Finding the right manufacturer (profit, pay, buy, sell)

[poop58]

I design dresses for women who need to breastfeed or pump on the job or out on the town. I would love to continue to manufacturing in the US but the cost is high compared to China. I currently pay my seamstress $50 to make one dress. My fabric and button cost around $25. I will have to sell my dresses for $120 to make decent profit. I am new to the business/ entrepreneur system and would like feedback on
1. Would you look into producing overseas knowing there's a chance 15% of your products could be useless when you receive it?
2. Alibaba process? How easy it is to communicate everything you want between design, timelines, and shipping?
3. Would you buy cheaper less durable fabric?
4. Selling an easier product that uses less fabric ala women's t-shirts, bikinis, and use my same patented design on these items?
5. What ways would you bring down the cost of the product? ( 3 kids and a regular job so I personally don't have time to make the dresses myself.

[Quietude]

Short term?

Make blouses instead of full dresses.

Find a seamstress who knows how to do multiple cuts and gang sewing. Anyone who's had to make a set of uniforms, costumes or the like quickly learns how to turn out clothing segments more than one at a time.

Look for a shop here that does it at a better price that a single seamstress/tailor but is easier to deal with than a Chinese factory or shop.

Or position yourself as an upscale provider and increase the selling price.

[poop58]

Great feedback I will surely look into the cost of blouses