In this exclusive documentary series, Maxim Sion, fashion entrepreneur and Business Development Manager at Bleckmann, shares his experience of building a brand, Black and Gold, from the ground up – providing valuable insights into the practicalities of making your vision a reality. In this episode, he discusses how he made the decision to expand his product line and the challenges of managing international supply chains.
With their bracelets gaining traction in physical stores and online, and brand recognition growing throughout Belgium, Black and Gold was ready to diversify its product range. The next logical step was apparel, starting with T-shirts. Following a research and design phase, the team developed a graphical design based on the skull motif that had been so popular on their bracelets. They then partnered with a local clothing supplier to create their first line of T-shirts, testing three different styles with a Belgian retail partner.
The new T-shirts soon proved popular, and the team was able to expand them to around ten stores in Belgium. However, with extra steps added to the production process, the team saw an opportunity to improve the sourcing strategy. “The quality was not always perfect,” Maxim explains. “So that was our next step, to find a production facility within Portugal, China, Bangladesh, just to have better quality and create our own colours, our own yarns, our own designs.” The hunt for new suppliers to work with had begun.
Press play on episode 3 to learn more about Black and Gold’s supply chain challenges.
The journey towards supply chain optimisation
In October 2016, Maxim and his business partner travelled to China for two weeks to meet with potential production partners. This hands-on approach proved invaluable in terms of understanding manufacturing capabilities and building relationships with suppliers. The trip included visits to factories producing socks, watches, bracelets and clothing, exposing the team to a variety of new technologies and printing options.
However, the reality of international production presented some unexpected challenges. Language barriers complicated communication, and many factories were geared towards fast fashion rather than the high-quality products Black and Gold had in mind. It took around six months to achieve the desired embroidery standards and overall product quality. Meanwhile, the operational challenges were intensifying from a logistics perspective as the brand expanded its retail presence to around 30 stores.
Stay tuned for episode 5 of the series to learn how Maxim addressed key operational bottlenecks, freeing up the team to focus on shaping Black and Gold’s next growth phase. And, if you want to find out more about taking your brand to the next level, get in contact for a free consultation with one of our experts!
