How to Find Garment and Clothing Manufacturers in the EU // Best Apparel in the European Union

The European fashion industry is an important piece of the world’s clothing industry for history, culture, and innovation. While the industry is mainly affiliated with the fashion business, the development includes items such as leather garments, fur products, knitted and quilted garments, and also, among many other things, streetwear and safety gear. Clothing goods made in the EU are exemplary regarding the environment, public protection, and labor rights. The industry is closely related to both the textile and leather industries.
catwalk, models, women

Table of Contents

The garment and apparel industry is among the biggest industries in the world in Europe. In the past 15 years or so, a variety of relocations have occurred for Clothing Manufacturers in the EU. Trade-in textiles in the European Union is governed by an arrangement between the EU and third countries based on technological and environmental legislation and regulations. Within the World Trade Organization structure, the internal trade in textile and apparel products in the EU is governed by the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, which ensures that the laws of the Agreement are followed.

The European Union is the biggest market for garment and clothing items in the world. Despite the general movement towards shifting production to Asia and even beyond, the European industry continues to be a vibrant and vital part of the European market. As of 2017, Statista reports, more than 176,000 firms are involved in the textile and manufacturing sector in Europe.

The garment industry reached revenue of almost EUR 80 billion in 2018, with exports hitting almost EUR 27 billion. The European apparel sector is the second largest exporter after China, accounting for 29 percent of the global economy. As for the type of products shipped, 40% are women’s apparel, followed by 23%.

The countries with the highest textile industries in terms of output value are Italy, Spain, and Portugal, which account for 75% of all inventory costs in the EU. The industry hires more than 1.1 million employees in 130,000 businesses across Europe, of which 99 percent are small to medium-sized firms. The leading economies in the textile industry are Romania, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, and Portugal. As with gender equality at work, textile production is driven by women (81 percent of all workers).

This article is one of many that covers manufacturing clothing different parts of the world. If you want to see the top countries for manufacturing clothing please see the list here: https://www.sourcinghub.io/top-country-to-manufacture-clothing-the-12-largest/

European Union Clothing Industry

The garment and apparel industry is among the world’s biggest sectors. It consists of large benefit stocks and the production of several countries worldwide and, in part, developed countries. It contributes to 5.7% of the global export output in US$, 8.3% of the value of the producer products, and more than 14% of the world’s jobs. In the EU, 120,000 garment and apparel firms employ more than 2 million staff, responsible for 7.6 percent of the EU sector’s total workforce. Output and labor force is typical of the related degree of geographical concentration within the group. The general populace is female.

Many businesses are extending their full production to developing countries and the Mediterranean. Due to these countries’ geographical location, EU suppliers can adjust consumer conditions and manage the output by controlling and increasing output efficiency. EU countries are now using research and technological growth to be a strategic tool in the integration process. Associate members invest in the total budget and pay high annual membership fees. At the same time, their research institutes, universities, businesses, small and medium-sized businesses engage in programs under the same circumstances as the EU Member States.

The European textile and garment industry’s trade sector underlines the need to foster creativity and the clothing sector through research, growth, technology, increased supply efficiency, and rationalization of purchases. The key objective of the high-tech cluster for competition and continuous growth of the European textile industry is: to continue research activities and the development of new technologies; to identify creative solutions for improved competitiveness and modernization of the European textile sector; to ensure new transition structures to end extension, reimbursement, and implementation.

How to Choose the Right Clothing Manufacturers in the EU

European Union is a host to some of the most significant clothing and fashion events in human history and today’s most popular designers, entrepreneurs, and creators. Made in European Union is a label of tradition, unmatched consistency, and award-winning quality. European Union is home to thousands of major companies and manufacturers, globally recognized designers, thousands of young aspiring designers, and forward-thinking investors, academics, and teachers.

Today, the EU garment and clothing market continues to be a small and medium-sized industry. Companies with less than 50 workers account for over 90 percent of the staff and account for over 60 percent of the revenue added. Clothing and textiles are also one of the most globalized sectors with a manufacturing, wholesale and retail network with only one commodity covering hundreds of stakeholders and several continents.

Finding the best manufacturing facility for the new sets is a key to a profitable brand in better manufacturing processes and brand image. The selection of clothing manufacturers across the globe is bewildering, so it’s important to take the time to study well.

If you are looking to partner with a clothing manufacturer, the following are some of the considerations you should be looking for:

Decide Your Clothing Business Objectives

Before you encounter clothing companies, it is crucial to have all the pertinent information collected before making requests. If you know what you’re aiming to accomplish, you’ll be able to communicate your perspective effectively to the clothing factory. Identifying the numbers is among the most critical things since factories would focus on the amount you are aiming to make. This critical knowledge is also a key decision-maker for costing reasons, meaning that the factory can turn it over to the inquiry point to help guide discussions.

Of course, at this point, you’re not going to know every detail, but working on a broader vision and building the stable groundwork for a brand strategy would mean that you and your future apparel manufacturer start on the same page from day one. Since you have planned your brand strategy and have a list of specifications for your new line, the next step is to research the garment suppliers.

Research the Options of Clothing Factory and Ask Questions

The garment industry may sound like a difficult field to join, but it’s simpler than ever to get your clothing company off the ground with various tools accessible by pressing a button. Researching garment factories is a quick task and, with the aid of a friend, it is much simpler to make communication with relevant suppliers. Once you have shortlisted several manufacturers, you can pose various questions to get the best details and quotations on the next venture.

Have They Ever Worked On Related Projects Before?

One of the easiest ways to assess if the clothing company suits your project is if they’ve collaborated on related projects before. Getting concrete evidence from a prospective manufacturing company is a clear indication of the consistency and level of operation that you would expect if you operated together.

Do They focus on Your Product?

Many manufacturing companies produce a wide variety of items and appeal to a wide range of standards; however, much like other companies, certain producers specialize in particular clothing or processes. This may help your brand since having a textile factory that recognizes your dream and has deep expertise and understanding of your niche would usually have advanced facilities and tools to manufacture high-quality products.

Minimum Order Quantity for EU Manufacturers

Before you deal with an apparel manufacturer, you have to recognize the minimum order quantity (MOQ), i.e., the minimum amount of orders you have to purchase in a single purchase agreement. The MOQ may range from 150 to 2000 or even more. Without a MOQ, you’ll barely find any producer.

Minimums are a crucial factor to remember when making a fashion label. This number may influence the expense of your finished product and, in some situations, may restrict the number of products. It is also necessary to set the quantity you would need for each type of garment since these MOQs are usually style-dependent, not the overall amount of different garments you need to make.

If you believe their MOQ is high, consider bargaining as best as you can. Don’t compromise for MOQ greater than 500, as you can leave with excessive stock if the goods don’t sell as expected, particularly in the apparel market, where the goods rely on seasons and trends.

What Methods Of Production Will They Offer?

Clothing suppliers have various manufacturing methods on sale to help consumers settle on the best possible route for their products. The preference for fashion labels depends on how much assistance you need at the start. Would you need a full-service kit from idea generation to the formation, or do you even have anything ready to carry your clothes right to production? The response to this question will give you a better idea of whether you’d like to generate CMT (Cut, Make, and Trim) or FPP (Full Package Production).

As the name suggests, FPP packages are ideal for emerging apparel labels that require a full-service approach. CMT manufacturing is a more cost-effective choice for existing brands that need less feedback and allows you increased leverage over the finished product.

Will The Clothing Factory Ramp Up Production For Potential Growth?

Most brands of clothes strive to become well-recognized brands in the fashion world. If it’s in the type of mass-produced apparel enjoyed by hundreds of people or in the context of unique collections worn by a small market, predicting your industry’s value is critical in deciding whether a clothing manufacturer can grow to your business expansion.

It may not be a deciding factor in the near term since building up your business is always the most critical initial step, but if you evolve rapidly, finding a supplier that will develop with you is key for a seamless and clear transition.

Production Capacity

This is one thing you may not want to address until your company persists in growing.  You’re committed to making the first few orders and delivering them while you’re only starting up your clothing company. But what if your revenues were to spike and in the first week? You’ve got to be ready for the same thing. It is also necessary to determine whether you can depend on your vendor to manage more capacity as your sales rise. If you wouldn’t want to lose prospective consumers, don’t avoid talking to your manufacturing company regarding their manufacturing capacity.

Look at Clothing and Garment Samples

After the initial inquiry, demanding to see any samples is a perfect way to compare the output level. At this point, it is helpful to ask for specimens that are as similar to the finished items as possible, but it is also worth remembering that they are not supposed to match your exact specifications. There are a few important places to watch out for when inspecting samples from garment manufacturers, which will allow you to make your ultimate decision.

Quality Standards

Sadly, this is not something you can request from the manufacturer on the phone or by email. However, you can consult their manufacturing facilities, confirm their industrial processes and materials, and confirm the raw material’s reliability and the finished designs. If you are dealing with an abroad manufacturer and would not want to invest an unnecessary amount on travel, you can request to send you a few other samples.

Quality is a crucial factor that contributes to clothing. Know that the quality of your products defines your public image in the fashion industry. So, please ensure you collaborate with a manufacturing company that produces high-quality clothing. You’re fine paying higher prices than putting your public image at risk for a few dollars.

Do They Have Working Ethical Standards?

Ethical standards and productivity have been a central consideration in the decision-making phase in recent times. This is highly common for clothing companies that have built a solid reputation for eco-conscious garments. Collaborating with apparel suppliers who have common ethics will ensure that the clothing is manufactured according to your brand values and help establish a good relationship with related organizations. Checking into how they produce products, what measures they take to minimize their environmental impact, and whether they possess any ‘green’ accreditations can help you assess their appropriateness.

Reviews and Ratings

This is among the most efficient ways to discover the perfect clothing company in your industry. You can visit 3rd parties online reviews like Yelp and social media platforms such as Facebook to confirm their durability. You also can check out their website to see what their company’s customer responses seem to be.

If you have several other brands that have collaborated with the clothing manufacturer in the past, please contact them and know their knowledge. Have they been confronted with any issues? Were they pleased with the quality? Nothing will ever defeat truthful feedback from customers and reviews.

Where to Find the Right Clothing Manufacturer

Even though you can quickly find clothing companies thanks to the internet, discovering reliable and trusted manufacturing companies can be difficult. Here are some tried as well as tested places to obtain credible manufacturers of clothing.

Industry And Trade Fairs

Industry meetings and trade exhibits can be precious for you if you’re looking for a clothing manufacturer. In reality, trade shows are known as goldsmiths for discovering and meeting existing clothing manufacturers. As apparel and clothing categories are involved, there is no shortage of trade shows and networking events.

Online Business Directories

Yeah, you heard that correctly. Online Business directories also operate and supply you with specific details regarding apparel suppliers like their phone number, email address, office address, etc. Not only that, but you can also utilize it to locate offshore clothing suppliers.

Your Networks

In the textile industry, communication is essential. To make an educated decision, you should speak to people in the same industry about locating fabric suppliers. The sources are often better than the analysis. Speaking to everyone around you or others in a similar company will help you find the right responses.

Search Engines

Search engines like Google will help determine the best apparel suppliers, including domestic and international. If you are willing to do some work and dig deeper into your quest’s findings, you might eventually find an acceptable clothing manufacturer.

That being said, the real trick is that while many clothing manufacturers use unethical methods to score highly in their search engine results. So, make sure you visit at minimum the very first 15 pages before you limit your option to just one. Also, to improve your quest, use unique keywords rather than standard keywords.

How to Make Contact with a Cloth Manufacturing Company

Keeping in touch with a factory isn’t always easy. It’s crucial for the factory to know who you are and your product when you step out. It’s best to keep this easy and short. Mention the name of your brand, your key product, and what you want to make. It’s also essential to have a tech pack when you reach out. If you do not have a tech kit, please have a thorough overview of the software you are trying to make. The below is a list of important items that you may like to include for your product before you reach out:

  • Approximate budget
  • General Timetable.
  • Pictures or drawings of a product
  • Your specific requirements, like materials, production, sampling, and planning.
  • What’s the state of the new phase, and what you need assistance with
  • Mention if you need company consulting.
  • Factory criteria, like the site and the capacity for end-to-end production

After you have approached the manufacturer, it is essential to have a successful relationship with them. Be very careful when you talk and hold all your stuff coordinated. It’s also useful to keep a note of all the factories you’ve contacted. Manufacturing plants are always very preoccupied, and you can have to pursue them up several times after you hit them once.

Final Thoughts on Sourcing clothing in the EU

So, this is it. In the definitive guide to selecting the optimal clothing manufacturers in European Union, we’ve addressed almost all you need to understand when you’re searching for a dependable clothing manufacturer for your company or organization.

Know that attempting to find a clothing manufacturer is an important task for your company. So, please ensure you spend some quality time on investigation and find an appropriate manufacturing companion who recognizes your specifications. The additional time you spend on choosing the best clothing manufacturer can benefit you in the future and help you avoid possible future disappointments. Selecting an inadequate manufacturer can lead to unwanted costs, postponements in manufacturing, and low-quality product lines. Perhaps not this, but you’re also losing prospective consumers to your competing companies.

4 thoughts on “How to Find Garment and Clothing Manufacturers in the EU // Best Apparel in the European Union”

  1. Well, I really enjoyed reading it. This information procured by you is very constructive for good planning.

  2. Hello,

    Greetings from Protex Fashion Limited in China.(http://www.protexclothes.com/).

    As a clothing manufacturer and design company, we’re here to help you at every step of the journey. We are dedicated to helping fashion brands go from concept to finished product and beyond. I’m pleased to inform you that we have been working with many famous and luxury womenswear companies especially in the USA and Europe.

    Our strong and professional production team wants you to focus on marketing and efforts on growing your company into an empire instead of worrying about quality problems or delivery time. We wish our experience on this field can help you open the market and get a strong back behind.

    Should you wanna know more about our company, please visit our website, that’ll be appreciated!

    Attractive products & price can be provided as per your request.

    I hope to hear from you soon!

    Best regards
    David (hello@protexclothes.com)

  3. Hello,

    Protex Industrial (H.K.) Limited was founded in 1964 in Hong Kong, specializes in apparel production. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Protex launched its first branch in 1992, an extensive production network was successfully established throughout China after years of hard work. Its high fashion woven factory, knitters factory, sweater and down factories manufacture over 1 million pieces of garments annually for the leading brands. Annual output value reaches more than 40 million US dollars.

    With integrity, quality product, flexibility, versatility and efficiency, Protex serves a diversified portfolio of the world’s top brands.

    Best regards
    David (hello@protexclothes.com)
    http://www.protexclothes.com/

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Jim Kennemer

Jim Kennemer is the Founder of Cosmo Sourcing and Sourcinghub.io. He has helped 100’s of clients source more than $100 Million USD worth of products from both China and Vietnam. Products that he has sourced have ended up in almost every major retailer for clients from over 30 countries.

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