Here’s how to import clothing for the European market from China
To know how to import clothes from China, you must first understand how the production district system works. Then, you must learn how to identify the features of the products and how to work with the supplier.
Did you know, for instance, that many suppliers require you to buy a minimum number of products or that the goods have to meet certain safety standards?
In this article, we’ll try to explain this complicated system so that you can easily bring clothes from China into your country.
What you need to know to import private label clothing from China
In the last few years, clothing makers from other Asian countries have started to compete with those from China. But the Chinese are still good at making technical fabrics and have an edge over their competitors. Most Chinese clothing factories are in the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi, but especially in the provinces of Fujian and Guangdong. You must report to the suppliers in these provinces.
If you want to bring your brand to the market with clothes from China, you can either ask the supplier to make the clothes for you or start with standard models that you can change to suit your tastes and needs.
Do not expect to be able to look through a catalog of products to choose from. Chinese factories will only give you reference samples that you can change (these are called “ODM products”) and add your brand to. So, when you place an order, you must be the one to describe not only the technical details of the product but also all the rules that it must follow.
We advise you to be as specific as possible, because if you don’t give enough information, the manufacturer could decide on his or her own, and you could end up with goods that don’t meet your needs. So don’t forget to give these details:
sizes: size and quantity table requested; design drawings with list of materials and parts; type of yarn, colors, quality requirements, treatments, and coatings; requirements for substances.
technical regulations about labeling and washing symbols, materials, sizes, and countries of origin;
If you want to make custom-branded products, you will need a file of your logo.
You should also know that textile manufacturers have different specialties depending on the type of clothing, the materials used, and the industries they serve. If you want to buy sportswear from China, for example, you will have to decide who makes fitness clothes, who makes clothes for cycling, who makes clothes for boxing, and so on. Most of the time, the people who make this product depend on subcontractors to supply them with materials and parts that can affect the quality of the final product.
So, you need to carefully consider what kind of goods you want because even if you find a reliable supplier, that doesn’t mean you’ll get high-quality goods. This problem can be solved by sending the supplier information about the materials to be used to make the items. For example, you can ask for 100% organic cotton or send him a reference fabric from which he must start.
How to import clothes from China: minimum order quantity
Even the smallest amount of a product that can be ordered can trick buyers from the West. There are, in fact,
a minimum quantity per product, which is the minimum number of pieces that must be made at the factory to make a profit and is set by the manufacturer;
a minimum number of sizes, or the number of sizes that must be bought for each size, must be set before the total number of products can be set;
a minimum amount of each fabric and color that needs to be ordered, since the fabrics are bought from subcontractors who also need a minimum order.
Conformity requirements of the goods
If you want to sell the goods in the European Union, you must list the reference regulations that product standards must meet: REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals) is one example of a law that limits the use of chemicals and heavy metals in clothing.
Products that don’t follow this law are taken away, and people who sell them are fined a lot of money. Samples need to be put through conformity tests to see if they meet the rules of the country where they will be sold. In China, there are a number of companies that are qualified to do this kind of work.
You should try to find a supplier who already works with your home country and knows the standards that the European market requires. You can even find suppliers who work for big clothing brands. If you order your ODM products from them, you can work with models that have already been successful on the market and change them to fit your needs.
How to import clothes from China seamlessly
Dropship-empire can put you in touch with reliable suppliers. You won’t have to worry about haggling, checking the quality of the goods, shipping, or customs.
Dropship-empire is a full-service company that helps you find wholesale products from China, check their certifications and quality, set up shipments, clear customs, and get them delivered to your home.