The Guide to Importing Clothing and Textiles from China

There are three steps for you to open up your knowledge on how to import cloth from China: The basic of understanding the production district system, the ability to distinguish the characteristics of the products, and the ability to identify how to handle your supplier.

On the other hand, it is a market that has immense potential to expand. However, navigating the market might be challenging.

There is much to note, from the sourcing process to shipping. However, once you find the rhythm, it is easy. In this extensive guide, we cover all you need to know. Continue reading to learn the steps to take and stand out.

Why Import Clothing and Fabrics from China? 

Many first-time importers have asked me this question. It is a pretty good question. I mean, there are several clothing markets, including local ones. So, why import from China?

First, the country has one of the fastest-growing fabric and clothing industries. It keeps taking longer strides and beating expectations.

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.

Here are five solid reasons why China is an excellent choice: 

• Competitive Prices: China is well-known for its low manufacturing and labour costs. Since the country’s low capital, it can afford to lower its prices. It is different from countries that have higher manufacturing and labour costs.
• Quality Products: China has many talented craftsmen. It is also technologically advanced, which has led to more quality products. China also blends traditional and modern styles, giving products a timeless design.
• Wide Range of Products: Fabric and clothing are among the most diverse markets. Several clothing materials can be used to make countless types of products. You are open to various options when you visit a Chinese fabric market.

The products are from knitting and sewing machines. They include sweaters, skirts, dresses, and several types of underwear. All these fabrics, from linen to cotton, are available. Plus, they come in different forms. You would find tablecloths and even knitted outfits.

What Are the Main Clothing and Textile Markets in China?

China has an extensive chain of markets. There are tons of options for selling different products. About 44 thousand companies deal in textiles and apparel in China. These many companies mean you can expect various options. 

When I was visiting different places in China a while back, I couldn’t fathom how many different clothing items were on sale.

The media doesn’t do justice to it. The markets were packed with clothes and fabrics. There was a modern style I was used to staying in the US. 

Then, there were other unique styles imbued with Chinese culture. It will be close to impossible to mention all the different companies. You will find these companies in Jiangsu, Fujian, Guangdong, and other neighbouring regions. 

Some notable places include:

Key Strategies for Successful Clothing Sourcing in China

This table shows a clear pathway to successful apparel sourcing: manufacturing specialization, verification of the credentials of suppliers, and identification of traders provide the trifecta to find reliable partners.

Are Chinese Textiles and Clothing of Good Quality?

Like most markets, the quality of Chinese garments is on a spectrum. Contrary to popular belief, Chinese products are not of low quality.

Instead, their quality ranges from poor to excellent. There are steps you can take to ensure quality always.

These steps include choosing a trusted platform with a good track record. You can spot these suppliers by reading reviews and opting for factory inspections.

Also, you can request samples when you find a manufacturer that interests you. But how do you get the right supplier? Let’s talk about it.

How to Find Clothing and Fabrics Suppliers From China?

Many of the textile markets are nestled in the country’s eastern side. Aside from these markets, there are also industrial parks.

However, going to these spots can still make it difficult to find the right option. Here is how to find the ideal supplier to meet your business needs.

1) Hire a Third-party Agency to Source Suppliers

If you are new and have a bit of cash to spare, opt for third-party agencies. These agencies can save you time and effort, especially if you are not experienced. They also prevent you from working with an unprofessional supplier.

The Role of China Sourcing Agent

Owlsourcing’s manager, Andy, offers the following advice:

“As the Owlsourcing service manager, Andy emphasizes the significance of quality assurance when sourcing clothes and fabrics from China.

He underscores the importance of due diligence and vetting suppliers to ensure that the products meet international quality standards. Andy believes that while China offers a vast array of clothing and fabric options, the key lies in establishing strong supplier relationships built on trust, communication, and stringent quality control measures.

By prioritizing these factors, businesses can indeed access good-quality clothes and fabrics from China and tap into the country’s manufacturing expertise effectively.”

2) Find the Supplier Via the B2B Marketplace

You can start sourcing for your desired supplier right from home. You can do this with e-commerce stores like Alibaba and Global Sources. These platforms are established B2B stores.

They have many Chinese suppliers and are great for connecting.

Generally, these platforms allow you to contact the suppliers directly. Hence, you can connect and negotiate with the supplier that interests you.

Also, you can read up on their reviews and ask other buyers about their experience. However, knowing that each supplier’s quality might vary is important. Hence, you must still invest in quality control using third-party inspection services.

Here we discussed “12 Sites Like Alibaba for Sourcing” and “Top Chinese Wholesale Websites to Buy from China“. Don’t miss it.

3) Leverage Chinese Exhibition Shows

Many companies invest in hosting several fashion shows and trade fairs in China. These opportunities are perfect to see the product and connect with manufacturers. Here are some of the fashion exhibitions:

• Canton Fair 
• China International Fashion Fair 
• Yiwu Trade Fair 
• East China Import and Export Commodity Fair

And also:

4) Find Suppliers on LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a well-known social media platform where businesses connect. Although the platform is banned in the country, it is still an avenue to meet suppliers.

You can search for these suppliers. An alternative is joining groups to connect with other buyers and suppliers.

Everything You Need to Know About Importing Private-label Clothing From China

Private-label clothing is usually sourced from ODMs or Original Design Manufacturers. These suppliers offer you samples that you can run using your company’s name but they are not as exhaustive as far as their product portfolio is concerned.

Critical Specifications to Provide:

• Sizes and quantities Design sketches Fabrics, types of yarns, and types of colours These include quality requirements, treatments, and coatings.
• Governance standards (for example, safety control, restrictions from the utilization of certain substances) State information regarding the kind of washing and treatment that should be given to the item, origin of the cloth used in the item, and type of material used.
• Logo files are created to brand specific products for manufacturer specialization.

Chinese factories are usually divided by the type of product and sector, such as sportswear, fitness, cycling, etc. The supplier must fit your particular needs because they may source their materials from subcontractors, which will affect the quality of the end product.

Ensuring Product Quality: To protect the quality of your clothing, include strict parameters for fabric, such as the color, type of fabric, sample of the fabric, or request to use organic cotton. This aids in reducing possible variations between the final output.

Tips For Sourcing Clothing and Fabric Manufacturers in China

So, what tips can you take to ensure you source the right manufacturers? Below are the tips that you can take to ensure you get the best experience.

1) Find the Right Suppliers for Your Business Size

There are suppliers for big businesses. Then, those are better suited for smaller businesses because of their MOQ. Choosing the right Chinese suppliers prevents complications associated with order sizes.

While a minimum order quantity from Chinese manufacturers can be understood by buyers from Asia, especially those from other developing countries, Western buyers find it rather odd.

These MOQs can be discussed and changed depending on several circumstances.

Types of Minimum Quantities:

• Per Product: This means that manufacturers have set limits to the number of units that must be manufactured to break an equal number of profits. In most cases, the factory has the discretion to determine this particular aspect.
• Per Size: There is always a business order of units that is commonly recommended when it comes to setting the sizes to produce. Note that these size quantities must be verified before finalizing an order value.
• Per Fabric and Color: High MRO costs are a result of minimum order quantities for each fabric type and color used in production since fabrics and materials are purchased from subcontractors. Instead, these subcontractors have their own standards that manufacturers have to adhere to as well.

2) Pick Suppliers with a Formal Manufacturing System

 There are several certifications. Suppliers with these certifications are more legitimate and trustworthy. Plus, they often have higher-quality products and more production capabilities.

3) Choose Suppliers That Match Your Speciality

There are tons of suppliers. However, some suppliers specialize in something more than others. For instance, there is a supplier which specializes in linen. Then, some suppliers make underwear and other products.

Match your products with the supplier for the best products.

4) Shipping

Pick a shipping method that aligns with your business needs. Choose air freight if the delivery is urgent and you can spare the cost. However, sea freight is a much more affordable alternative. 

There are freight forwarders you can use, too. This option helps you avoid any customs complications you would typically face. Handling customs alone can be stressful.

How You Can Reduce the Risks Associated with Importing from China 

Sourcing products is a challenge and often has lots of risks. To ensure a seamless experience, you can learn these risks and how to handle them. Here are three ways you can guarantee that you have a risk-free experience: 

1) Inspect the Goods 

Inspecting the goods you hope to seek before they are shipped to you is wise. This practice saves you a lot of money. It reduces the instances of ending up with fake products.

If you can’t be there to inspect the products physically, you can hire a third party. Many organizations do this.

All you need to do is pay a small fee. The third-party quality inspection in China usually ranges from the entire production to the pre-shipment inspection. Note that both options vary in cost.

2) Testing the Products

You can send the products to independent and unbiased testing labs. Here, they will test the clothing or fabric to ensure they are up-to-par in quality.

The test reveals many aspects of the products. It offers insights into the fabric composition, color, and other important details. Some of these details can shed light on the quality of the materials.

3) Audits

Audits are crucial to ensure that the company follows the best practices. These audits provide the company’s machinery and practices to follow the standard. It also ensures your product line is the best throughout your supplier partnership.

Note: Like any business, imports are risky. However, following these measures lowers the risks. You can also opt to use escrow services. It ensures the supplier is paid after you receive and approves your delivery.

Legal and Regulatory Considerations of Importing Clothes and Fabrics 

There are different legal and regular considerations when importing fabric and clothes. These considerations ensure that your goods are cleared at customs. I usually discuss a few of these documents.

However, the clothing market is rapidly evolving, and regulations are changing. That said, I recommend you discuss it with an attorney.

This way, you are guaranteed a seamless experience. Also, this tip applies to the regulations regarding intellectual property.

U.S. Clothing Standards and Requirements

You should also consider policies issued by government agencies when planning to ship products to the U.S. market.

You will need to familiarize yourself with some of the regulations provided by such government agencies that have been set.

For example, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), relating to fibre content disclosure, care labelling, and flammability requirements, among others.

1. FTC and Fiber Content Disclosure:

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has stated that the fibre content must be labelled as said requirement under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (TFPIA).

Non-functional fibres do not require being declared if their concentrations are below 5 percentage each.

Note: Linings should be labelled separately, and all textiles should go by their chemical names and not their trade names.

2. Care and Labeling Instructions:

Garments should also have modernized care instructions that consider eco-friendly cleaning alternatives.

As an example, labels should indicate machine wash settings through symbols that are consistent with both environmental standards and consumers’ preferences for sustainable care.

More specific care labels may also be required for environmentally friendly fabrics such as organic cotton.

3. Material and Component Labels:

The material and component label need to show what blends of artificial fibers such as polyester or nylon. Further, the label needs also to include Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) for organic fabrics.

4. Size Standards:

In the U.S., people are generally more likely to use standard-size categories such as XS, S, M, L, XL, etc.

Please pay attention to whether the products you buy clothes in China use these size standards.

5. Flammability Performance:

If the types of clothing you import from China are primarily children’s sleepwear,  also have to comply with the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) flammability standards.

Sleepwear made of designated fabrics like polyester has to be tested for flame resistance. The new updates of CPSC also need further testing of fabrics used in children’s clothing under the age of 9 years for fire safety.

6. Dye and Color Fastness:

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act CPSIA – also mandates means used in apparel like dyes should be proven non–toxic and colourfast.

Some dyes such as azo dyes that discharge carcinogenic bay chemicals are banned from being used in specific categories of garments.

Colourfastness to light and washing has to be tested so the color does not bleed.

7. Wearability and Comfort:

Garment wearability has become a key consumer expectation. This includes ergonomic design, ease of movement, and soft finishes.

Many consumers now prefer clothing made from moisture-wicking or temperature-regulating fabrics, especially in activewear.

8. Country of Origin Labeling:

The country of origin label must be present for all garments sold in the U.S. In some cases, additional details such as the region or specific city where the garment was manufactured can add transparency, especially in regions with high labor standards.

9. Tariffs and Import Taxes:

Tariffs for textile products have fluctuated due to changing trade policies.

As of 2024, U.S. tariffs on Chinese apparel products vary, with specific duties on garments such as socks, gloves, and certain synthetic fabrics.

10. Safety Testing:

The CPSC requires rigorous safety testing for children’s apparel, particularly for items like toys, baby bibs, and sleepwear.

Beyond small parts hazard testing, chemical and lead testing has become more stringent, with some items being tested for choking hazards under ASTM F963-17.

11. Flammability Labels:

Clothing like sleepwear must not only adhere to flammability standards but also feature warning labels when certain fabrics or finishes are used.

For instance, “Warning: Keep Away from Fire” is a typical label used for non-compliant sleepwear items.

Read More:

• How to Import Baby Clothes from China
• How to Source Products From China
• Top Products Imported from China
• Top Chinese Boutique Clothing Wholesalers
• China Factory Distribution in East of China

Final Thoughts

Importing clothes and fabric is like importing other devices. You must be cautious and follow all the steps this guide highlights. We have covered how to find a manufacturer in China and mitigate the risks of importation. 

Nonetheless, we know this process can be overwhelming for a first-timer. Hence, we recommend you hire a sourcing agent. If you need help on these grounds, you can contact us. We are ready to assist all the steps of the way.