Difference Between Garment Buying House and Textile Buying House

Buying houses connects manufacturers, suppliers and retailers in the fashion and textile industry. But there are lots of major differences between these two Garment Buying Houses and Textile Buying Houses. These two types of buying houses serve distinct functions within the supply chain. Understanding these differences is important for companies in the fashion and textile sectors. We explain the major differences between a garment-buying house and a textile-buying house. 

Definition

• Garment Buying House: A garment buying house focuses on purchasing finished clothing that’s ready for wholesale and retail sales. These buying houses partner with manufacturers of ready-to-wear garments which include shirts, dresses, pants, skirts, coats and more clothing. They must ensure the garments meet retail clients' quality and design specs.
• Textile Buying House: The focus of a textile buying house is to source raw textile materials such as cotton, polyester, wool, silk and their blends for clothing among other textile products. It also includes materials related to household textiles such as linen, curtains, and upholstery. Purchasing Houses link the producers to the suppliers who in turn provide the producers with the raw materials so that they can manufacture the goods.

Product Scope

• Garment Buying House: The primary focus of a Garment Buying House is the final product; finished apparel. They handle clothing products that have already been manufactured entirely and are in the sellable phase. These apparel feature different fashion styles, sizes, colors and fabrics. They are responsive to changing fashion styles. Such clothing companies ensure that the apparel satisfies the design specifications and quality standards. They also deal with the logistics of distributing these goods to retailers or wholesalers.
• Textile Buying House: A Textile Buying House deals with raw materials for making garments and other textile products. This includes sourcing the fabrics, threads, and yarns needed by manufacturers to make the final products. For example, they might source cotton fabric from a textile mill. They will then turn it into shirts and they may supply upholstery fabric to furniture manufacturers.

Role in the Supply Chain

• Garment Buying House: Garment Buying House acts as a bridge between wholesalers or retailers and manufacturers. They ensure that the finished clothes meet the requirements needed by their clients. Their duties consist of purchasing garments from manufacturers, verifying their quality and ensuring it is produced according to various laws and quality requirements.
• Textile Buying House: A Textile Buying House plays a more upstream role in the supply chain. Their main job is to source and supply raw materials to manufacturers. These raw materials are then used in the production of garments or home textiles. They ensure that manufacturers have the fabrics and textiles needed to create products. They may also help find the best suppliers for specific fabric types or finishes.

Customer Base

• Garment Buying House: Customers of a garment-buying house are often fashion brands, distributors, and retailers. These customers purchase the finished clothes to resell in their stores, boutiques or online. In some situations, garment-buying houses may also serve huge apparel chains or fashion designers who need bulk garment orders.
• Textile Buying House: A Textile Buying House's clients are mostly garment manufacturers, textile mills, and fabric wholesalers. These buyers need raw textile materials to produce their products. Textile-buying houses help manufacturers find the right fabrics for garments and home textiles.

Quality Control Focus

• Garment Buying House: The Garment Buying House focuses its quality control on the finished garment. This includes checking the clothing's design, stitching, fit, look, and function. Garment-buying houses also inspect garments for defects. They check that sizes and labels match the specs. They verify that the garments follow ethical manufacturing practices.
• Textile Buying House: In a Textile Buying House, quality control checks the raw fabric. Then, it sends it to the manufacturer for garment production. This includes checking the fabric's texture, color, durability and finish. Also, the textile-buying house might check the weaving, dyeing, and printing processes. This is to ensure the fabric meets certain standards before production.

Technical Expertise

• Garment Buying House: A Garment Buying House needs to know fashion trends, garment construction and finishing techniques. Garment-buying house professionals must know the latest trends. They must also know fabric properties, garment sizing and production techniques. They must also manage logistics, work with manufacturers, and ensure quality.
• Textile Buying House: Professionals at a Textile Buying House need expertise in fabric types, textile production processes, dyeing techniques and the sourcing of materials. They must understand how to make fabrics. They must know how blending fibers and methods affect the textile's quality and performance. Knowledge of fabric treatments, including printing, dyeing and finishing, is also crucial.

Market Focus

• Garment Buying House: The Garment Buying House targets consumers who buy finished apparel. Their marketing strategy is to provide retailers with garments that meet customers' preferences. These include trends, sizes, colors and design aesthetics. They must ensure garments match consumer tastes and seasonal trends.
• Textile Buying House: The Textile Buying House is more focused on the production side of the industry. It serves as a bridge between fabric and garment manufacturers. It focuses on sourcing the right materials. It ensures that manufacturers can access the required textiles to create their products.

Production Involvement

• Garment Buying House: Garment Buying Houses usually do not take part in the actual production process. They focus on sourcing, procurement and logistics for finished garments. They must coordinate between manufacturers and buyers. They ensure that the finished garments are ready for sale in the market.
• Textile Buying House: Textile Buying Houses are often more involved in the production side. They collaborate with fabric mills and textile factories. This ensures materials meet specific requirements. This may include checking production quality, fabric specs and timely delivery of raw materials to the garment manufacturers.

Supplier Relationships

• Garment Buying House: A Garment Buying House builds strong ties with garment manufacturers and factories that can produce apparel in bulk. These relationships are key to making finished garments on time and efficiently. They also work with logistics partners to deliver the garments to retailers on time.
• Textile Buying House: A Textile Buying House builds relationships with textile and chemical suppliers. They take part in dyeing and finishing fabrics. They must source high-quality textiles from suppliers. So, their relationships with these suppliers are essential. The suppliers must meet the raw materials' standards before using them in production.

Business Model

• Garment Buying House: A Garment Buying House's business model is to earn commissions or keep profit margins. They buy finished garments at wholesale prices from manufacturers. Then, they sell them to retailers or wholesalers at a markup. They aim to source garments that meet customer demand. They also want a smooth flow from production to retail.
• Textile Buying House: The business model of a textile buying house revolves around a supply chain model. They source raw materials from fabric mills. They ensure timely delivery to manufacturers. They must provide materials for manufacturers to produce garments and textiles.
  
  
  
  We also happen to be a magnet for suggestions, and would love to catch yours….throw us yours on hello@fabriclore.com
  Learn, Create & Grow with us