When it comes to finding clothing manufacturers, China is one of the largest sources of textile and apparel clothing in the world. The Chinese clothing manufacturers produced more than 3.23 billion meters of clothing fabric – in April 2022. The country has a 31.6% share of the global market, which International fashion brands such as Nike and Gap rely on to provide their import products.
But finding a good quality clothing manufacturer in this large country is difficult, so to help you on the way, we’ve created the ultimate guide on how to find clothing manufacturers in China.
Why You Should Source Apparel From China
Although many upcoming South East Asia countries are competing against China in the clothing manufacturing business, China still stands as a key player. The country is by far the largest exporter of apparel worldwide – and that will likely not change within the foreseeable future.
There are many reasons why sourcing apparel from Chinese manufacturers can be beneficial for your organisation. We’ve listed some of the key advantages below.
1. Lower Labour Costs
Manufacturing clothing is a process that requires a significant amount of labor and resources to achieve efficient amounts of goods. One of the significant benefits is the lower cost when compared to more expensive Western options. China has a much higher capacity for said labor at a lower cost, with the usual rate of said labor being 660 USD monthly. Because of this, organizations are able to save on labor costs and preserve capital for growth and expansion.
2. Highly Skilled Workforce and Developed Factories
State-of-the-art manufacturing processes and production skill sets. Unlike its counterparts in Southeast Asia, China has a long history of exporting fabrics and is known to have some of the richest textile resources in the world. Most China clothing manufacturers are strategically concentrated in different parts of the country, such as Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong.
This means that these areas have a highly skilled workforce. Aside from this, Many organizations require a large number of garments in short timeframes. Because of this, China has invested heavily in processes and technology to meet this demand. It allows organizations to scale at an accelerated pace.
3. Efficient Supply Chain Capabilities
China is one of the most developed countries in terms of supply chain capabilities. The China clothing manufacturers offer an efficient and streamlined logistical experience to deliver goods in a timely fashion. Many Chinese manufacturers of clothing also offer full-service packages to further assist organizations in reducing supply chain costs.
4. Experience With Product Manufacturing
Chinese clothing manufacturers have a lot of experience with manufacturing products. The country also has a deep history in garment manufacturing, with expert knowledge in creating apparel in various styles and materials to facilitate your organization’s design requirements.
Where Are Clothing Manufacturers in China?
Within China, there are around 44 thousand companies that deal in textile and apparel manufacturing. The garment industry includes all kinds of clothes produced by sewing or knitting machines, including trousers, skirts, shirts, sweaters, dresses and underwear; the textile industry includes fabric production and processing; and footwear production involves shoes made from leather or synthetic materials.
Around 21,000 companies focus on textile manufacturing, to the point it would be impossible to list them within this article. It is worth noting that most factories are strategically concentrated in different parts of the country, such as Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong.
Are Chinese Garments Good Quality?
The quality of Chinese garments can range from poor to excellent, depending on where they are manufactured and who makes them.
If the manufacturer is professional and has a good service record, the goods shall be higher than a less legitimate and professional one. This is another reason why it is essential to be careful when deciding to work with a manufacturer.
How to Find Manufacturers for Clothing in China
Most of the Chinese textile and clothing industries are concentrated on the east coast of China, including Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Shandong Province. Aside from that, there are a series of textile industrial parks in cities like Wuxi, Nantong, and Changzhou. But, although there are many Chinese garment manufacturers, it can be difficult to know where to find the ideal one that suits your business. Luckily, there are several channels to do this, including:
1. Use 3rd Party Agencies to Source Chinese Clothing Suppliers
Third-party organizations are a great way to use their experience within the Chinese manufacturing marketplace to source China clothing suppliers if your organization is not experienced in this area. This can potentially save time and the potential risk of working with a less than a reputable supplier.
2. Find Chinese Clothing Manufacturers via Online B2B Marketplace
There are several marketplaces within China that manufacturers use as a shopfront for their services. The most popular services are:
- Alibaba – website is a leading global marketplace that connects international buyers with Asian suppliers. It’s a great channel to find clothing manufacturers in China, offering over 15 million products on its platform.
- Made in China – A comprehensive service platform for foreign trade, the platform has over 3.800+ categories and 6 million suppliers listed.
- Global Source – A well-established Hong Kong based B2B channel that connects buyers and suppliers online.
These platforms allow you to create direct communications with manufacturers to allow for smooth communication. But it’s worth noting that the quality of these suppliers can vary. It is always a good idea to arrange for an objective quality inspection service from a third-party company like HQTS before you order anything from them.
3. Find Clothing Manufacturers From Fashion Exhibitions in China
China hosts several fashion exhibitions and trade shows all over the country. These are fantastic opportunities to see products and make real connections with manufacturers physically. Due to the recent COVID-19 situation, these have not been as prevalent; however, once restrictions ease, they will come back into popularity.
The Top Fashion Exhibitions in China includes:
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- Canton Fair
- Yiwu Trade Fair
- China International Fashion Fair
- East China Import and Export Commodity Fair
4. Use LinkedIn to Find Chinese Clothing Suppliers
Linkedin is a popular social network with a focus on business and professional means. Although the platform has been banned in the country, it still is a good way to find professional manufacturers. You can use LinkedIn to research and connect with manufacturers. Aside from that, there are several sourcing clothing groups you can join to find more information about Chinese manufacturers.
Tips for Sourcing Clothing Manufacturers in China
Sourcing manufacturers that fit your organization’s requirements can be a challenging task at first. Below are some tips which can help you traverse through a large number of options available:
1. Find Wholesale Clothing Manufacturers According to Your Business Size
When finding a manufacturer, sometimes big is not better. Many of the larger clothing suppliers in China have a minimum order requirement and are usually dealing with large-scale orders from major clients. Therefore they do not have time to assist small businesses.
If you are a smaller organization, it is recommended to find smaller or medium-sized manufacturers who may be more inclined to give smaller minimum orders and donate more time to your order’s specifications.
2. Choose the Clothing Manufacturers Who Have a Formal Manufacturing System
There are several certifications that give a clothing manufacturer in china more legitimacy. For example, a certificate of excellent manufacturing processes is named ISO 9001:2008. Suppliers who have achieved this will have a more professional and high-quality product than those without.
Therefore, it is key to be on the lookout for a manufacturer’s certifications when selecting them to collaborate with.
3. Divide Clothing Manufacturers to Best Use Their Specialities
With more than 44,000 manufacturers in the Chinese garment industry, some of these are specialized in certain aspects of the textile industry, whether that would be leather goods or shirts to trousers. Specialized clothing manufacturers often have better expertise in their specific area. As such, try to select your manufacturer based on their specialization within certain goods, such as knitwear or children’s clothing.
This allows for the harnessing of the expertise of each manufacturer to get the most effective products.
How To Reduce Risks When Sourcing Clothing Manufacturers in China
The sourcing process is not an easy one and it is filled with risks. It’s important to understand the risks and actively mitigate them. View the video below to see common apparel quality control standards and procedures.
We’ve summarized three effective ways you can reduce the risks and ensure the quality of your textile product.
Inspections
It is always wise to inspect the textile goods before they are shipped to their respective countries. This practice will help reduce the risk of any issues that could potentially arise from a poorly manufactured product, and ensure the product meets your business requirement. The inspections can range from throughout the entire production process, from production monitoring to pre-shipment inspections.
Audits
Another effective method to reduce risks is to conduct factory audits. These audits ensure the chosen manufacturers are conducting best practices and can provide peace of mind that the Chinese clothing manufacturer will create goods according to standards.
Testing
Sending the manufacturer’s goods to a testing labs is a great way to test the clothing. These tests can give clarity to the fabric composition, colour fastness, AZO dyes and many more. You can read more about the common chemical testing for textiles and apparel in our previous blog post.
Conclusion: How to Find Clothing Manufacturer from China [Tips and Strategies]
Choosing the right manufacturer is a key task to ensure the quality of the garment meets your business standards. But with more than 44.000 textile manufacturers in China, this is not an easy task.
It’s wise to select a manufacturer within one of the key clothing provinces in China – as they likely have more expertise than others. But aside from that, think of the size of the manufacturers, the established manufacturing system, and their specialization when you choose them.
But aside from that, it is wise to involve objective third-party companies, like us at HQTS, to order an inspection service, supplier audit, or test the goods in a lab. Click here to learn more about our garment inspection processes and how to contact us.
