As the world’s leading supplier of quality sportswear, China has built an ecosystem that caters to the diverse needs of global sportswear brands, start-ups, and entrepreneurs. But what exactly makes China so dominant in this space? And how does it compare to other manufacturing hubs like Vietnam, India, Pakistan, and various European countries?
At Blue Associates Sportswear, we have worked with a wide network of global sportswear suppliers and factories for over two decades. Our in-depth sourcing experience gives us unique insight into why China remains the top choice for brands looking to scale and succeed in the activewear market.
1. Unmatched Manufacturing Infrastructure
China’s manufacturing capabilities are second to none. Over the last three decades, the country has invested heavily in infrastructure, machinery, and training. The result is a well-oiled supply chain with advanced factories that are capable of producing a vast range of sportswear products at varying levels of complexity.
Whether you need seamless leggings, moisture-wicking tops, compression garments, or waterproof outerwear, Chinese factories can deliver with speed, consistency, and quality. Moreover, many sportswear factories in China are vertically integrated, meaning they handle everything from fabric knitting and dyeing to cutting, sewing, and packaging.
2. Skilled Workforce and Technological Advancement
The best suppliers in China continue to invest in high skilled labour and state-of-the-art technology. Computerised flat knitting, laser cutting, and heat bonding are just a few innovations now commonly found in good Chinese sportswear factories. Their workforce is highly trained, adaptable, and experienced in meeting the requirements of global brands.
Unlike some emerging sourcing destinations, China’s sportswear factories have a long history of working with international clients and understand the nuances of design development, sampling, and bulk production.
3. Access to High-Quality Raw Materials
One of China’s key advantages is access to an enormous range of high-quality raw materials. From technical performance fabrics to sustainable yarns such as recycled polyester and organic cotton, Chinese suppliers can offer diverse options to suit a brand’s ethos and product needs.
Additionally, many mills are located near production factories, significantly reducing lead times and logistics costs.
A huge producer of performance fabrics is Taiwan and most Chinese Sportswear factories are used to importing fabrics from these suppliers. They are also open to importing fabrics from the USA, Japan and Europe, which can be the opposite when you try and source sportswear from factories in Europe.
4. Cost Efficiency at Scale
While manufacturing costs in China have risen dramatically over the past decade, the country still offers excellent value compared to Europe and USA, especially when factoring in quality, efficiency, and scalability. For larger orders, the economies of scale achieved in China often make it more cost-effective than other regions.
Furthermore, a vast network of sub-suppliers and service providers (e.g., trim, packaging, logistics) supports seamless execution from design to delivery.
Our Chinese factories offer smaller MOQ’s for start-ups but then have the capabilities and capacity to help manage your brands growth. Many European and USA factories don’t have the capacity to scale production up fast.
5. Strong Compliance and Certifications
Top-tier sportswear factories in China are fully compliant with international labour, safety, and environmental standards. Many hold certifications such as:
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OEKO-TEX
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ISO 9001/14001
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WRAP
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BSCI
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GOTS for organic textiles
Brands working with certified Chinese suppliers enjoy peace of mind regarding ethical manufacturing and environmental sustainability.
The world likes to portray China as having low ethics and issues with how they treat employees. Many articles and related news on these issues are created by competitors of China as they are becoming the powerhouse in terms of production. In reality, a machinist in a quality sportswear factory is paid above minimum wage as the career of a quality machinist is highly regarded in China.
The days of poor ethics and low wages are long gone, with factories needing to protect their reputation to keep the brands they supply. They are also aware of the need to maintain a consistent workforce by paying a fair salary, above other industries, where skill isn’t so essential.
At Blue Associates Sportswear, we always remark to many of our start-ups, especially those based in the USA that if we blindfolded them and put them in a factory in China and then again in the USA, removed the workers and signs and untied the blindfold, EVERY brand would want to place their production in the Chinese factory. They are generally incredibly clean and well organised to facilitate efficiency, and the machinery and technology is far superior with high investment in the latest technology.
This week, we received an enquiry from a USA brand that wants to move their production from the US to China because the US factory now has an issue with workers who were predominantly illegal immigrants who are now having to leave the US due to the current government clamping down on this issue.
Pro Tip -: Remember, the quality is driven by the fabric, trims and components, the stitching is the same regardless of territory with the machines and thread being identical. The only difference is the person that feeds the fabric through the sewing machine.
The idyllic view is having garments made in the USA over China, however if the machinist in the US is an illegal immigrant, the machines are old and the volume they produce is tiny, then the quality and ethics are completely shot. Paying a worker in China above minimum wage that works in a safe, clean and technology advanced facility is actually the more ethical and quality choice.
Comparing China to Other Key Manufacturing Hubs
To better understand China’s leadership in sportswear production, it’s important to look at how it compares to other popular sourcing countries.
Vietnam
Vietnam is an emerging powerhouse in sportswear manufacturing, offering competitive pricing and a growing number of high-quality factories. Its close proximity to China allows it to import fabrics and trims easily from Taiwan and China. However, Vietnam’s supply chain isn’t as vertically integrated as China’s. Most materials still need to be sourced externally, which can increase lead times and cost with duty being around 12-16% on fabrics alone.
Moreover, Vietnam’s labour laws and infrastructure are improving, but still catching up with China’s efficiency and scalability.
Many Vietnamese factories are actually owned and managed by the Chinese with joint ventures between the Vietnamese factory and Chinese factories being commonplace.
Vietnam also specialises in high volume production, with typical MOQ’s being much higher than China.
India
India offers a wide range of textile options and is particularly strong in cotton and natural fibres. The country also has a growing base of sportswear manufacturers. However, India’s factories often lack the technical capability and consistency required for high-performance activewear. Lead times can be longer, and quality control is MUCH more variable.
Labour costs are lower than China, so the general price of garments can be lower, however ethics and outsourcing of labour can be an issue. Many factories take orders from brands and then outsource these to less ethically run factories to help reduce cost and improve their margin. We are not saying every factory is like this, however we have witnessed this in the past and also pick up clients that have experienced this too.
Pakistan
Pakistan is a value-driven sourcing destination with deep expertise in cotton fabrics and knitwear. The country offers very competitive prices, but often at the expense of quality and technical complexity. Pakistan is best suited for very basic sportswear styles and bulk knitwear products.
Infrastructure and compliance standards are improving, but are still not on par with China, especially when it comes to advanced construction methods or high-spec performance garments.
Europe (Portugal, Turkey, Italy, Eastern Europe)
European manufacturing offers superior quality and compliance, often with lower minimum order quantities (MOQs). Portugal and Turkey, for example, are known for their skilled labour and sustainability credentials. However, these benefits come at a much higher cost.
At Blue Associates Sportswear, we have counter costed styles over the years in Portugal and Italy against good factories in China, and the difference in price is around 40-70% more expensive. The fabrics, components and trims are identical as we have nominated these from suppliers outside the factory.
For luxury sportswear brands or capsule collections, European factories are ideal. But for mainstream or mass-market activewear, the pricing often becomes prohibitive.
You also need to factor in the lead times. Many think working with a local supplier in Europe would be faster than a factory in China. The opposite is actually true as the sample room and workforce in China will be far bigger than Europe and so can develop samples far quicker.
European suppliers usually charge a flat fee for them to manage the development of the samples which is a fee they charge over and above the sample costs. This can range from €500 – €1,000 per style.
Some factories in Europe won’t accept start-ups unless they commit to a minimum order value of €150K+ and need them to double production volumes for year 2.
While MOQ’s might be slightly lower, the overall investment in production and development will be significantly larger.
Sourcing the Best Sportswear Supplier for Your Brand
Choosing the right factory for your brand is a balancing act between quality, price, lead time, and brand values. At Blue Associates Sportswear, we help brands navigate this complex landscape with confidence.
With over 25 years in the business, our team has established relationships with the best suppliers in China and Europe. Whether you’re a new brand launching your first collection or a global player scaling up, we offer:
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Custom design and development
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Technical fabric sourcing
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Factory matchmaking
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Sample management
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Production management
We also offer in-depth resources and sourcing tips on our sportswear blog, where you can learn more about global sourcing strategies and industry insights.
We don’t mind where you want to produce your goods. We have no alliances with China or Europe and are completely independent. Our remit is to give you, the brand owner our expertise and industry insight and then let you decide which territory is best for you.
As competition in the sportswear market intensifies, partnering with a factory that understands your product, your market, and your growth ambitions is more critical than ever. Sourcing your production purely on costs is a short term view and it’s far more important to produce your sportswear in the right factory based on quality, efficiency, scale, ethics and long-term growth for both parties.
To learn more about sourcing from China or finding the best activewear supplier for your brand, reach out to us at Blue Associates Sportswear. We’ll help you build, launch, and scale your sportswear brand with confidence.