17 Best Clothing Manufacturers for Startups

For fashion startups, ecommerce startups, and independent designers, finding the right manufacturing company to make your ideas come to life is crucial to the success of your company. But with so many manufacturers across the globe, knowing the right manufacturer for your business can be a tall order. 

Whether you’re looking to produce luxury items or screen-printed hoodies, we’ve got you covered with this guide to the best clothing manufacturers for startups.

Top Clothing Manufacturers

A top-tier clothing manufacturer needs to check a few boxes: customizability, experience, and order minimums that will work for your business starting out. Additionally, it is important to consider the type of items you plan to sell before choosing a manufacturer, as well as the assistance you may need with design, development, and fulfillment. 

While many manufacturers offer development and design services, some take a more hands-off approach. These are the top clothing manufacturers that can help bring your creative vision to life.

1. Appareify

Launched in 2017 by industry veterans, Appareify is now one of the leading Chinese clothing manufacturers offering services for a variety of garment types, from activewear to shoe production. Brands that have partnered with Appareify include ASOS, Tesco, and Dunhill. 

Services by Appareify include original equipment manufacturer (OEM), product development, private labeling, and cut and sew services.

2. Affix Apparel

Affix Apparel is a leading United States-based clothing manufacturer with over ten years of experience, as well as six certifications in ethics and sustainability. Plus, Affix Apparel’s minimums are notably low at 50 pieces per design for many services. 

Beyond their manufacturing services, Affix Apparel offers a myriad of services, including cut and sew, private labeling, custom screen printing, sublimation printing, and custom embroidery.

3. Hawthorn

Hawthorn is a leading United Kingdom manufacturer focused on quality production over quantity. The company works primarily with startups, small clothing brands, and emerging designers. Plus, they offer low minimums of 50 pieces per design. 

Garments manufactured by Hawthorn are made-to-order, hand-cut, stitched, and finished by hand and undergo a quality-assurance process. Additionally, orders are customizable by fabric, embroidery, print, sublimation, fit, and finish, giving entrepreneurs full control over the production of their designs.

4. Printful

Printful offers manufacturing and fulfillment services for ecommerce brands as well as a platform that integrates with Shopify, Etsy, Squarespace, and more. As a print-on-demand (POD) service, customers of Printful can design, print, and sell products as well as deliver the product to your customer's door if you opt into their fulfillment service. 

Printful’s service extends beyond garment printing, they also offer sublimation, UV printing, cut and sew, and embroidery services. A few of Printful’s customers include Coca-Cola, Comedy Central, and AMC. Printful does not have order minimums; however, they do offer discounts for larger orders.

5. Oh Two Clothing

For companies looking for retail or promotional clothing production, Oh Two Clothing has services to meet either need. A vertically integrated manufacturer, Oh Two Clothing offers services from start to finish, from fabric sourcing to the execution of the design to delivery. 

The company also offers trend forecasting, including downloadable trend reports. Most notably, Oh Two Clothing’s services range from cut and sew and embroidery to order fulfillment locally and internationally. Minimum orders from Oh Two Clothing are 200 pieces per style.

6. Apparel Production

For high-end, private label lines, Apparel Production boasts 75 years of garment production and luxury clientele such as Helmut Lang, Rag & Bone, and Marc Jacobs. Depending on the location, minimums range from 150+ in New York at the lowest to 350+ in the Dominican Republic, which can vary based on the project. 

Apparel Production is not a low-cost manufacturer, they even encourage their clients to be prepared for upfront costs. However, they offer time-tested quality and experience as well as a variety of services from production to consulting.

7. Portland Garment Factory

Unlike many others on this list, Portland Garment Factory extends beyond clothing and textiles. The full-service, zero-waste manufacturer works with independent designers, brands, and artisans to produce everything from clothing to customized home goods to window displays. 

Customers of Portland Garment Factory aren’t simply placing orders online, the team works to design, ideate, and execute ideas at the highest caliber. Clients of Portland Garment Factory include Adidas, Levi’s, New Balance, and Nordstrom.

8. Euphoric Colors

Euphoric Colors offers both manufacturing and development of products made in the United States. This is a vertically integrated manufacturer, which means they are hands-on for the entire process, with no outsourcing and no sacrificing quality. 

Euphoric Colors works with clients to not only produce clothing – the team will also help develop ideas through their private-label clothing development service. However, their minimums are on the higher end at 300 per style and color for most designs.

9. Tack Apparel

Tack Apparel is a US-based clothing manufacturer dedicated to helping startups and small brands create distinctive clothing lines. With flexible minimums starting at 50 pieces per design, they make it easy for new businesses to get started.

Services include private label production, cut and sew, custom embroidery, and screen printing — all handled in-house. From custom T-shirts and hoodies to sportswear and denim, Tack Apparel delivers quality manufacturing at accessible prices.

10. LEFTY Production Co.

Based in Los Angeles, LEFTY Production Co. is a clothing manufacturer offering full-service design, development, and production for apparel and accessories. The company works with brands at every stage, from early design and sourcing to sampling, production, and final delivery.

Services include pattern making, sample development, sourcing, and full-scale production. LEFTY Production Co. is able to produce both small and large batches and focuses on building long-term partnerships with brands.

11. Apliiq

For brands looking to launch without holding inventory, Apliiq offers print-on-demand manufacturing with advanced customization options. The US-based platform allows users to design, produce, and sell apparel with minimal upfront costs.

Apliiq offers services including private labeling, woven labels, embroidery, patches, and custom printing. The platform integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, and Wix, making it easy to create and fulfill products with no minimum order requirements.

12. Zega Apparel

Zega Apparel is a global clothing manufacturer that provides custom apparel production for startups and established brands. The company offers a vertically integrated production process, handling everything from development to manufacturing and delivery.

Services include cut and sew production, printing, embroidery, private labeling, and packaging. Zega Apparel has minimum order quantities starting at 200 pieces per style and color and serves brands worldwide.

13. FittDesign

If you’re building an activewear or athleisure brand, FittDesign focuses on helping founders move from concept to production-ready designs. The company works closely with clients during the early stages of development, preparing products for manufacturing through a structured design process.

Services include sketches, 3D renders, and detailed tech packs, along with access to sampling and production. While FittDesign supports a range of apparel types, it is especially well-suited for brands developing performance wear and fitness-focused products.

14. ARGYLE Haus

ARGYLE Haus is a Los Angeles-based fashion design house and clothing manufacturer offering end-to-end services for startups and growing brands. The company handles design, development, and production in-house, allowing for a more streamlined process.

Services include technical design, pattern making, sample development, and cut and sew manufacturing. ARGYLE Haus offers flexible development options and relatively low minimums for startups.

15. CustomCat

Designed for ecommerce entrepreneurs, CustomCat is a print-on-demand and dropshipping platform that allows users to create and sell custom products without holding inventory. The company focuses on helping brands launch and scale quickly.

CustomCat offers a wide range of customizable products, including apparel and accessories, along with integrations for major ecommerce platforms. The company handles printing, fulfillment, and shipping for each order.

16. MMS Clothing

Operating out of China, MMS Clothing provides full-service custom apparel production for brands worldwide. The company supports the entire process, from design and development to production and delivery.

Services include tech pack creation, sourcing, cut and sew manufacturing, custom printing, embroidery, labeling, and packaging. MMS Clothing offers low minimum order quantities, in some cases starting as low as one piece per style.

17. Seam Apparel

Seam Apparel is a US-based clothing manufacturer that works with startups and growing brands to produce custom garments. The company offers flexible production options with low minimums and scalable solutions.

Services include cut and sew manufacturing, private labeling, embroidery, screen printing, and packaging. Seam Apparel supports brands throughout the production process, from concept and sampling to final delivery.

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