If you’re launching a clothing brand, one of the biggest decisions you’ll face is whether to work with a manufacturer or a distributor.

The short answer?

• Work with a manufacturer if you want to create custom clothing.
• Work with a distributor if you want ready-made garments you can label and sell.

Here’s what each one does – and how to choose the right fit for your business.

What Do Clothing Manufacturers Do?

A clothing manufacturer produces garments from raw materials. They manage the entire production process, including sample making, cutting fabrics, sewing, and assembling garments.

Depending on the size of the clothing manufacturer, they may offer additional services such as material sourcing, sample making, and quality control. During the sample-making process, designers work closely with manufacturers to create prototypes and revise these samples before bulk production. It’s important to make sure that the manufacturers meet their specific design requirements based on their tech pack.

What Do Clothing Distributors Do?

A clothing distributor is a middleman between clothing manufacturers and retailers or fashion brands. Distributors get products from point A (the manufacturer) to point B (retailers, fashion brands, or customers). 

Distributors allow brands to pick from pre-existing designs without needing to manage production or logistics. They handle tasks like inventory management, storage, and shipping, so brands can focus on core activities instead of product distribution.

Which One Do You Need?

The choice between a manufacturer and distributor depends on how much control and involvement you want to have.

Pro Tip: There are loads of different businesses out there and that there may be even hybrid businesses that can work as a clothing manufacturer and distributor at the same time. So, explore your options – ask potential partners about their capabilities and clearly communicate your needs to find the best fit for you.

What if you want to sell unique products but don’t want the hassle of product development?

A problem with working with clothing distributors is that other retailers can also buy the same products, and you can end up having the same garments on your racks as your competition. 

If you want 100% control of your products, then you HAVE to work with a clothing manufacturer. But, there’s a workaround to doing this with clothing distributors, as some can offer a certain level of customization (adding tags, changing fabric, color options, etc.). There’s also this thing called private label clothing.

What is Private Label Clothing?

Private label clothing involves choosing from pre-existing designs offered by the manufacturer, with the retailer or brand applying their label and offering other customization options to these ready-made products. Private label clothing is a faster and more cost-effective option for brands that want to sell unique products without investing heavily in the design and development process.

In a private label agreement, you can have an agreement with the manufacturer so that they cannot sell the exact design to other brands. This ensures your design remains yours.

How to Find Reliable Clothing Manufacturers and Distributors

If you need some help finding clothing manufacturers, I have a Comprehensive Guide on How to Find Clothing Manufacturers that walks you through the process, making sure you connect with reliable partners who understand your vision. 

You can use the same guide to find clothing distributors – just make sure that you are clear with your needs when reaching out to potential partners. 

Most of these established businesses might also already have a roster of partners they’re working with, so if you’ve done business with either, don’t be afraid to ask for a referral!