Brief to quote
48 hrs
No tech pack needed at this stage
Fashion Manufacturing · OEM & Private Label · Since 1998
Fashion Manufacturers —
From Design Brief
to Finished Garment
SDF works with independent fashion labels, established brands, and wholesale buyers who want a direct factory relationship — not a buying agent. We take orders from 300 pieces per style and handle every stage from initial sample to labelled, packed, export-ready garments.
27 years in production. 13 active certifications. No middlemen.
First-order timeline — brief to brand-ready garments
Quote to proto sample
7–14 days
From sketch, reference, or tech pack
Sample revisions
Included
No fixed limit on rounds
Sample to bulk
40–45 days
Knitwear. Wovens: 45–55 days
Branding & packing
Included
Labels, hang tags, poly bags
First order total
~60 days
Brief to FOB-ready
Finding the Right Fashion Manufacturer
What brands get wrong when searching for a fashion manufacturer
Most brands approach manufacturer sourcing backwards. They start with Google, contact ten factories, get overwhelmed by responses, and end up choosing based on price alone. These are the steps that actually lead to a successful first production run.
01
Define before you search
Before contacting any factory, document the garment clearly. Fabric type (knit or woven), weight (GSM), construction complexity, target wholesale price point, and order quantity. Vague briefs get vague quotes. A one-page product brief gets you accurate pricing. Use our free Garment Cost Calculator to estimate your FOB price before reaching out.
02
Match category to capability
Not all fashion manufacturers produce all garment types. A factory that does T-shirts and hoodies may not have the equipment for tailored wovens or technical outerwear. Confirm the factory produces your specific garment category before requesting samples.
03
Sample before committing to bulk
Always produce a proto sample before placing a bulk order. A factory that is reluctant to sample, or that charges disproportionately for samples, is a warning sign. At SDF, proto samples take 7–14 days and can be produced from a tech pack, design sketch, or reference garment.
04
Verify certifications independently
Do not take a certificate image as proof. GOTS, OEKO-TEX, and ISO certificates are all publicly verifiable on the issuing body's website using the certificate number. If a factory cannot provide a verifiable certificate number, the claim is unconfirmed.
05
Understand the pricing model
FOB means the price covers everything to port loading. CIF means it covers freight and insurance to your destination port. Ex-Works means you handle everything from the factory gate. Always clarify which pricing model a quote uses before comparing across factories. Our free Garment Cost Calculator shows your full landed cost under each scenario.
06
Plan for lead time — not just production time
Lead time is not just the production days. It includes sample development, revision rounds, bulk production, AQL inspection, packing, and port clearance. A realistic first-order timeline from signed PO to FOB goods is 40–60 days. Use our free Production Timeline Calculator to reverse-engineer every deadline from your launch date.
Free Tools for Fashion Brand Founders
Plan your first collection before contacting a fashion manufacturer
Four free tools that help fashion brands calculate real costs, map production timelines, check EU compliance, and write factory inquiry emails that get responses. No signup required.
Cost Calculator
Garment Cost Calculator
Enter garment type, fabric, quantity, and destination — get your FOB price from Bangladesh, import duty, freight, and total landed cost per unit. Includes gross margin and Bangladesh vs China vs Vietnam comparison.
Calculate my costs →
Timeline Planner
Production Timeline Calculator
Enter your target launch date and get every production deadline reverse-engineered — tech pack submission, sample approval, bulk cut start, and shipment. Never miss a fashion season again. OEM, ODM, CMT, and private label supported.
Plan my timeline →
Email Generator
Manufacturer Email Generator
Most factory inquiry emails are ignored because they are vague. Fill in your order details and get a structured, spec-ready email that fashion manufacturers respond to — in 30 seconds. Copy and send instantly. Used by 1,000+ brands.
Generate my email →
EU Compliance
EU Readiness Checker
Answer 18 questions and get a personalised EU compliance score — GPSR 2024, REACH chemical restrictions, EU textile labelling, ESPR and Digital Product Passport readiness, and factory certification requirements. Essential for EU market entry.
Check my EU readiness →
What SDF Includes
Everything from brief to export-ready — in one package
Most fashion manufacturers quote a base production price and then add on design fees, sampling costs, labelling charges, and QC fees at invoice. SDF's pricing includes all of the following from the start.
The only things quoted separately are design development fees for ODM orders where we are creating original designs, and custom retail packaging (branded boxes, tissue, ribbon) beyond standard poly bag and carton.
Everything else — pattern, grading, sampling, fabric sourcing, production, inspection, labels, hang tags, poly bags, carton packing, and export docs — is in the FOB price.
In-house pattern making & grading
To your tech pack spec or developed from brief
Fabric & trim sourcing
GOTS, GRS, or conventional — your preference
Proto sample production
7–14 days from approved brief or tech pack
Unlimited revision rounds
Until you approve for bulk
Full bulk production
Cut, sew, finish — in-house, no sub-contractors
AQL 2.5 in-house inspection
Before packing, every order
Woven neck & hem labels
Your brand name, design, and care instructions
Care labels
Woven or printed to GINETEX standard
Hang tags
If artwork provided. Printing arranged
Individual poly bag packaging
Standard or resealable — your choice
Master carton packing
With packing list and shipment markings
Export documentation
Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin
Tech Pack Guide
What a tech pack needs to include for accurate manufacturing
A tech pack is the document that tells a factory exactly how to make your garment. An incomplete tech pack leads to inaccurate quotes, delayed samples, and production errors. Here is what every tech pack for a fashion manufacturer should contain.
If you do not have a tech pack yet, SDF can develop one from your sketch or reference garment as part of the ODM process. This is quoted separately and typically takes 5–7 working days.
Measurements
· Finished garment measurements for each size
· Tolerance allowed per measurement (e.g. ±0.5cm)
· Grading rules between sizes
· Size label spec (XS/S/M/L or numeric)
Construction
· Stitch type per seam (e.g. 5-thread overlock, flatlock)
· Stitch density (SPI — stitches per inch)
· Seam allowance
· Topstitch width and placement
Materials
· Fabric type and composition (e.g. 100% organic cotton, 220 GSM)
· Colour (Pantone reference or approved swatch)
· Trim specs — zip type, button size, elastic width
· Interlining and padding if applicable
Labels & Branding
· Woven label size and artwork file
· Care label content (GINETEX symbols + text)
· Label placement diagram
· Hang tag design and attachment method
Certifications & What They Let You Claim
Every certificate has a specific marketing claim attached to it
In the EU and UK, environmental and ethical claims on products require third-party certification from 2026 under the Green Claims Directive. Using words like "organic", "recycled", or "sustainable" without the right certificate is a legal risk. Check your current compliance position with our free EU Readiness Checker. Here is what each of SDF's certifications allows you to say.
GOTS 7.0
"Made with certified organic cotton"
Covers the entire production chain from fibre to finished garment. Required for any organic cotton claim on EU or UK market products. SDF holds a current GOTS Scope Certificate — verifiable at gots.org.
GRS — Global Recycled Standard
"Made with certified recycled materials"
Required for recycled polyester, nylon, cotton, and other recycled fibre claims. Increasingly a retailer code of conduct requirement for brands selling 'recycled' collections.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
"Tested for harmful substances. Certified."
Every component tested — fabric, thread, zips, buttons, and labels. Widely used in product descriptions and hangtag copy across EU and UK retail. Consumers recognise this mark.
OCS — Organic Content Standard
"Contains X% certified organic content"
For blended fabrics where organic cotton is not the sole fibre. Allows a percentage-based claim (e.g. '70% certified organic cotton') rather than the full GOTS claim.
ISO 14001
Environmental management system certified
Not a product claim but a supply chain one. EU CSDDD and many retailer codes of conduct require ISO 14001 from suppliers. Demonstrates your factory is managing its environmental impact under an audited system.
BSCI / SEDEX SMETA
Ethical supply chain documentation
Required by most major EU and UK retailers for supplier onboarding. Covers labour rights, safe working conditions, and environmental management. Audit reports available under NDA.
All 13 certificate numbers and verification links — certifications page
Who We Work With
We work exclusively with B2B clients
SDF does not sell to individual consumers, stock garments for retail sale, or work with dropshipping businesses. Every order is a B2B production order for a brand, a wholesale buyer, or a private label retailer.
Our typical clients are independent fashion labels placing their first or second collection, established brands consolidating their supply chain into fewer, better-certified factories, and wholesale buyers building private label ranges for their own customers.
Most of our clients are based in the EU, UK, North America, and Australia. Many have been placing orders with us for more than five years and produce two to four collections annually.
We do not require exclusivity and we do not ask for long-term contracts. Orders are placed on a purchase-order basis. The relationship continues as long as the product is right.
Brands that work well with SDF
Independent labels, 1–5 years old
Building a core product range. Need low MOQ, flexible sampling, and reliable certification for retail.
Sustainable fashion brands
Need GOTS, GRS, or OEKO-TEX certified production with documented chain of custody. EU Green Claims compliance.
Wholesale buyers building private label
Established buyers adding their own label to a product range. Need clean production, consistent quality, branded packaging.
Brands switching from agents to direct
Moving away from buying agents to control costs and quality directly. Need a factory that communicates in English.
EU brands preparing for CSDDD
Need BSCI or SEDEX audit documentation, ISO 14001 cert, and full material traceability for due diligence requirements.
Questions
Fashion manufacturing — what brands ask us most
How do I find the right fashion manufacturer for my brand?
Define your product clearly before searching. Then match factory capability to your garment category — not all factories produce all types. Always sample before committing to bulk. Verify certifications independently using certificate numbers. Never choose based on price alone before you have held a sample in your hands. Use our free Manufacturer Email Generator to send a structured inquiry that gets a response.
What do I need to start?
For a quote: garment type, quantity, and any material or cert requirements. No tech pack needed. For sampling: a tech pack, sketch with instructions, or a reference garment. For bulk: an approved sample and a purchase order. Use our free Garment Cost Calculator to estimate your FOB and landed cost before reaching out.
What is the difference between a factory and a buying agent?
A factory employs the people who produce the garments. A buying agent is a middleman who places your order with a factory and takes a margin. SDF is a direct factory — no agent between your order and production. One contact, transparent pricing, direct accountability.
Can you produce organic and sustainable collections?
Yes. SDF holds GOTS 7.0 for organic cotton, GRS for recycled materials, and OCS for blended organic content. These certifications cover the production chain — not just the fabric. Every sustainable order comes with transaction certificates for your records, required for EU Green Claims Directive compliance. Check your EU sustainability compliance position with our free EU Readiness Checker.
How many sample revisions are included?
We do not cap revision rounds. Most orders take 1–3 rounds. Each revision takes 7–10 days. The sampling cost is quoted per sample and credited against your first bulk order above a qualifying value. Use our free Production Timeline Calculator to map your full schedule including sample rounds.
What branding is included?
Woven neck and hem labels, care labels, hang tags (if artwork provided), individual poly bags, and carton packing are included. Custom retail packaging — boxes, tissue, ribbon — is quoted separately. Barcode labels and retail price stickers can be applied on request.
Start Your Collection
Tell us what you are making. We will take it from there.
A brief is enough to start — garment category, approximate quantity, and any material or certification preferences. No tech pack needed at this stage.
Not sure what to include in your brief? Use our free Manufacturer Email Generator to build a complete, factory-ready inquiry in 30 seconds.
We respond to every inquiry within 48 hours, Monday to Saturday.