Choosing a sportswear manufacturer is the biggest decision a club, teamwear reseller or new sportswear brand makes. A good factory makes your kit look professional for years; a poor one costs you a season. These are the questions experienced buyers in the USA, the UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia and New Zealand ask before placing an order, and what a good answer sounds like.
About the factory
1. Do you make the garments yourselves, or use other factories?
A manufacturer that prints, cuts, sews and packs in-house controls quality and timelines. A trading company that passes your order on adds a layer between you and the people making it. Ask for photos or a video of the production floor. You can see ours on the factory tour.
2. How long have you been making sportswear?
Experience with your sport matters: contact sports need reinforced seams, cycling needs proper pads, fightwear needs strong waistbands.
3. Can I see work you have made for other clients?
Expect real photos of finished orders, with client logos blurred if needed. See our recent projects.
About your order
4. What is your minimum order, and can I mix sizes?
Many factories ask for hundreds of pieces per design. Pexton Apparel’s minimum is 30 pieces per design, with sizes mixed. Read how mixing sizes works.
5. Can I get a sample first, how long does it take and what does it cost?
Always approve a sample before bulk. Ours takes about 8–10 days; the price depends on the item and your requirements.
6. How long does bulk production take after I approve the sample?
Get the timeline in writing. Ours is about 10–12 days after sample approval, plus shipping. See how long manufacturing takes.
7. Which decoration methods do you do in-house?
Sublimation, embroidery, screen print and heat transfer each suit different designs. A factory with several methods can recommend the right one instead of the only one it has. Read embroidery vs screen printing vs sublimation.
8. Can you match our colours and current kit?
Send Pantone references or a current garment and check the match in the sample.
About quality
9. How do you check quality before shipping?
Look for inspection at each stage and a final check against your size and name list. Third-party inspection (for example SGS, Intertek or QIMA) should be welcome. See our quality assurance process.
10. What fabric will you use, and what is its weight?
Ask for the fabric type and GSM in writing, so the bulk matches the sample. See our fabric GSM guide.
11. Will you keep our design files for reorders?
Clubs reorder every season. A factory that keeps your files can match the original kit.
About delivery and money
12. Is shipping duty paid, or will I pay customs on arrival?
Delivered duty paid (DDP) means there is nothing to pay when the boxes arrive. We ship DDP to the USA, the UK, Ireland and most of Europe, and door to door to Australia and New Zealand (import duties paid by the buyer). Read about DDP shipping.
13. Which payment methods do you accept?
Check that you can pay by a traceable method such as bank transfer, and agree the deposit and balance terms before you start.
14. Who will I talk to during production?
You want one contact who replies quickly and sends photos at sampling, production and packing. We reply to quotes within 24 hours, often sooner.
15. Can you produce under my brand?
For brands and resellers: ask about woven labels, hang tags and branded packaging. See private label manufacturing.
Red flags
- No sample before bulk.
- No real photos of the factory or past work.
- A price that changes once customs and shipping are added.
- Vague timelines or no written specification.
Ready to ask us these questions? Send your design for a free quote, or read how to find a clothing manufacturer and Pakistan vs China and Bangladesh.