#12 - suppliers in porto.
In short
- Porto
- Factory tours
- Finding the right fit
- Evaluation
- Next steps
Porto 🇵🇹
From the south of France straight into Porto, where I stayed in a bunk bed hostel, at age 37. First time ever, so I was a bit hesitant.. especially since I value privacy and wasn’t exactly looking for party vibes. But it turned out fine. A mixed bunch, from young to old. Many were staying there to walk the Camino Português.
And then there’s Porto itself: the river, the bridges, the view over those colourful houses, a stunning sunset. Francesinha, pastel de nata. 🧁
The real reason for being here? Meeting potential partners. Porto is known for generations of experience in the apparel industry, a strong focus on sustainability and key certifications. But also practical: short lines, flexibility, and fast logistics.
Factory tours
We’d done plenty of prep online. Reached out to dozens of partners. That led to a shortlist of 4 strong candidates to meet in person. During the trip, 2 more were added through local intros.
The meetings were solid.. and fun. Especially thanks to the tours inside the production process: from pattern printing to cutting, sewing, quality control, ironing and packing. 🧵
At one textile supplier, I was shown into their lab. Here, materials were tested for things like pilling, stretch, shrinkage, and colour fastness.. all according to standardized norms (ISO / ASTM). Quality is key. So when a partner takes that seriously, we take notice.
Finding the right fit
We talked openly about Fract’s core principles and whether they align with theirs: transparency, quality, personal attention, dedication. All things that need to come from both sides.
We also covered minimum orders, sampling, lead times and certifications.. like OEKO-TEX, GRS and GOTS. These labels help guarantee the safety and sustainability of both the final product and the production process.
And since we already had a detailed tech pack for the longsleeve (including fabric specs, design and sizing), this served as a key reference point to assess feasibility.
The results were positive. Not just for the longsleeve, but also as a first step in fabric selection for the rest of the line.
Evaluation
You can prepare all you want online, but nothing beats being there in person. Very happy with this trip. Met serious candidates. Plus, we’re able to request quotes from multiple parties.. which keeps our options open and strengthens our position. 💼
Next steps
We’ll now test the fabric swatches with our audience. What do they care about most in a training tee, short, legging or top? With that input, we’ll finalise our selection and request updated quotes from the remaining partners.
At the same time, we’re starting on the next round of tech packs.. not just for the longsleeve, but for the full first line.
We’ll keep you posted. ❤️
