3
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What is a Maquila? Everything You Need to Know Before Hiring One

Published on
March 3, 2024
Female garment worker cleaning a piece of fabric before it is sewn.
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Fashion Designer and Content Creator. Daniela leads the social media operations at GAT Fashion Lab

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In the world of clothing manufacturing, whether it's fashion or any other type, one word you'll likely hear frequently, especially if you're just starting out, is "maquila." But what exactly is a maquila, and why is it crucial to understand its implications before hiring one?

Maquilas, in essence, represent a vital part of the clothing production chain. However, it's important to understand that they're not the complete solution but rather a component within the complex world of the fashion industry.

Recommended: How to Find Clothing Manufacturers for Small Quantities for Emerging Brands?


What is a Maquila?

A maquila can be a company or workshop specialized in manufacturing garments on a large scale or small scales depending on the maquila. It operates as a subcontractor responsible for producing textile garments according to the specifications provided by the brand or hiring company.

Types of Maquila

There are various types of maquila, from industrial to home-based. Industrial maquilas usually have a more robust infrastructure and the capacity to produce large volumes of clothing, thus demanding significantly high minimum production quantities.

On the other hand, home-based maquilas are smaller and may offer more personalized attention. However, they often lack the capacity to scale production effectively, resulting in very low minimums but at a high cost.

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Challenges When Hiring a Maquila

Despite their importance in the production chain, maquilas present several challenges. These include issues with delivery times, quality inspection, and scalable production capacity.

Many maquilas, especially smaller ones, may struggle to meet agreed-upon deadlines and maintain consistent quality standards. This can lead to additional costs due to necessary reprocessing to correct errors, defects, and re-producing garments.


The Advantage of Colombian Maquilas

On the international scene, Colombian maquilas stand out for offering competitive prices. However, Colombia is also a preferred destination for clothing manufacturing due to complete packages known for their quality, impeccable delivery times, and creative capacity.

Recommended: How to Find a Maquila or Clothing Factory in Colombia? Quick Guide

What's the Alternative?

Faced with the challenges of hiring a maquila independently, the option of choosing a complete package emerges.

This comprehensive approach involves relying on a service provider not only for manufacturing but also for quality supervision, managing delivery times, offering the capacity to scale production as needed, and possessing the creative ability to meet each client's requirements.


GAT Fashion Lab: Your Comprehensive Solution

At GAT Fashion Lab, we understand the challenges companies face when seeking reliable and efficient maquilas. That's why we offer a comprehensive approach covering everything from design conception to final product delivery. Our experience and dedication enable us to guarantee quality and reliability at every step of the manufacturing process.

In summary, while maquilas are an important part of the clothing production chain, choosing the path of the complete package can offer invaluable peace of mind and greater efficiency in the process.

At GAT Fashion Lab, we're here to offer you the comprehensive solution your company needs. Contact us today and discover how we can help you achieve your manufacturing goals effectively and without complications by clicking here!

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