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Production · 9 min readHow to find a clothing manufacturer (and avoid the bad ones)
Where to find manufacturers for a small clothing brand, what to ask, red flags and a message template you can copy.
Finding a good manufacturer is the hardest step for most new brands. Not because there are too few, but because there are too many and they all say "low MOQ, high quality". Here's how to find the right one.
Step 1: know what you need before you search
Factories specialise. Before you contact anyone, know:
- Product type: jersey (tees), fleece (hoodies), woven (pants, shirts), headwear.
- Model: blanks + decoration, or full cut & sew.
- Quantity: pieces per style and per colour.
- Target price: what you can pay per piece to hit your margin.
Step 2: where to look
| Region | Strengths | Typical MOQ |
|---|---|---|
| Portugal | Quality, EU production, short shipping | 50–150 |
| Turkey | Knitwear and basics, fast to Europe | 100–300 |
| Pakistan | Hoodies, fleece, sportswear, low MOQs | 10–200 |
| China | Widest capabilities and finishes | 50–300 |
| UK / US | Local sampling and tiny runs | 1–50 |
Alibaba is the fastest way to reach many factories at once. Filter on verified suppliers, years on the platform and response rate, and pay through Trade Assurance.
Step 3: contact 3–5 factories with the same brief
Send the same tech pack and the same questions to everyone, so you can compare fairly:
Hi, I'm starting a clothing brand and I'm looking for a manufacturer for [product]. Attached is my tech pack. Could you let me know: 1. MOQ per style and per colour, 2. sample cost and time, 3. unit price at [50/100/200] pieces, 4. lead time after sample approval, 5. payment terms. Photos of similar work would be great. Thanks!
Step 4: red flags
- Prices far below everyone else.
- Refusing to make a sample, or sending a "sample" that's clearly a stock item.
- Vague answers about MOQ, or MOQ that suddenly changes after the sample.
- Pressure to pay 100% upfront on a first order.
- A different company name on the invoice than on the website.
Step 5: always sample
Order samples from your top two. Measure them against your tech pack, wash them three times, and wear them for a day. Then approve one "golden sample" in writing and keep it as the reference for production.
Step 6: payment and production
A common structure is 30–50% deposit, the rest after inspection. Ask for photos or a video of bulk production before you pay the balance.
Skip the searching: our Manufacturer Directory lists factories by country, specialty and MOQ, including suppliers we've produced with ourselves.
See what a factory-ready tech pack looks like
Download our complete boxy tee tech pack for free: flats, specs, graded measurements and an editable Excel.
