We’re everything that mass-produced apparel is not. Instead of producing clothes in bulk, we produce only by order and keep no inventory. This way, there’s less waste and no excessive production, leading to a more sustainable production culture.
Gone are the days of browsing apparel stores online and in-person searching for clothing that fits your body and your style. Today, thanks to made-to-order clothing stores like Tailor Store, you can design your ideal clothing with the fit of a lifetime. Call it clothing made by you, for you.
And if, like Tom Ford, you believe dressing well is a form of good manners, then you'll undoubtedly treasure made-to-order clothing. It’s a welcome deviation from mass-produced clothing and fast fashion. If you’ve not already transitioned to custom-made clothing, perhaps reflecting on the drawbacks of mass-produced clothing will prompt you to jump ship.
The Downsides of Mass-Produced Clothing
Mass-produced clothing is profitable because manufacturers value quantity over quality, and it works by maximizing production at the lowest possible costs. Between expedited production and satisfying the ever-increasing demand for affordable clothing, imperfections invariably leak through. Mass-manufactured clothing threatens the environment and leads to workers’ exploitation.
Environment Degradation
Globally, the garment industry is the second largest source of water pollution. Growing inorganic cotton used in the mass production of clothes is chemical-intensive. Synthetic fabrics used in manufacturing, contain toxic elements that pollute land and water when not properly disposed of.
Despite improved waste management and nationwide recycling efforts over the past 50 years, clothing waste has increased by 500% in landfills. People are quicker to throw away garments. In fact, research indicates the average number of times a piece of clothing is worn before being disposed of has decreased by 36% in the last 15 years.
Additionally, textile waste — such as dead stock, blemished fabrics, and materials like trims and yarns — contributes to environmental pollution.
Lower Quality
Mass-produced clothing is lower quality than made-to-order apparel. Instead of utilizing high-quality fabrics like Pima cotton, Mulberry silk, and linen to create their products, fast fashion brands use cheaper materials such as oil-based synthetics and polyester. They bleach these fabrics with toxic chemicals and dyes and complete the designs using inferior craftsmanship.
Exploitation of Workers
Mass production of apparel requires either a vast labor force or mechanization of production. Few fashion brands have the financial muscle to mechanize production, so human labor has become the go-to option. Thus, most manufacturers outsource production to underdeveloped countries with affordable labor.Some brands take advantage of lax labor laws in such countries and underpay workers or exploit child labor.
The Benefits of Custom-Made Clothing
Mass-produced clothing is a constant production cycle, and the machines and people are always on the clock — it’s what the embryonic phase of consumerism looks like. The everyday solution to every fashion brand's challenges seems to be added inventory. So much so that fast fashion now has 52 micro-seasons in a year, which results in massive dead stocks as apparel falls out of style as fast as it's produced. Custom-made clothing is everything that mass-produced apparel is not. Instead of producing clothes in bulk, made-to-order brands like Tailor Store only produce by order and keep no inventory. If you order a sky blue polo shirt and a pair of navy stretch chinos, a made-to-order company will produce them in the exact quantity you request. This way, there’s less waste and no excessive production, leading to a more sustainable production culture.
Superior Quality Apparel
Made-to-order clothing brands source top-quality fabrics, including 100% long-staple cotton, twill cotton, wool, linen, and 100% Pima cotton.
Plus, you have the ability to choose your fabric quality rather than limiting your choices to a few fabric types. This gives you full autonomy to try out multiple high-quality fabrics. True, rocking quality clothing feels fantastic. But it’s even more special when you’ve co-tailored the outfit.
Free remake Guarantee?
Tailor Store Has You Covered
Choosing custom, made-to-order clothing is better all around. It's better fitting, better for the environment, and better for workers.When you shop at Tailor Store, we offer you a perfect fit guarantee for your first-time purchases. You can design your clothes online to preview your creation. When you’re satisfied with your design, our seasoned team of skilled tailors brings your design to life using only the best fabric quality. Let us help you own and style your wardrobe.
We're reshaping the clothing industry
We’re all about making good, quality custom clothing to be worn and loved over time. We’re passionate about changing the way you look at clothing and changing the way they’re made. We want nothing more than for you to join us. It’s time to start wearing clothes that fit, for real.
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FAQs
If something is made-to-order, it is “specially made according to a customer's specifications” or “designed specifically to fulfil a particular set of requirements.” Essentially, if a garment is made-to-order, it is only brought to life if there is an individual demand for that specific garment.
What is the difference between mass production and ready-to-wear? ›
Ready-to-wear is often described as a way of making haute couture—high fashion—more accessible. Garments are made in small production runs to guarantee uniqueness and quality, rather than mass produced in factories. Ready-to-wear collections are often shown by designers during Fashion Weeks.
Is made to order more expensive? ›
Make to order will tend to be more expensive for the consumer since it involves customizable parts and finishes. Manufacturing is the process of turning raw materials or parts into finished goods using tools, human labor, machinery, and chemical processing.
What is mass produced apparel? ›
Mass production is the continuous production of standardized clothing in many large factories. It required a lot of detailed steps involving ideas, high technology, and workers to take clothes from a design to a finished product.
What is the difference between made-to-order and custom-made? ›
Made-to-order products: The product is created according to a standardized production method or a limited range of options are provided within existing specifications (e.g., dimensions, color, etc.). Customized products: The product is created specifically for the customer according to their requirements.
What is the difference between made-to-order and ready made? ›
eady-made clothing is made in bulk and available in standard sizes and colors, whereas made-to-order clothing is manufactured based on customer specifications, such as size, color, design, etc.
What is the difference between custom made and mass-produced? ›
Businesses must carefully evaluate their unique needs, and available resources before deciding. Custom manufacturing offers tailored perfection, flexibility, and quality, while mass production excels in cost efficiency, speed, and standardization.
Is Zara a mass production? ›
Zara is involved in mass production and creates a high quantity of clothes and accessories for stores worldwide but avoids excess inventory by creating urgency for shoppers, insinuating (and proving) that the items they see now won't be around for long.
Does mass production lower quality? ›
Does mass production produce quality items? It can. As Henry Ford proved, very complex products can be made successfully using assembly line techniques.
What are the pros and cons of make to order? ›
Unlike Make to Stock, MTO does not require companies to hold inventories of finished goods. Therefore, there is no risk of wastage of inventory. Since it is made according to specifications of the customer, delivery times are much more lengthy than other generic goods.
5 key advantages of make-to-order manufacturing
- Reduced inventory costs. Make-to-order manufacturing enables companies to produce only what is needed. ...
- Lower lead times. ...
- Increased product customization. ...
- Responsiveness to customer demand. ...
- Reduced waste.
MTO allows for the customization of manufactured items from pre-designed components. The third type of production system is "Assemble to Order" or ATO. ATO is a system in which already manufactured parts and components are kept in stock and assembled as directed by customer order.
Are mass-produced products cheaper? ›
Lower cost: Mass production enables companies to produce larger quantities with fewer workers. Instead of having to pay several workers to complete a task by hand, manufacturers use machines to produce goods much faster. This allows companies to sell their products at a lower cost without losing profit.
How much does it cost to mass produce clothing? ›
Batch production
Price per item will be $ 5-50 depending on the place of production and the thing itself. Producing a simple piece of dress in the USA would cost you an average of $25 but in China, you may be able to get prices as low as $15 especially if you are manufacturing up to a hundred pieces.
When did clothing become mass-produced? ›
The Mass Production of clothing began roughly in the mid –nineteenth century,When some manufacturers began to produce garments that did not require fitting , but fashion did not become an established industry in the institution sense of the world until the 20th century.
What does it mean if an item is made-to-order? ›
: produced to supply a special or an individual demand : custom-made.
What is the difference between ready-to-wear and made-to-order? ›
- MTM garments are made from the same basic pattern as RTW. Basically, what MTM does is offer minor tweaks and alterations to a RTW garment. MTM only really deals in simple, flat, two-dimensional measurements. It can make the length of sleeves correct, but it cannot account for the stoop of your back or shoulder slope.
What is an example of made-to-order goods? ›
Examples of industries using the MTO approach are computer servers, aircraft, automobiles, and bridge construction. At the same time, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods. Their examples include toothpaste, ready-to-make food, soap, cookie, notebook, chocolate, etc.
When something is made-to-order? ›
made-to-order | Business English
used to describe something made in a particular way because a customer asked for it to be made in that way: The image consultancy also supplies made-to-order clothes for its clients.
