Apparel Merchandising

What is ‘Apparel Merchandising’? 

Apparel Merchandising

In apparel industry, the term "merchandising" means the link between the management of garment industry (called exporter) and the buyer. In this sector, a merchandiser who creates a good relationship in between exporter & buyer, have to look after every steps like purchasing the raw material (trims, fabric etc), making the garment, finishing the garment, documentation for whole procedure (purchasing raw materials, development technique, production planning) and finally ship it out to desired destination. 

Merchandising department is very important and valuable in the Apparel Industry. Merchandiser is the interface between Buyer & Exporter. A merchandiser is responsible from order analysis to shipment. This department is also mediates marketing and production departments. 

Following are the main responsibilities of a merchandiser-

· Internal & external communication, 

· Sampling, 

· Labdips, 

· Accessories & trims, 

· Preparing internal order sheets, 

· Preparing purchase orders, 

· Advising and assisting production, 

· Advising quality department about quality level, 

· Mediating production and quality departments, 

· Giving shipping instructions and following shipping, 

· Helping documentation department, 

· Taking responsibility for inspections and 

· Following shipment

Zipper Slider

Slider is the moveable element that open and close the zipper. It composes of "body", "puller" and "crown". Most sliders are made of zinc alloy raw material. There are also sliders made of copper alloy, iron and plastic to fit specific purpose. When choosing the most appropriate slider to assemble onto the zipper, one needs to consider the four important elements:

(1) Zipper size and type,

(2) Locking function,

(3) Puller type,

(4) Surface treatment.

Automatic slider
the lock automatically locks when no force is placed on the tab-pull.

Double Puller
Opens and closes from either front or back. (Non-Lock, Automatic)

Jeans Slider
Jeans Semi-automatic slider

Key lock Slider
can be locked with a key.

Non Lock Slider
The pull-tab does not lock at any position on the body. No locking mechanism.

Pin Lock Slider
Pins on the pull-tab work on the elements and lock.

Plastic slider
Locks are made of metal. (Non-Lock, Automatic)

Plastic Slider
(Non-Lock)

Reversible slider 
The pull moves along a rotating rail. The zipper opens and closes from either the front or back. (Automatic)

Semi-automatic slider
when the pull-tab is lowered, it locks. When the pull-tab is raised, it unlocks.

Regional Requirement for Zipper

Normally we follow some regional requirement regarding the zipper, when we ordered or attached the zipper with body. Such as right handed zipper and left handed zipper.  This requirement also very important for fashion trend so, before place a order please be confirmed with your buyer.

For Jacket front zippers, please note the following habit in U.S.A and Europe.

  

USA

Men’s jackets with the zipper slider on the right-hand side of the zipper when the jackets is worn. The wearer uses her left hand to zip.

Ladies (Female) Jackets with the zipper slider on the left-hand side of the zipper when the Jacket is worn. The wearer uses her left hand to zip.

Europe:

Just the opposite of the above.

Men’s (male) Jacket with the zipper slider on the left hand side of the zipper when the jacket is worn. The wearer uses her right hand to zip.

Ladies (Female) Jackets with the zipper slider on the right hand side of the zipper when the Jacket is worn. The wearer uses her right hand to zip.

Some Important Issue Regarding Zipper

When we will use zipper in a body, we must be careful regarding some points. Because any wrong selection in this process can be reject your garments. We must be considering each & every points before place a work order of zipper. Also we must be test everything before start joining with the body.

Always we should keep a thing in our mind that, the characters of zipper is not similar with our garments. So we always should try for better adjustment.

The main material of zipper is teeth. The Zipper teeth are usually made of brass, aluminum, plastic or nylon and shrinkage of these items is very low. These items do not shrink when washed.

Therefore, the zipper tapes must be made of materials which do not shrink when washed otherwise the shrinkage will make the zipper fail to function. In most cases, the zipper tapes are made of nylon or polyester which do not shrink and are colorfast. 

When we order zippers we should specify that, the zippers (teeth and tape) are color fast, and order them in colors to match the garment color after wash.

The colors of pigment dye fabric, garment dye fabric, garments or denim garments may change substantially during the washing process. If your zipper colors match them before wash, you will end up having the zippers much darker than garments colors after wash.

If it is a long zipper like the front zipper of a Jacket, you have to make sure the shell fabric you use is of maximum 3% shrinkage otherwise when the garments shrinks in washing and the zipper does not shrink, the zipper will become wavy making it difficult for the zipper slider to go up down. Besides, a wavy zipper will make the garments look bad.

Also before place a order you should have clear idea that, you are ordering left handed or right handed zipper. Because, very often buyer asked for different handed zipper for male & female.

I personally advise all the merchandiser that, you must fix the zipper length after discussion with your production people otherwise you may get in trouble.

Zipper Categories by Functions

Different kinds of zipper are used for different process and item. Such as Jacket, Sweat shirt, Denim Pants, Jogging suit, Sweater etc. Many times buyer asked for different type of zipper based on their garments item.

Mainly we can categorize the zipper in 02 (two) option

·         By Materials.

·         By Function.

Zipper Categories by Functions:

·         Close-end zippers.

·         Open-end Separator zippers.

·         Two-way Separator.

·         Zipper with Double Sliders (Head-to-head)

·         Zipper With Double Sliders (Bottom to bottom)

Close-end zippers: are non-separating and are normally opened and closed with a slider. The bottom stop is made up of a single part and doesn’t allow complete separation of the chain. These zippers are used on trousers, jeans, bags, boots, etc.

Open-end (separating) zippers: have separated ends. The ending part is joined by a box and pin mechanism provided on the lower end of the zipper. The zippers are closed using sliders, and are normally used on jackets and other outerwears.

Two-way separating zippers: have separated ends as well. The bottom slider allows movement from the bottom of the zipper. These zippers are used in rainwears, sportswears, and sleeping bags.

 Two-way head to head zippers: have two sliders at the center of the chain when the zippers are closed. Head to head zippers can be opened by pulling the sliders towards the stops, but cannot be separated because the ending parts have two stops that cannot be divided. These zippers are mainly used for bags, backpacks, and luggage’s.

Two-way tail to tail zippers: have sliders on opposite ends when the zipper is closed. These zippers can be opened by pulling the sliders towards each other, but cannot be separated. They are used for overalls.