How to Find Streetwear Manufacturers from China?
China is one of the largest sources of textile and apparel in the world when it comes to finding streetwear manufacturers. In April 2022, Chinese apparel manufacturers produced more than 3.23 billion meters of apparel fabrics. China accounts for 31.6 percent of the global market, and international fashion brands such as Nike and Gap rely on these markets for imports.
But it's hard to find quality streetwear manufacturers in this vast country, so to help you out, we've created the ultimate guide on how to find streetwear manufacturers in China.
Although many upcoming Southeast Asian countries compete with China in the garment manufacturing business, China remains a major player. The country is by far the world's largest exporter of clothing -- and that likely won't change for the foreseeable future.
There are many reasons why sourcing streetwear from Chinese manufacturers can be beneficial for your organization. We've listed some key advantages below.
1. Reduce Labor Costs
Manufacturing clothing is a process that requires a lot of labor and resources to produce goods efficiently. One of the notable benefits is the lower cost compared to more expensive Western options. China offers higher labor capacity at a lower cost, typical labor cost is $660 per month. Because of this, organizations are able to save on labor costs and preserve capital for growth and expansion.
2. Highly Skilled Workforce and Well-developed Factories
State-of-the-art manufacturing processes and production skill sets. Unlike its Southeast Asian counterparts, China has a long history of fabric exports and is known for having the richest textile resources in the world. Most Chinese streetwear manufacturers are strategically concentrated in different regions of the country, such as Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Shandong.
This means that these areas have a highly skilled workforce. In addition to this, many organizations need to purchase large quantities of clothing in a short period of time. Because of this, China has invested heavily in craftsmanship and technology to meet this need. It allows organizations to scale at a faster rate.
3. Efficient Supply Chain Capabilities
China is one of the countries with the most developed supply chain capabilities. Chinese streetwear manufacturers offer an efficient and streamlined logistics experience for the timely delivery of goods. Many Chinese streetwear manufacturers also offer full-service packages to further help organizations reduce supply chain costs.
4. Product Manufacturing Experience
Chinese streetwear manufacturers have a lot of experience in manufacturing their products. The country also has a long history in garment manufacturing, with expertise in creating garments in a variety of styles and materials to suit your organization's design requirements.
Is the Quality of Chinese Streetwear Good?
The quality of Chinese streetwear can vary from poor to good, depending on where and who they are made from.
If the manufacturer is professional and has a good record of service, the item should be preferred over less legitimate and professional items. This is another reason you must be cautious when deciding to work with a manufacturer.
How to Find Streetwear Manufacturers in China?
Most of China's textile and garment industry is concentrated in the eastern coastal areas of China, including the provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Shandong. In addition, Wuxi, Nantong, Changzhou, and other cities also have a series of textile industrial parks. However, while there are many Chinese streetwear manufacturers, it can be difficult to know where to find the ideal manufacturer for your business. Fortunately, there are several avenues for doing this, including:
1. Use a Third-party Agency to Find Chinese Clothing Suppliers
If your organization has no experience in this area, third-party organizations are a great way to source Chinese apparel suppliers using their experience in the Chinese manufacturing market. This can potentially save time and the potential risk of working with a less reputable supplier.
2. Find Chinese Streetwear Manufacturers Through Online B2B Marketplaces
There are several markets in China that manufacturers use as storefronts for services. The most popular services are:
Alibaba – The website is the leading global marketplace connecting international buyers with Asian suppliers. This is a great channel to find streetwear manufacturers in China, offering over 15 million products on their platform.
Made in China - a comprehensive foreign trade service platform with 3,800+ categories and 6 million suppliers.
Global Source - a well-established Hong Kong B2B channel, connecting buyers and suppliers online.
These platforms allow you to establish direct communication with manufacturers for smooth communication. It is worth noting, however, that the quality of these suppliers may vary. Before you order any products from a third-party company, it is best to arrange for the third-party company to provide an objective quality inspection service.
3. Look for Clothing Manufacturers from China Fashion Show
China hosts several fashion exhibitions and trade shows across the country. These are great opportunities to see products in person and make real connections with manufacturers.
China's top fashion fairs include:
- Canton Fair
- Yiwu Trade Fair
- China International Clothing & Accessories Fair
- East China Import and Export Fair
4. Google Search
This might come as a surprise, but search engines like Google are an excellent resource for finding custom clothing manufacturers.
One thing to note is that manufacturers don't regularly update their websites, so you might have to scroll a lot to find any relevant results.
But don't worry. There are a lot of legitimate clothing producers out there!
5. Lodyway
Lodyway is a custom streetwear manufacturer with 30 years of experience. From design, procurement, proofing, mass production, labeling, printing, and shipment, a mature production structure can enable start-ups to develop rapidly. At the same time, the brand quality is also guaranteed, and the product qualification rate is as high as 99%.
Lodyway can service every order of every clothing brand. According to the change of design style, the difference in clothing version and size in the process of processing, due to different fabrics, different performance, elastic size, and other factors. Lodyway has a mature production management process of controlling the shape of the board, stabilizing the size, and making good workmanship.
Tips for Sourcing Streetwear Manufacturers in China
Finding a manufacturer that matches your organization's requirements can be a challenging task at first. Here are some tips to help you navigate through the many options available:
1. Find Wholesale Streetwear Manufacturers According to the Size of Your Business
When it comes to finding a manufacturer, sometimes bigger isn't better. Many of the larger apparel suppliers in China have minimum order requirements and often handle large orders from major customers.
If you are a smaller organization, it is advisable to look for small to medium manufacturers who may be more inclined to offer smaller minimum orders and invest more time into your order specifications.
2. Choose a Garment Manufacturer with a Formal Production System
There are several certifications that can give Chinese streetwear manufacturers more legitimacy. For example, the certificate for good manufacturing processes is named ISO 9001:2008. Suppliers who do this will have more professional and high-quality products than those who do not.
Therefore, when choosing a partner, it is key to pay attention to the manufacturer's certification.
3. Divide Streetwear Manufacturers to Their Strengths
There are more than 44,000 manufacturers in China's apparel industry, some of which specialize in certain aspects of the textile industry, from leather goods to shirts to trousers. Professional streetwear manufacturers usually have better expertise in their particular field. So try to choose your manufacturer based on their expertise in certain items.
This allows utilizing the expertise of each manufacturer to obtain the most effective product.
Lodyway can provide you with corresponding help according to your needs. We can provide you with low MOQ and corresponding favorable prices, which can help you save costs and avoid slow sales. We have professional designers who can help you design the clothes you want. We also have professional sales staff to help you sell your goods. We can accept various payment methods and shipping methods. To provide you with convenient one-stop service.
How to Mitigate Risks When Sourcing Streetwear Manufacturers in China?
The procurement process is not easy and full of risks. It is important to understand the risks and actively reduce them. We have summarized three effective ways to reduce risks and ensure the quality of textile products.
Examine
It is always wise to inspect textiles before shipping them to the respective countries. This practice will help reduce the risk of any issues that may arise from poorly manufactured products and ensure that the products meet your business needs. Inspections can range throughout the entire production process, from production monitoring to pre-shipment inspections.
Review
Another effective way to reduce risk is to conduct factory audits. These audits ensure that selected manufacturers are implementing best practices and give you peace of mind that Chinese streetwear manufacturers are producing goods to the standard.
Test
Sending a manufacturer's item to a testing lab is a great way to test garments. These tests can identify fabric composition, color fastness, azo dyes, and more. You can read more about common chemical tests for textiles and apparel in our previous blog post.
Conclusion
Selecting the right manufacturer is a crucial task in ensuring the quality of garments meets your business standards. But with more than 44,000 textile manufacturers in China, it won't be easy.
It is wise to choose a manufacturer in one of China's major clothing provinces - as they may have more expertise than others. But beyond that, when choosing a manufacturer, consider its size, established manufacturing system, and degree of specialization. Lodyway as a professional custom streetwear manufacturer, our custom design service will help you grow your brand! If you are looking for a streetwear manufacturer, welcome to contact us.