The Complete Guide to Finding the Right Clothing Manufacturer

What is a clothing manufacturer?

Apparel clothing manufacturers perform all the necessary tasks for turning raw materials into garments, and they often do so on a grand scale. As a bare minimum, garment factories cut, sew, and finish clothing items before shipping them, but they may also be involved in other elements of the process too, like design. The extent to which clothing manufacturing companies can fulfil some or all of these operations will be down to what equipment they have invested in, how many workers they employ, and how skilled they are.

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For comparison, Loto Garment?employs more than 400 people, Loto Garment invests $100,000 a year in new equipment, and selects and trains highly skilled workers. Our latest cutting-edge garment manufacturing investments include an auto-templating machine, an automatic cutting machine, and an automatic buttoning machine, to name just three.

The process of turning raw fabrics into finished goods also involves steps like quality checks , evaluation of size and fit, sizing standardization, sourcing materials from a clothing manufacturer supplier, and much more to create a varied mix of products.

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Another important aspect of apparel manufacturing is production planning, which ensures that each stage of the process is conducted efficiently, making the best use of workers, equipment, and materials.

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OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) clothing production

Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) is a business model where clothing is produced based on another company’s designs. It’s a collaborative process that allows companies to create custom apparel that reflects their own unique vision.

As a clothing brand, you create the designs, and then the manufacturer sources the materials and produces the final garments. Essentially, it’s a partnership where all the different aspects of production and quality control are handed over to the experts, although the customer does have input into things like fabric selection. ??

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Advantages of OEM

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· Customization: Customers are in control of every aspect of their clothing line because the manufacturer is simply there to carry out their detailed instructions. This ensures that products are unique and tailored to their audience.

· Brand Identity: OEM helps maintain a brand’s distinctiveness in the market by producing garments that embody the brand’s values and aesthetics.

· Quality Assurance: Customers can set and enforce quality standards throughout the manufacturing process, which can leave them with a greater level of satisfaction.

· Efficiency: OEM partnerships can lead to more efficient production, which cuts down on costs and lead times.

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Clothing industry companies looking to use an OEM manufacturer should ensure that they can supply the cloth factory with accurate tech packs and specification sheets, fabrics, trims, patterns, sewing guidance and construction requirements. For this reason it’s probably an approach that’s best suited to more experienced brands.

Hebei Loto Garment offers OEM manufacturing services and uses the well-respected AQL 2.5 quality control inspection standard, which gives the customer precise control over the number of permitted defects.

OEM Drawbacks

The OEM approach is designed for experienced brands with an established production background that have the know-how to provide a solid tech pack. This is important because any mistakes that newcomers make when putting the tech pack together could result in costly and time-consuming errors. That’s why, for new brands, Loto Garment recommends exploring the ODM approach.

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ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) clothing production

With this approach, the manufacturer is responsible for covering every stage of the garment creation process, including design, pattern making, sourcing fabric and trims, sample creation, and garment production.?

Customization and Expertise

The Hebei Loto Garment factory is based in China, and it offers customization options for our ready-made styles, including colour changes. The minimum order quantity is 500 pieces per style in two colours. Our team includes research and development designers, pattern makers, quality control experts, procurement specialists, business strategists, and freight managers, and each one of them is dedicated to creating and delivering high-quality garments.

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Benefits of Choosing Loto

· Reduced R&D Costs: Loto’s in-house designers mean that clients can save on the cost of design.

· Support for Customization: Customers can select and personalize pre-made jacket styles from our extensive catalogue.

· Efficient Delivery: Loto maintains a well-stocked inventory, which ensures that delivery times are quick for our ODM jackets.

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Our approach as one of the best high-quality clothing suppliers is to provide a smooth experience for our customers from design to delivery, and our aim is to help clothing brands of every size to achieve their full potential with cost-effective, fashionable, and high-quality garments.

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The process begins when a wholesale garment manufacturer (like us) consults with the brand (like you) to understand your requirements. They then take the initial sketches or mood boards and use them to create the technical designs needed for production. They may offer to help with sourcing fabrics from a clothing manufacturer supplier, which is certainly something that Loto Garment does, as the company have long-standing relationships with high-quality fabric suppliers. It’s also worth remembering that Loto Garment has its finger on the pulse of current fashion trends thanks to our connections with designers in the UK and Germany.

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In short, manufacturers with an ODM capability like us can walk brands like yours through every stage of the product development and manufacturing process.

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Benefits of ODM

ODM is an ideal choice for brands that are just getting started, as the manufacturer takes control of the process and has the experience to help them avoid costly mistakes.

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Drawbacks

Since ODM is a comprehensive service it’s only natural that it requires a higher amount of investment from the customer, and in return, it places the majority of the production burden on the manufacturer. This is good, but as a clothing brand, you need to be sure that you only select a company that has the resources and expertise to live up to this promise. One thing that you can be sure of that Loto Garment certainly does. In fact, Loto Garment recently opened a brand new factory ?to increase our production capacity. Loto Garment now operates 18 production lines in 30,000 m2 of factory space, which allows us to handle a maximum overall production capacity of 70,000 items a month.

How do I find a clothing line manufacturer?

Finding a clothing line manufacturer is simple but finding the best garment manufacturer, and in particular, a reliable one with the capacity to create your clothing to the right quality standard and deliver your order on time (every time) is not so easy. There are countless bulk wholesale clothing suppliers out there, but finding a good one without paying over the odds can be difficult. This is why it's so important to use?a manufacturer with a track record of delivering great value for money.

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Hebei Loto?Garment is a pioneer?in the design and production of outdoor apparel. The company was established in 2001, and since then has?carved out a niche in crafting specialized outerwear. Our offerings include a range of ski wear, athleisure, and urban clothing, including versatile hard and softshell garments for outdoor comfort and protection.

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Strategically located near Shijiazhuang city, our two manufacturing units are staffed by over 400 local artisans across 9 production lines. This setup ensures consistent quality and swift delivery times.

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With over two decades of expertise, Loto Garment excels in producing ski and snowboard jackets and pants. Our designs are very popular among enthusiasts seeking adrenaline-pumping experiences on the slopes.

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Outdoor and Hiking Gear

Our proficiency extends to creating soft shells, hard shells, and hiking apparel. Each piece is designed to be adaptable, stylish, and functional, and Loto Garment?incorporates recycled materials for an eco-friendly approach (which is something that you can emphasise as a selling point.)

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Customized Solutions

Looking for women outerwear manufacturers?

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Down Jackets

This women’s long puffer jacket is ?a great example of the kind of quality you can expect from good quality clothing suppliers?like Loto Garment. This women's long puffer coat is not your average item of clothing; rather, it is a work of warmth and style that embodies Lotogarment's two decades of experience in the luxury clothing industry. The long down coat is cozy and comforting due to its attractive design and excellent insulation, blending style with practicality to cosset the wearer and keep them dry in all conditions.

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· Waterproof - Tested to 3,000mm, suitable for heavy rain up to 10,000mm

· Breathable - doesn’t lock in moisture, so the wearer stays dry and comfy. Rated from 3,000g to 5,000g

· Fake down in the body and sleeves

· Vents on the side seam are fixed with hidden buttons

· Good quality sleeve ribbing

· Label on the left sleeve

· 3D print on the left side of the chest

Workwear

Drawing on more than 20 years of experience, Loto Garment?designs and produces durable, secure, and comfortable workwear . Our commitment is to meeting client needs while offering professional insights on functionality and design.

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Where is the best place to have clothing manufactured?

Clothing manufacturers overseas frequently offer the best combination of value, quality, and reliability. There are huge numbers of garment factories all over the world, but the country with the most is China! This vast nation is home to the world's second-largest economy and it boasts a huge manufacturing sector. Its garment manufacturing industry in particular has amassed decades of experience and expertise, but despite being the equal of production facilities in many other nations, the right overseas clothes factory wholesaler?can deliver finished products at much lower costs than those in most Western economies can compete with. ?If you’re looking at partnering with clothing manufacturers overseas, then China has to be your number one choice. It’s certainly been the top choice for Loto’s legion of loyal customers over the last 20+ years, who rate us as the best outerwear manufacturer.

What is the largest clothing manufacturer?

While not technically a manufacturer, the largest clothing company in the world is LVMH, with a market cap of a staggering $479.09 billion. Even though they don’t manufacture, as such, they are still responsible for?a huge amount of manufacturing. In the U.S., the largest clothing company is TJX Companies, which has an annual revenue of $48.55 billion. These companies are leaders in the global apparel industry, which has a market size of $1.53 trillion.

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In terms of nations, the accolade of the largest clothing manufacturer goes to China. With a huge share of the market, the country is a significant presence in the global clothing industry, thanks to its vast number of cheap wholesale clothing manufacturers?and a large workforce dedicated to garment production. China’s dominance in the sector is due to its extensive manufacturing infrastructure and competitive pricing.

Where are most clothing brands manufactured?

Most clothing brands manufacture their products in a variety of countries, but the largest manufacturer and exporter of clothing and apparel products is China, with 65% of the world’s clothing being made there.

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The second largest country for clothing manufacturing is Bangladesh, which is responsible for a significant portion of global garment exports.

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Other notable countries where you will find wholesale clothing manufacturers include:

· Vietnam: Accounting for 5.2% of the global market share.

· India: Holding a 4% share of the global textile and apparel trade.

· Turkey: The country has a 3.8% share in the global clothing industry.

· Europe: Top manufacturing countries include Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

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These countries are key players in the global apparel manufacturing industry, which also includes the USA, Pakistan, the Philippines, Kenya, Sri Lanka, and Ethiopia. It’s important to note that while a clothing business may have its headquarters and design its clothes in one part of the world, it may have suppliers scattered in many other countries.

How Do You Find the Perfect Wholesale Clothing Supplier??

Finding the perfect wholesale clothing supplier is one of several important steps on the road to making your clothing business viable:

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· Research: You can track down the best?clothing manufacturers and wholesale clothing suppliers with Google, Bing, and other search engines. Loto Garment?specializes in outdoor wear, so if that’s what you’re looking for Loto Garment?can certainly help.

· Check the quality: Ask for samples! There’s nothing like holding actual products in your own hands to understand how good they are. Loto Garment and will be happy to send you samples. Our approach to quality control is very thorough. Loto Garment?performs checks at every stage of the production process, so it’s hard to imagine any defects managing to slip in at all!

· Understand Minimum Orders and Payment Terms: Check these for each supplier to ensure they align with your business model and budget.

· Look into Shipping Options and Costs: Avoid any unwelcome surprises by factoring in these costs.

· Sustainability: Most brands now recognize that environmentally conscious business practices are good for the planet but also good for business, because customers want to shop with a clear conscience.

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You can find the right supplier by reading through their cloth factory website. It’s probably the quickest way of finding one that’s going to fit with your business goals and values.

Research potential suppliers

You can find the best vendors for clothing lines through research. Here’s what to look for when you are auditioning for wholesale apparel clothing manufacturers:

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· Quality and Craftsmanship: They should be able to demonstrate a deep technical understanding of fabrics and how garments are made.

· Reputation and Reliability: Read online reviews, visit the factory, if possible, talk to the staff, and check the samples they provide. Loto Garment?sends our employees to visit our suppliers’ factories and encourage you to visit us to inspect your sample and bulk orders.

?· Capacity and Scalability: Even cheap clothes vendors should be able to look after your current and future production demands.

· Communication and Collaboration: Look for a firm that is responsive, transparent, and willing to work closely with you to understand your brand’s vision and requirements.

· Manufacturing Methods: Think about whether you need cheap clothing suppliers

that offer ‘cut-make-trim’ or fully inclusive manufacturing services.

Location: Where they are in the world can influence cost, quality, lead time, and communication, but distance itself is not always a problem. It’s more a question of transport infrastructure. Read reviews from customers to quickly help you to get a sense of how long a manufacturer’s lead times are in reality.

· Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs): Each manufacturer will have their own MOQ policy. Make sure it aligns with your business model and budget. With Loto Garment the minimum production run is usually 500 pieces.

· Employment practices: Choosing a manufacturer based solely on price could be unethical. Some keep costs down at the expense of good working practices. Loto Garment?holds BSCI and SLCP certifications, reflecting our commitment to social compliance and ethical business practices. Loto Garment?pays our workers well above the local average living wages, they receive adequate breaks, work normal-length shifts in a comfortable, air-conditioned environment, and they can get three free meals a day in our clean canteens. What’s more, Loto Garment?never employs child labour (unlike some). ?

· Sustainability: If sustainability is a key value for your brand, look for suppliers who prioritize ethical production practices. Loto Garment?certainly does:

?Loto Garment?recycles all our industrial waste and heat the water for the factory with solar panels. ?

The roof is thermally insulated, windows are UV-protected to reduce the use of air-conditioning, signage helps to encourage lower water usage, and Loto Garment?uses eco-friendly lighting and energy-saving production line machinery. Things like like paper, plastics, batteries, and fabrics, are recycled separately, and when conditions allow, some of our profits are reinvested into making even more eco-friendly improvements to our factories.

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All of this goes to help you, the brand owner because it’s all evidence of sustainable manufacturing that your customers are becoming more and more concerned about. So, in that sense, Loto Garment?can help to boost your sales with our ethical credentials. When you’re looking at other potential manufacturers, be sure to ask them if they can say the same.

Building a relationship with your chosen manufacturer?

As with any other relationship, the key to building a good relationship with your garment manufacturer online is communication. Loto Garment?puts you, the customer, at the heart of our operations, and it’s being the key to building such great, long-lasting relationships with the customers who continue to make us their designer clothing manufacturer supplier of choice. You may be able to find other cheap wholesale clothing suppliers, but you will not be able to find any that is as customer-focused as Loto Garment.

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Our values ?are important to us. Loto Garment treats our customers, suppliers, and employees with the same level of honesty, seeing it as the minimum requirement for a productive and successful business.