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How to find reliable clothing manufacturers in China

Last update: June 10, 2025

Contents

Searching for clothing manufacturers in China? Take a look at our complete guide

Key takeaways

China exports over 30% of the world’s apparel, making it a key sourcing destination for global brands
Use B2B marketplaces like Alibaba and 1688 to find verified manufacturers
Attend trade fairs like the Canton Fair to meet manufacturers directly, assess product quality, and build relationships
Conduct due diligence, including background checks and factory inspections before finalising a manufacturer
Negotiate prices and payment terms upfront, especially for large orders, to secure the best deal for your brand

Introduction

In 2022, China was the country of origin for over 30% of the world’s total apparel exports–more than 28 European Union countries combined. China is also one of the world’s largest apparel-exporting countries because of its robust manufacturing industry. In 2023, the country’s exported clothing and textiles were estimated to be over $293.6 billion.

Manufacturing and sourcing clothes from China have become strategic and obvious paths for many global retail and wholesale businesses. However, the key to a clothing brand’s success lies in finding quality manufacturers and developing strong relationships.

In this blog, we look at the top ways to find quality clothing manufacturers in China to support your brand’s growth.

Steps to find clothing manufacturers in China

1. Get your pre-requisites ready

Before you reach out to any new manufacturers, you need to have all the pre-requisite information and documents ready. This ensures manufacturers clearly understand your expectations and manufacturing goals.

Clothing product goals: Put together information about your brand and the kind of clothes you require
Manufacturing goals: Determine all the skills and capabilities your ideal manufacturer should have
Deadlines: Create a manufacturing timeline depending on how soon you want the products to be ready
Quantity: Decide on the initial quantity you’ll require. Most manufacturers offer discounts on larger MOQs, so it’s important to share the initial quantity upfront
Product sample or design: If you have a working prototype or design for the product, you should have it ready to share

2. Search for manufacturers

You can use online directories, Google searches, or B2B marketplaces to look for a manufacturer.

B2B marketplaces

Online marketplaces like 1688.com and Alibaba can help you connect directly with manufacturers. However, these marketplaces also have wholesalers, so make sure know whether you’re connecting with a wholesaler or a manufacturer.

Oftentimes, wholesalers add their own commissions to the product prices and they may also not be able to customize products to your needs. Both 1668 and Alibaba have supplier verification tags that you can use to connect with vetted manufacturers. 1688 also details the manufacturing unit, including factory inspection reports, staff details, location and manufacturing capabilities.

Alibaba supports international payment methods, making it easy for global businesses to source products. 1688.com is primarily focused on domestic buyers and doesn’t support international payments. The only authorized way to pay 1688 suppliers directly is through World Pay. With your World Account, you can pay suppliers in 1688.com in their local currency at competitive exchange rates (up to 0.8%)

Industry network

You can use your industry network to find clothing manufacturers in China. Referrals are always a good way to find genuine manufacturers.

Trade fairs

If you’re willing to travel to China, consider visiting trade fairs to meet multiple manufacturers in the same place. You can interact with manufacturers face-to-face, check the product quality directly and ask any questions that you might have.

The largest trade fair in China is the Canton Fair, held twice a year in Guangzhou. It’s a three-week event where hundreds and thousands of manufacturers from all over China come together to showcase their product range. Clothing suppliers usually set up their stalls in week 3.

Sourcing agents

If you have been struggling to find reliable and trustworthy manufacturers, you can also consider partnering with sourcing agents who can connect with manufacturers on your behalf and manage the entire sourcing process end-to-end.

A big disadvantage of teaming up with sourcing agents is that you’ll have to give them a portion of your profit margins as commission. Your sourcing agent may not even connect you directly with the manufacturer, making it difficult to build long-lasting relationships.

3. Filter and vet the manufacturers

Your initial search will give you a number of potential clothing manufacturers and this is the stage at which you filter the list. Start by contacting the manufacturers directly and sharing the requirements outlined in the first step.

Dig deeper and discuss more granular information like:

Components and products required in manufacturing
The materials that should be used for manufacturing clothes
Whether the manufacturer can help you create a prototype (if you need one)
The price per item for the given MOQ

You should also conduct factory verification for all the potential manufacturers. It is a crucial step in ensuring you’re partnering with a reliable manufacturer. Due diligence can confirm that the manufacturer’s claims about quality and capabilities are accurate.

Here are the different steps you can follow for due diligence

a. Start with a basic background check of the manufacturer

b. Ask the manufacturer to share relevant quality certifications and audit reports. Some of the major quality standards and certifications that you should look for include:

WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production)
ISO certifications
SA8000
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
AQL Standards

c. Search for references and connect with people who have already sourced clothes from the same manufacturer

d. Ask about the ethical sourcing and sustainable practices followed

e. If possible, you should visit the factory or hire a third-party inspection company to do the same

4. Ask for product samples

You should definitely ask for product samples from all of your shortlisted clothing manufacturers after you have conducted a thorough background check. Ensure you clarify your requirements and provide detailed product specifications, including sizes, prints, colours and quality. You can also offer feedback and request multiple samples to check for consistency and delivery timelines.

5. Negotiate on prices

There’s always room for negotiation with manufacturers, especially if you’re placing large MOQ orders. Here are a few price negotiation strategies you can consider:

Ask for a breakdown of costs to better understand where you can decrease the overall price
Ask for discounted prices for large MOQs
Discuss payment terms in advance to avoid any conflicts later
Always compare quotes from different suppliers

Ensure timely payments to suppliers for long-term relationships

WorldFirst lets you pay manufacturers and suppliers in China like they are just around the corner. The World Account is a multi-currency account that allows you to set up virtual local currency accounts in 15+ currencies, including CNH, GBP, USD, CAD, EUR, AUD and NZD.

With a World Account, you can:

Pay suppliers faster: Send same-day or next-day payments at competitive interbank/mid-market rates (Cut off times apply)

Securely pay 1668 suppliers: World Pay is the only way to make international payments to suppliers on 1668.com

Protect your profit margins: Lock-in exchange rates for up to 24 months through forward contracts

No hidden fees: Transparent and competitive transaction fees to collect, convert and manage funds in multiple currencies

Instant payments: Payments are free and instant between World Accounts

Collect from marketplaces: Collect payments from 130+ global marketplaces, including Amazon, AliExpress, Etsy and eBay. Hold the funds to pay suppliers or withdraw funds to your bank account anytime

Disclaimer: The information contained is general only and largely our views. Before acting on the information you should consider whether it is appropriate for you, in light of your objectives, financial situation or needs. Although information has been obtained from and is based upon multiple sources the author believes to be reliable, we do not guarantee its accuracy and it may be incomplete or condensed. All opinions, estimates, mentioned products/services and referenced material constitute the author’s own judgement as of the date of the briefing and are subject to change without notice. WorldFirst shall not be responsible for any losses or damages arising from your reliance of such information.

Rick Hill has worked in payments and financial services for the past nine years. He began his career at a large institutional bank and has since worked across startups and scaleups. Over the past four years, his experience with e-commerce retailers has led him to believe that WorldFirst will be crucial in helping brands expand globally by demystifying the complexities of entering new markets.

Rick Hill

Author

Head of Sales ANZ at WorldFirst

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How to find reliable clothing manufacturers in China