ComforTEK Apparel

Frequently Asked Questions

610-770-1090 | contact@comfortekapparel.com

At ComforTEK Apparel, we welcome questions.

The more you ask, the better we understand your needs and the better we serve you.

If you have additional questions after reviewing our FAQ, please contact us.

What does ComforTEK Apparel do?
ComforTEK Apparel provides design support services and production services to the apparel knitwear industry.

What are Design Support Services?

At ComforTEK Apparel, we make your prototypes and salesmen samples quickly and professionally. Some customers need more support than others. You may have an internal design staff, while other customers rely on ComforTEK Apparel to bring them creative ideas.

All customers look for some level of support in bringing new styles to market.

Product lifecycle management begins with the creative concept. Our design support cuts your front end design and development time. So, if speed to market is important to you, try ComforTEK Apparel.

What are Production Services?
ComforTEK Apparel is a vertical producer of garments, from the knitting of your fabric to the shipping of your garments.

As a 100% made-in-the-USA vertical manufacturer of knitwear garments, we recognize that no two customers have exactly the same production needs. We can provide a full package, retail-ready garments.

This means we buy the yarn, knit it into fabric at our knitting facility, piece dye the fabric then cut and sew it into garments. We then embroider, screen print, press, fold, tag and bag to your specifications. No more than you want. And no less.

Why is ComforTEK Apparel 100% made-in-the-USA?
Larger retailers who import have long lead times and must commit to styles and colors early in the season.

The typical ComforTEK Apparel customer serves the ever-changing high-end fashion and safety service market. Our customers want to bring new styles to market quickly and in small lots, so they can change colors quickly, increase production of hot styles and colors with big sell through, and drop styles and colors don't take off.

Combining made-in-the-USA with design support and the technology of Gerber integrated patternmaking and cutting, ComforTEK Apparel has defined speed to market.

Where does ComforTEK Apparel produce?
ComforTEK Apparel has a shared interest in an innovated knitting facility in North Carolina, our fabric is dyed in a state of the art dye facility in Pa, our cut facility and sewing facilities are located in Pennsylvania along with ComforTEK Apparel’s corporate office.

What markets do you serve?
Mostly the Safety service markets police, fire, and postal service departments. With approximately 10% mail order retail.

Who are your key customers?
Each of our customers is a key customer. They include safety service, designers, specialty stores and high-end department stores. But one of the reasons you come to ComforTEK Apparel is the fact that we do not disclose our customer list nor do we share your designs.

What kinds of garments do you make?
Mostly performance based fabric apparel. They include placket shirts, turtlenecks, tee shirts, tanks, and some shorts in a number of different fabrics with many different trims.

Does ComforTEK Apparel make basic tee shirts?
We offer pre-made basic tees and tanks in our in-stock program for men, women and children. However, if you want a Hanes tee, or Hanes pricing, you should probably go to Hanes. If you want to make your basics unique with better fabrics, come to ComforTEK Apparel. If you are looking for a custom spec polo or a basic tee made from high quality fabric, you have come to the right place.

10.

Does ComforTEK Apparel cut and sew?
ComforTEK Apparel is not a cut and sew contractor. We are vertical. Soup to nuts. We do it all—design support, prototypes, salesmen samples, make our own fabric, bleach, dye, print, cut, sew, press, package, and ship.

11.

What kind of fabrics does ComforTEK Apparel knit?
ComforTEK Apparel produces a wide range of knit fabrics—Jersey, Interlock, 1x1 ribs, and thermals – in 100% Cotton and performance polyesters knits. 1X1 body size ribs, body size Jersey knits in a full range of weights as well as interlock in various weights. French terry and fleece. If you need it, we will make it or source it.

12.

Will ComforTEK Apparel source fabrics for me or do I have to use fabrics knit by ComforTEK Apparel?
ComforTEK Apparel customers request in-house-knit fabrics over 95 per cent of the time. For established customers who use in-house-knit fabrics, however, we cheerfully source fabrics that we don’t make.

13.

Does ComforTEK Apparel do tubular knitting?
We sure do. Tubular knit fabrics permit garments without side seams. ComforTEK Apparel has a full range of rib and jersey machines, from children’s to adult sizes.

If you want tubular garments to help you hit price points, we can provide them. If your styles dictate side seaming, our tubular fabrics knitting guarantees that fabric waste will be at a minimum.

14.

Does ComforTEK Apparel stock garments/fabric in colors?
Sorry, but no. We feel that this limits our customer’s options. Most ComforTEK Apparel customers prefer to have their own colors. They’ll send in a swatch of fabric, yarn or a Pantone number and we’ll match it. We lab dip fast and accurate. Usually takes about a week for most customers.

We do, however, have a library of over 1,000 pre-engineered colors. So we have a head-start in matching your custom colors.

15.

What makes ComforTEK Apparel different?
In a word, speed-to-market.

Certainly our ability to make custom garments is key. Knitting our own fabric is another reason. Our menu-driven production – from knitting to “retail ready” – is also key. But two things make us really different – our design support services and our strength in quality.

16.

What’s so special about ComforTEK Apparel’s Design Support Services?
At ComforTEK Apparel, we embrace design support services. Some manufacturers make samples, but not as their business. Our Design Support Services Group is set up like a separate business with its own production floor.

17.

Does ComforTEK Apparel make blanks and dyed goods?
You’ve got it. Every customer has different needs. If you want blanks to embellish, no problem. We will dye your goods, press them, hang tag, bag, box, and ship, just about anything. Tell us what works best for you, and we take it from there.

18.

What kind of embellishing does ComforTEK Apparel do?
We do many different trims and treatments such as applying class 2 and 3 reflective tape. We also offer embroidery, and screen printing, as well as contrast stitching. Not everything, but always ask. We rarely, but occasionally say no.

19.

Will ComforTEK Apparel carry stock for me in a custom style?
ComforTEK Apparel is a made-to-order company, so for custom styles, we only make what you order and purchase. However, if it is a recurring style, we often make and stock the fabric for that style. For some larger customers, we do bill – and – hold.

20.

Tell me more about ComforTEK Apparel’s screenprinting and embroidery capabilities – do you do this in-house?
ComforTEK Apparel has partnered with cutting edge embroidery and screen printing facilities which also offer design and digitizing. If you want something wild and crazy, we can do that also.

21.

How do most customers work with ComforTEK Apparel?
Most customers have us develop a first sample for approval, make salesman samples, then place production orders based on customer demand.

22.

What is the best way to get started with ComforTEK Apparel?
First, let us make a sample or quote a price, or both. Send us a sample of the garment, or a set of specs, a picture, or a drawing. We will then quote or create a sample based on this.

23.

How long does the sample process take?
Usually it takes about two weeks for the first sample and pattern. If there are no revisions, a production approval form and a price will be sent to you to sign off on. If revisions are necessary and another sample is needed, plan on another two weeks. If another sample is not needed, we can proceed to production. (Prior to major shows, sample lead times might be extended if necessary.)

24.

How do I place a production order with ComforTEK Apparel?
For most customers, the process is relatively simple. Once you approve the sample, you may send, fax, or email an order, either directly to the company or through your sales representative.

We in turn will review the production schedule and send an order confirmation, confirming the ship date, order details, and price. When you sign the confirmation, we will schedule the order. We, of course, will tailor our process to meet the needs of larger customers with more sophisticated purchase order systems.

25.

Tell me about terms and the credit approval process?
ComforTEK Apparel terms for most customers are 30 days. Net 30 payment terms are available to customers who meet the credit requirements of our credit insurance carrier. We generally ask you to submit a credit application when you request a sample. Until your credit application is approved, we may ask you to pre-pay for samples.

26.

Who will I work with at ComforTEK Apparel?
At ComforTEK Apparel, if you are ordering dyed goods, you will ultimately be working with the wholesale Department. The department has a Design Support Services Coordinator, to guide you through the design/sample process, and a production coordinator, to monitor your order through the production process. In any event, you may be assigned a sales representative or you may work directly with the ComforTEK Apparel staff.

27.

How close will the production garments match the sample garments and specifications?
Of course, our goal is that they will match 100% of the time. Because we work with knitted fabrics made from various fibers sometimes there will be some variation from original samples. Our production tolerances are consistent within commercially acceptable industry standards. It is suggested that each customer discusses production tolerances with design support services prior to submitting production orders.

28.

If I want to receive 1,000 garments, how many garments need I order?
If you are purchasing retail ready garments, you should order exactly the number of garments that you need. You should know, however, that ComforTEK Apparel will produce more garments than you order to provide for normal working losses. Our customer service representative will establish a level of overproduction for your garments and orders depending on the fabric, complexity of the garment, and your expectations. If working losses are less than expected, ComforTEK Apparel generally reserves the right to overship the quantities ordered.