How to find clothing manufacturers: Local & Global

How to find clothing manufacturers

Have you been scammed while trying to start your clothing brand? You might order Egyptian cotton, but what you receive was pretty questionable. You paid full payment upfront after believing the displayed images on the manufacturer store as “Authentic” and “ORIGINAL, ” but what you get was again pretty questionable.

Well, its not your fault (mildly) because clothing scams are very easy to hide – as BBC documented. According to the Alliance for American Manufacturing, in the recent fraud involving clothing, about 4000 consumers got scammed by New England companies that falsely labeled their products as  “Made in USA. ” Another case is reported by Norton, who noted an increase in online e-shops scamming retailers worldwide.

So the question is: how can you avoid these scams and find an authentic clothing manufacturer for your clothing business?

This blog will cover all the burning questions you may have, including;

• How to get a manufacturer that matches your exact needs,
• How not to get scammed
• How to negotiate with the manufacturer to get the best quote,
• and how to build a supplier relationship that gets you first-priority treatment.

Let’s get started!

Types of manufacturers

1- Cut and Sew manufacturer

This type involves creating your custom products from scratch. You choose these manufacturers when launching a complete new product or wanting to create hype and quickly penetrate the market. You can find these manufacturers both locally and oversees, depending on your needs and requirements. 

2- Specialized manufacturers

These are the manufacturers that specialize in one specific type of clothing, such as knitwear, denim, washes, or motor gear etc.

If you are a business looking for a local manufacturer, here you can find a list of verified local clothing manufacturers.

How to find clothing manufacturers

1- Alibaba Method

Alibaba is one of the highly recommended and widely used platforms to find products and vendors if you are looking to start a business. Here, you will have tons of options in almost every category to choose from. Therefore, we are starting from the basics.

How to find your perfect clothing manufacturer on Alibaba

To find your perfect supplier, we will start by choosing the right filters available on this platform. 

1- First, select the manufacturer option from the search bar

2- Next, write down the product you are looking for

3- Now you have all the manufacturers working in that clothing category

4- Next, what you have to do is select the right filters to find the suppliers that are verified and have a history of producing good quality products

1- Verification menu

From the left panel, select the verified supplier option to see only those verified by either the Alibaba team or any third-party inspection team.

2- Trade assurance

The second filter to choose from is Trade Assurance. It’s like order insurance/order protection for your bulk orders, so your order is protected against any problems, such as if the order goes wrong, there is a mistake from the manufacturer’s side, the products are faulty, or in case of any delays. You will be able to get refunds for these issues. 

3- 4.5 or up store reviews

The third one is reviews. Only get manufacturers who have reviews above 4.5 in this way, as you can filter out those that do not match your standard quality. 

4- AI search feature

If you are looking for a very specific product then you can go with the AI search feature. With a more detailed prompt, you can find the exact match of the product or manufacturer you are looking for. 

5- OEM capabilities

The other filter you can set is OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). It means these manufacturers can create your designs from scratch. You can share your designs with them, and they will custom-make that exact thing for you. 

6- ODM services

In ODM (Original Design Manufacturer), the manufacturer creates the design, and you can customize it. 

7- Product certification

So, if you are dealing in sustainable fashion or in a particular category of clothing and you want to make sure that the manufacturer you are working with follows certain standards that align with your goals, then you can select certification from the product category. Like, if you select GOTS, you will get a list of suppliers that deal in organic cotton. And if you select GRS, it means this manufacturer complies with the global recycled standard. 

And OEKO-TEX 100 is another globally recognized fabric standard certification for textile and leather products. It make sure that the clothing is free from any harmful substance and is safe for human health. 

2- Trade show method

Another option to find clothing manufacturers, both domestic and overseas, is by attending the trade show.

Trade shows are all about in-person connections. They let you:

• See quality up close: You can actually touch fabrics and inspect stitching.
• Talk directly: Discuss your project, minimum orders, and timelines face-to-face.
• Build trust: Meeting people can lead to better working relationships.
• Spot new trends: See what’s new in fabrics and production.

Top trade shows (Globally):

1- Première Vision Paris (France): 

It is one of the leading events for fashion textiles and materials, takes place twice a year in Paris. It brings together over 2,000 exhibitors from 50 countries, showcasing textiles, leather, accessories, yarns, and fibers.

2- Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics (China)

It is Asia’s largest textile sourcing event, held biannually. It hosts over 4,000 exhibitors from 30 countries and attracts more than 80,000 visitors, covering a vast range of apparel fabrics, accessories, and yarns. This event is a prime venue for understanding the Asian market and sourcing from the region.

3- Munich Fabric Start (Germany)

This is a European textile trade show held twice a year. It features over 1,000 exhibitors and focuses on fabrics, accessories, and denim. The event is known for its commitment to sustainability. 

4- ITMA 

ITMA is the world’s biggest textile and clothing technology fair, held every four years. It features over 1,700 exhibitors from 45 countries and attracts more than 100,000 visitors. The event covers everything from fiber making to finished clothes. It is a premier event to see innovations in textile machinery, digital technology, and sustainability.

5- Texworld  (USA, France, Turkey)

This is a major event for sourcing apparel fabrics, trims, and accessories. It happens twice a year in Paris and New York. The Paris edition, called Texworld Evolution Paris, will take place from September 12-17, 2025, at the Paris Le Bourget Exhibition Center. About 1,500 exhibitors will display textiles and accessories, focusing on high-quality products and the latest fashion trends.

6- Canton Fair (China): 

A massive China import and export trade fair, held in Guangzhou, China, twice a year. This fair features a huge section for fashion and textiles.

7- Apparel Textile Sourcing 

These events held in locations such as Toronto, Montreal, and Miami, connect international manufacturers with North American buyers. These shows feature over 500 exhibitors and emphasize sustainable and ethical sourcing, providing a platform for apparel, textiles, trims, and accessories. 

8- SOURCING at MAGIC in Las Vegas is another great event that provides access to a wide range of manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers.

What to do while attending a Trade Show

• Plan ahead: Know who you want to meet.
• Have questions ready: Ask about MOQs, prices, and lead times.
• Bring your designs: Show them what you want to make.

3- Online method

A- Online directories (Domestic and global)

SeeBiz: Seebiz is a B2B wholesale marketplace, primarily for the US market. Good for connecting with wholesalers, distributors, and manufacturers across various industries, including apparel.

Maker’s Row (USA-focused): Good for finding factories in the U.S., great for smaller businesses.

ThomasNet (USA-focused): Another directory for U.S. manufacturers.

Sewport (Global): Connects brands with manufacturers worldwide, also helps with project management.

Kompass (Global): A worldwide business directory that includes clothing manufacturers.

Apparel Search Directory: A Simple directory to link makers with buyers.

Tips for online directories

• Be specific: Use terms like “activewear manufacturer” or “sustainable clothing factory.”
• Check profiles: Look for verified companies and how long they’ve been in business.
• Ask for samples: Always get samples to check quality before placing a big order.
• Be clear in your communication: Explain exactly what you need, including your designs.

B- Instagram search

Using Instagram search, you can find manufacturer profiles. There are a lot of trusted vendors on Instagram that share their processes, live videos, products, and everything online. 

C- Fashion manufacturing agencies

There are fashion manufacturing agencies that work both locally and globally. Based on your requirements, they vet the suppliers and connect them with you in return for a fee.

D- Referrals from other brand owners

If you have contacts with other brand owners working in your space, you can ask them for their manufacturers. But if you don’t know anyone, it can get tricky since most brand owners don’t share their manufacturer details for free because it can dilute their brand positioning. Because the more customers the manufacturer has, the slower the turnaround time will be, and no manufacturer wants this.

However, you can always offer them some payment to get access to their manufacturer.

For a detailed breakdown on online directories, read this:

https://www.seebiz.com/blog/how-to-buy-wholesale-clothing/ 

Step-by-step process for Supplier vetting – looking for the right match

Disclaimer: Here, we will provide a detailed breakdown of Alibaba. But the process is the same for vetting any supplier you are looking to work with. 

In Alibaba, when you select all relevant filters, you have a list of all the qualified manufacturers that could be a potential match. Now, what you have to do is select a manufacturer that follows all the protocols you are looking for, has the right product, and the pricing matches your budget.

Similar to other online platforms, if you want to vet the supplier, look for the following things that we will discuss below. 

1- Look at the reviews

To find reviews, go to the manufacturer’s store. There are multiple options to choose from in the review section, so to prevent any kind of scam, select reviews with attached pictures, as it will be easier for you to determine which reviews are fake and which are from real customers. This way, you can choose the manufacturer you want to go with.

You can either select store reviews or product reviews to see what people have to say about that particular product. 

Additionally, a live feature is available on the manufacturer’s site, allowing you to view the product in a live video.

2- Look at the product they made, not the display image

Some stores might display a fake image just to get clicks, but the product they actually make is completely different. In that case, you should look at the images they shared, apart from that display image, and also read the reviews to ensure the product they are showing is the same as what they actually make. 

Another way to make sure the store actually produces the same products they display is by visiting their store to check if they have shared pictures or videos related to products or their factories. 

Again, this happens very rarely, but we always make sure what we are getting is the same as what we were initially offered. 

3- Look for lead times

Most manufacturers on Alibaba have lead times of 7 days for samples and 15 days for product delivery, but these are for the simplest designs. If you’re choosing an OEM or ODM manufacturer with custom designs, such as embroideries or custom fabrics, it may take 2-3 weeks just to receive the sample, or the entire process might take longer. 

To prevent this, look for the suppliers that address these issues, or you can always chat with them to understand the delivery time based on your product. 

4- Send your selected vendor a message along with a tech pack

After carefully vetting suppliers, the next step is to send them your design, if you have any, or ask them for all the relevant information you need to start this process.

There are these four questions you must ask every supplier;

• Bulk price for X amount of pieces?
• Cost of the sample?
• Bulk lead time?
• Sample lead time?

Now send your tech pack along with the message to at least 5-10 suppliers to cross-check the pricing, lead times, and design capabilities. 

A tech pack is a detailed sheet that contains all the necessary information, specifications, and details about the garment you want to manufacture.

What to add to a tech pack?

Everything from your measurements to design instructions, your tag instructions, your washing instructions, and your size chart.

In terms of material specification, provide them with exact details on fabric, weight, and GSM. Give them the exact color using Pantone.

Source

5- Negotiate with the suppliers

You may have a budget, quality, and initial inventory in mind to start the business. Based on that budget, what you need to do is negotiate with the vendor. You can negotiate the price, lead time, or quality, depending on your requirements.

In most cases, if your negotiation skills are strong, you can persuade the supplier to lower the price by at least 15%. Always make sure to let them know that you are looking for a long-term partner. This way, they will be more willing to start a partnership. 

6- Give your manufacturer a quality benchmark

If you are familiar with some of the brands they work for, you can provide them with a quality benchmark. For example, if you can create something of higher quality than that of your competitor. This gives them a benchmark to work on. 

Additional things to look after after vetting a supplier or starting a partnership

Always set a lead time

You have to set the expectation in the beginning that you have to get the order in this time frame, so that you prevent delays and late orders. 

Keep the communication documented

Every order should come with an invoice that includes every detail. This way, in case of any delay, error, or problem, you have a document to reference back to.

• Documented communication
• Documented expectations
• Documented deadlines
• Documented agreements

Keep everything documented from day 1. 

Compensation for delay

Based on mutual benefits, you can always set a competition in case of any delay from both parties. For example, a delay in payment or a delay in order. In that case, you both are accountable for fulfilling your side of the job. 

Make a detailed revision brief

After you receive your sample, what you are going to do is make a detailed sheet about what you like about the product, what you don’t like, and why. This step is important because it will impact your product’s quality in a bulk order. 

• Check if the stitching is accurate. 
• Check if the buttons are durable and of recommended quality. 
• Check if the fabric is not see-through or of low quality. 
• Check everything, tick and cross all the boxes, and send them over to your manufacturer for cross-checking. 

Consideration while selecting a manufacturer

Product type

If you are choosing something that only requires screen printing, you can opt for a local manufacturer, which may be cheaper, helping you save on high shipping costs. 

For example, if you just want a simple blank hoodie to have a print on, you can go with companies like Made Blanks, LA Apparel, or Lane 7, etc. There are a lot of other domestic companies too that specialize in this area.

But if you are looking for clothing with specific designs and premium materials. In that case, you can always seek out domestic vendors or overseas suppliers who specialize in that type of clothing or can make custom products.

Location

If you are just starting out and looking for small MOQs, you can find some good local manufacturers. Alternatively, if you are going with an overseas manufacturer, such as one from China or Pakistan, look for manufacturers that can offer MOQs ranging from 50 to 100. This is pretty basic for a startup.

Prevent scamming

If you want to prevent a manufacturer scam, then what you have to do is either look for suppliers in your city where you can physically go or check the products.

Or, if you are ordering through a platform like Alibaba, Makersrow, Thomsat Net, or Sewport, you must conduct proper supplier vetting to prevent scamming. On platforms like Alibaba, there is a filter for Trade Assurance that specifically ensures the trustworthiness of the manufacturer you are dealing with, and you will receive order insurance in case of any errors. 

Burning questions straight from the clothing businesses looking for trusted suppliers

1- How not to get scammed?

• First, vet your supplier carefully (just like we discussed earlier)
• Second, send them a tech pack so you have proof in case of any error, and request a refund.
• Third, never pay the full amount upfront; always go with a deposit and the remaining payment after your order is ready to be shipped, or you get the order. (That’s what we call 50% payment terms.) Or you can go with 30% payment terms, like if your entire order costs you around $3000, you can pay only $1000 upfront for the vendor to start manufacturing. 

2- How to find suppliers that could offer the smallest MOQs?

You can look for some local suppliers to negotiate the minimum quantity. Or if you are looking for manufacturers on online platforms like Alibaba (Both locally or oversees), always make sure to ask if they can work with small MOQs that later will turn into larger orders if everything goes well along the line. 

The most important thing is your negotiation skills. If you can negotiate better, you can get them to a smaller number. Alternatively, simply find a supplier that deals in 50 to 100 MOQs. 

3- How to get free samples?

Samples can cost you around $1-$200 on average, especially if you are getting them oversees. But there are ways to get them for free. 

1- If you already have a running brand, then instead of ordering a sample, you can put a bulk order on 30% payment terms, in this way you can get a free sample that will be sent to you a lot quicker than usual.

2- If you order through a company, suppose you order a sample that costs around $ 150. However, the condition is that once you place the bulk order, the money will be refunded, and you will have your sample for free.

But most of the time, it comes with a specific MOQ. You have to check for it before placing the order. Most manufacturers refund your sample price if you order a minimum of 100 pieces (On Alibaba).

3- Lastly, if you order more SKUs, you will get discounted prices. Suppose a pair of pants costs you $40 for 50 pieces. However, if you order 500, the price will be lowered to $25. In that case, your sample cost will already be covered, and you get the sample for free. 

Red flags to look for before placing an order

1- Immediate pressure on placing the order

If a manufacturer is pressuring you into placing an order, it’s a red flag to look out for. Most of the time, that manufacturer is looking for a quick buck rather than establishing a long-term relationship. And you don’t want that, right?

2- Refusal to send previous work

If you can’t find videos of the products on their store website, you can ask for their previous work in chat. By previous work, we mean manufacturing, warehouse, products placed in the warehouse, etc. If the manufacturer is too hesitant or refuses to send the previous work, it’s a big red flag. Either that supplier is scamming you or doesn’t have any previous work to back up. 

3- Sending video from a social media platform

If the manufacturer sends you videos or pictures from their or other social media accounts instead of showing their own warehouse products, it’s a red flag. Because they might not have made the exact same item or could be trying to pass off lower quality. 

4- No trade assurance

If the manufacturer doesn’t have any trade assurance or the platform doesn’t offer any, then it’s another red flag. Because in that case, if any error occurs with your order, you won’t be able to file a complaint or get your refund. 

Suppliers that don’t have trade assurance most probably are.

• Not able to provide a good product
• Not verified by the platform
• Don’t have enough experience in manufacturing

5- Unusually low prices

If you are one of those people who get attracted to the cheapest prices, then you might be a red flag. Because suppliers who quote unusually low prices for products that are too low as compared to their actual production cost are a big warning sign. Because either they produce the lowest quality products or don’t produce anything, and want to scam you by taking your money. 

6- Vague answers about production inquiries

If your supplier is a little bit too enthusiastic about the production that they could make anything you provide them, it’s again a red flag. Because,

• They either just want to get an order
• They might not be able to produce the same quality product
• The product will feel like a replica
• Or they don’t have the capabilities to produce a good product

Or if you are getting answers to your queries like,

• I think we can make that.
• We might make the product
• Yeah, it’s too easy to make 
• We can make something similar 

That’s all fluff, and you don’t want to waste your time and resources on such suppliers. 

7- Poor communication

When you contact the supplier or in the beginning of your relationship, you are getting slow responses, half-baked answers, poor language, or you both have big fat language barrier then you must reconsider your choice because it may get worse with time. 

End note

Choosing the right clothing manufacturer is the first step to establishing a successful clothing business. If you fail to do so, you won’t be able to scale your brand. Therefore, establish consistent and long-term supplier relationships, and make sure to do proper vetting before starting a partnership.

If you are a business looking for a local manufacturer, here you can find a list of verified local clothing manufacturers.