All-Star Manufacturing Question About Cheer Uniforms

[Nikaa]

We have a lady for making ours. So this uniforms cost 90€ which is around $110.

 

[AerialsAllstars_Ash]

I don't know that Under Armor will break into the cheer uniform game for quite some time. Their gymnastics leotards are currently produced by gk, so I don't see them doing cheer uniforms any time soon.

 

[cheerheart4life]

I would just stick to Varisty uniforms! I love them.

 

[SharkDad]

I would just stick to Varisty uniforms! I love them.

Unfortunately that's the company I have seen the most problems with.

Somehow they are able to redesign an create entire team uniforms for big worlds teams but they take 6 months or an entire season to replace a sizing mistake.


The Shark version of the Fierce Board app

 

[JulieP]

That's part of the issue though, gyms are custom designing their uniforms so there are no basic shapes. Anything custom designed and produced is costly and takes time.

I know I am probably in the minority on this, but I would love it if we went to a "stock" uniform design. I truly feel like putting teams in standard uniforms would be fabulous. You just pick a color and throw a program logo on the front. It would cut down on the expense and help make our sport more financially accessible. You could do a uniform for under a hundred dollars this way- we did it for our half season team this year (stock GK uni with a rhinestone logo). Further, we could focus a little more on the athleticism of the sport and a little less on the outfit. It's probably not a popular opinion, but I just had to put it out there. :eek:

 

[King]

Unfortunately that's the company I have seen the most problems with.

Somehow they are able to redesign an create entire team uniforms for big worlds teams but they take 6 months or an entire season to replace a sizing mistake.


The Shark version of the Fierce Board app

I wonder if that is the nature of the business. You have a slot of allotted time that you fill up and then you produce your uniforms. There are only so many slots and they back to back them and produce them. So by the time there is an open slot to fix it is way down the road?

 

[King]

I know I am probably in the minority on this, but I would love it if we went to a "stock" uniform design. I truly feel like putting teams in standard uniforms would be fabulous. You just pick a color and throw a program logo on the front. It would cut down on the expense and help make our sport more financially accessible. You could do a uniform for under a hundred dollars this way- we did it for our half season team this year (stock GK uni with a rhinestone logo). Further, we could focus a little more on the athleticism of the sport and a little less on the outfit. It's probably not a popular opinion, but I just had to put it out there. :eek:

That is a thought I have had a while. I think if all cuts were the same but the styles on them were whatever people wanted we could have a little more standardization and economy of scale to produce. I don't think this would hamper creativity because you could bling out and put whatever you want on them.

 

[retiredl5cheer]

That is a thought I have had a while. I think if all cuts were the same but the styles on them were whatever people wanted we could have a little more standardization and economy of scale to produce. I don't think this would hamper creativity because you could bling out and put whatever you want on them.

Obviously the basic shape of college basketball and football uniforms hasn't held program back from being creative.

 

[King]

Obviously the basic shape of college basketball and football uniforms hasn't held program back from being creative.

Or ugly! SMH at Maryland football uniform. Bleh

 

[retiredl5cheer]

Or ugly! SMH at Maryland football uniform. Bleh

Hah! Unfortunately I've seen uglier cheer uniforms.

 

[Tosh]

Just adding my 2 cents. As a fashion designer, I have made uniforms in the past. I still do have all of my equipment, but no longer sew in mass since I closed my shop a few years ago after being sick. I know do sports bras and shorts, which is very basic and easy.
My issue with contracting for uniforms is that there are quite a few individuals out there that will not pay, or do not believe they should pay the same or more than what it cost to mass produce. when doing small runs everything from fabric, special thread, handcutting (time) cost more than doing a large run. I would venture out and also say that 90% of the time the end product for an individual contractor to do a small run will be much better that doing larger quantities. You can expect better customer service as well as quick turn around on any fitting issues.
As some above indicated, you also have the option to contract a manufacturer/sewer; however, you have to have your design done, pattern and spec, and a completed sewn sample delivered to them. This process alone can cost anywhere from $1,000+
So there are options out there you just have to do your homework and make the best decision you can based on your individual need and financial situation.

 

[catlady]

Unfortunately that's the company I have seen the most problems with.

Somehow they are able to redesign an create entire team uniforms for big worlds teams but they take 6 months or an entire season to replace a sizing mistake.

The Shark version of the Fierce Board app

It's hard to disrupt a production schedule for errors. More than likely they are looking for an open window in production or just trying to find another contractor to get issues taken care of.

Every other sport truly has "uniform" uniforms. They add numbers, a name, logo and tadaaa it's done. In cases, such as skating, you are only producing a costume for one or two athletes. Cheer, though people may not like me calling it this, is creating a custom costume, for several hundred people, in many different sizes, in difficult to sew fabrics, in a very short window. Manufacturers could allot "error" production time but, that cost a lot of money, that could double pricing. Are they working with Union workers? More than likely in the US, and you are dealing with very specific time, money and vacation restrictions. An example of what is typical in the industry: Production is due to start, factory receives fabric in specified window and it isn't what was ordered or poor quality, can't find enough fabric in stock, they call textile mill, they are closed for mandatory vacation for two weeks, after vacation, they aren't working on that fabric for another four weeks, six weeks later you receive correct fabric but, now another project is in production, wait three more weeks for an open window but, not enough time to finish before mandatory vacation at your factory, so project delayed another two weeks. They begin looking for another contractor to subcontract to but, can't find anyone that works on specialized fabrics, have to wait for next open window, etc, etc, etc.

Factories truly aren't designed to do custom work, with specific size runs, in a short window. My suggestions to gyms if they want to insure their uniforms are there on time is to find a pre-produced uniform they like, fits well, and then find their own private local contractors to customize. Cleaners and bridal shops would know of several people in the area that do quality custom work. I know this isn't the answer people probably want to hear but, it's a truthful answer.

 

[King]

It's hard to disrupt a production schedule for errors. More than likely they are looking for an open window in production or just trying to find another contractor to get issues taken care of.

Every other sport truly has "uniform" uniforms. They add numbers, a name, logo and tadaaa it's done. In cases, such as skating, you are only producing a costume for one or two athletes. Cheer, though people may not like me calling it this, is creating a custom costume, for several hundred people, in many different sizes, in difficult to sew fabrics, in a very short window. Manufacturers could allot "error" production time but, that cost a lot of money, that could double pricing. Are they working with Union workers? More than likely in the US, and you are dealing with very specific time, money and vacation restrictions. An example of what is typical in the industry: Production is due to start, factory receives fabric in specified window and it isn't what was ordered or poor quality, can't find enough fabric in stock, they call textile mill, they are closed for mandatory vacation for two weeks, after vacation, they aren't working on that fabric for another four weeks, six weeks later you receive correct fabric but, now another project is in production, wait three more weeks for an open window but, not enough time to finish before mandatory vacation at your factory, so project delayed another two weeks. They begin looking for another contractor to subcontract to but, can't find anyone that works on specialized fabrics, have to wait for next open window, etc, etc, etc.

Factories truly aren't designed to do custom work, with specific size runs, in a short window. My suggestions to gyms if they want to insure their uniforms are there on time is to find a pre-produced uniform they like, fits well, and then find their own private local contractors to customize. Cleaners and bridal shops would know of several people in the area that do quality custom work. I know this isn't the answer people probably want to hear but, it's a truthful answer.

So you are saying for small batch custom work you don't think there is really a size advantage?

 

[catlady]

So you are saying for small batch custom work you don't think there is really a size advantage?

I'll liken this to cars. If you go through a dealer to get custom work on your car, they have already found a few businesses they contract that work out to (quantity), the dealer receives the ultimate discount but, it isn't always necessarily passed on to you. They provide the service for convenience but, it is probably not any cheaper than you finding your own private custom person. Here's the benefit of going through a dealer though, if it is a poor job, the dealer is responsible for making it right and they have access to the parts at cost and can get parts quickly.

Here's the cool part of going through local community. Every community has shops that deals in specialized fabrics. Bridal shops, cleaners, custom bra shops, etc. All of them have access to people that do this work all the time. This type of work has cultural/family links to it (I'm sure you have noticed the common denominator in nail salons, cleaners, landscaping, etc.). They teach their family, friends the trade and they are immediately able to accomodate increased work flow, unlike a factory that has to train and deal with Union rules on lay offs and hiring. The down fall is they aren't probably going to discount on quantity and if a uniform needs to be replaced because it is damaged, it is going to take some time and it needs to be made clear who is responsible for replacement. Another upside, you can check on local work to see if it is being done to your expectations.

 

[cheerheart4life]

Unfortunately that's the company I have seen the most problems with.

Somehow they are able to redesign an create entire team uniforms for big worlds teams but they take 6 months or an entire season to replace a sizing mistake.


The Shark version of the Fierce Board app

Think about how many people they have to satisfy! You think that GK doesn't have uniform issues? All companies will have problems. The good thing about Varsity is that they address them and it isn't their fault if coaches send in wrong sizing information and didn't research it. All uniforms fit differently. That's why I think it's always good to have 3 different sample sizes of the uniform you want made for 3 different types of bodies before ordering. You have to see how it looks.