flat  lock sewing machine
(Taking, China)
Used to sew knit fabric
Working condition
05
High speed 2-Needle 5-Thread over lock machine (Taking, China)
Lock the end of fabric by sewing
Working condition
06
Over lock machine (Juki, Japan)
Secure edge of garments
Working condition
07
Button stitch machine
(Consew, Japan)
Attach the button with garments
Working condition
08
Leather cutting (Taking, China)
To cut leather
Working condition
09
Embroidery machine
(Consew, Japan)
Produce design with the help of thread on fabric surface
Working condition
10
Bar taking machine (Taking, China)
Making loop in the pant
Working condition
11
Kansai special machine (Hoseki, China)
Attach elastic to
jacket or coat)
Working condition
12
Button hole machine (Taking, China)
Produce hole in the fabric for button attaching
Working condition
13
Snap button machine (TK-Super, China)
Manually attach repeat
button
Working condition
14
Dismatic machine
(Butterfly, China)
Sewing the fabric at specific design using different dick
Working condition
15
Rib cutter
Cut off rib of knit garments
Working condition
16
Collar turning and blocking machine (NGAI SHING, China)
Used for collar finishing
Working condition
17
Fusing machine (Shanghai jieshi
clothing machine co. ltd., China)
Used for finishing collar lining
Working condition
18
Computerized embroidery machine (Hoseki, China)
Making design with thread by using computer
Working condition
19
Band knife cutting machine
(Oshima, China)
Used to cut off fabric at small size
Working condition
20
Fashion Maker Desmatic machine (Singer, China)
Sewing the fabric at specific design using different disk
Working condition
21
(FJM Dalian, China)
Used to cut off fabric
Working condition