As the owner of a garment factory in China specializing in knitwear production, I’ve worked with many U.S. and European buyers over the last 15 years. Knitwear—including sweaters, T-shirts, polos, and ribbed fashionwear—has become a major export category for China. But even as the country offers pricing and scale advantages, there are trade-offs that buyers should understand before placing an order.
Sourcing knitwear from China offers unmatched scale, material options, and pricing—but requires careful management of quality control, communication, and lead times. If you're a buyer or brand owner evaluating suppliers, this article will help you weigh both sides clearly.
Below, I break down the key advantages and challenges we’ve observed, from a factory perspective and from our partners’ point of view.
What Are the Main Benefits of Sourcing Knitwear from China?
Over the years, China has built a strong infrastructure for knitwear. From yarn spinning to advanced knitting machines, the ecosystem supports brands of all sizes.
Top advantages include cost efficiency, mature supply chains, large-scale capacity, and access to diversified materials.
Why Is China More Cost-Effective for Knitwear?
China’s pricing structure benefits from regional specialization (e.g., Zhejiang and Jiangsu for sweaters), access to raw materials, and streamlined labor efficiency. For bulk orders over 1,000 units, we can usually offer pricing 20–30% lower than Turkey or Portugal.
According to Statista, China exported over $170B in textiles and garments in 2023, much of it knit-based. With automated knitting tech like Shima Seiki or Stoll machines, labor hours per unit drop significantly.
What Makes the Supply Chain More Scalable?
Yarn mills, dye houses, and finishing workshops are often located within 100 km of each other. This clustering allows for fast sourcing of cotton, viscose, acrylic, and recycled blends.
We use local spinning partners with OEKO-TEX and GRS certifications, which speeds up compliance and lowers costs. For clients wanting specialty yarns like hemp or modal, we can source and sample in under 10 days.
What Are the Risks or Drawbacks of Sourcing from China?
Despite many advantages, China-based knitwear sourcing is not without its headaches. Common challenges include shipment timing, communication breakdowns, and inconsistent quality if the supplier is not properly managed.
Main disadvantages include timezone delays, occasional over-promising on capacity, variation between sample and bulk, and weak factory transparency without strong vetting.
What Are the Most Common Quality Issues?
Fit inconsistencies, uneven dye batches, and pilling after wash are common if the yarn or knitting tension isn’t well managed. Without clear spec sheets and pre-production approval, even a great sample can lead to disappointing bulk results.
We advise buyers to request a PP sample (pre-production sample) and confirm critical tolerances. We also use third-party labs like Intertek for wash testing and pilling resistance on sweaters.
Can Language or Communication Barriers Affect Orders?
Yes. While many factories have English-speaking staff, nuances around sizing, trims, or order timelines can easily get lost. This is especially true if you're not working directly with the production coordinator.
To bridge this, we assign a dedicated English-speaking merchandiser for each buyer and use project tracking tools like Trello or Google Sheets live trackers to ensure transparency.
How Does Chinese Knitwear Compare on Quality?
China’s knitwear quality has improved dramatically in the last decade. But the outcome depends heavily on factory choice, yarn grade, and QC checkpoints.
High-end Chinese knitwear can match European quality when using certified yarns, tight gauge control, and skilled finishing—but mid-tier and lower factories may cut corners.
Is Chinese Knitwear Suitable for Premium Brands?
Yes—if you choose the right supplier. We’ve produced for luxury DTC brands using Italian-spun yarns and Japanese knitting technology. The key is: yarn consistency, machine tension, and hand-finishing.
Some U.S. brands now request fully fashioned knitwear which eliminates side seams. Our Stoll machines can knit a full sweater in one piece, minimizing defects and labor cost.
How Do Factories Ensure Consistent Sizing and Finish?
We create detailed tech packs using Gerber or Tukatech for spec accuracy. All bulk orders go through:
- First piece approval
- Inline inspections
- Final AQL inspections using SGS standards
Buyers also request their own inspection via QIMA or Bureau Veritas. We support full transparency.
What Shipping & Partnership Models Work Best?
Shipping timelines and trade terms shape the success of your knitwear import. A strong supplier relationship includes shipping support, trade assurance, and flexibility on MOQs for growing brands.
China-based factories support FOB and DDP shipping, low MOQs for knits, and often offer sampling + manufacturing bundles that reduce lead time.
What Are Typical Lead Times for Knitwear?
- Yarn sourcing & lab dips: 5–7 days
- Sample: 7–10 days
- Bulk production: 20–30 days (depending on style complexity)
- DDP shipping to USA: 8–12 days by air, 25–40 days by sea
We keep some neutral yarns in stock to help fast-track reorders. For holiday drops, we encourage brands to lock production by July to avoid Q4 congestion.
Which Order Models Are Most Buyer-Friendly?
We offer:
- MOQ: 300 pcs/style across 3–4 colors
- DDP: all-inclusive shipping and customs clearance
- Sampling package: includes up to 2 revisions
- Reorder shortcut: previous tech packs + trims reused with buyer approval
Clients also value our flexibility—using WhatsApp for fast feedback and shared drive folders to store tech packs, fabric swatches, and order history.
Conclusion
Sourcing knitwear from China remains one of the smartest moves for global apparel brands—especially if you balance the pricing advantage with smart quality control and clear communication. The key is finding a factory that understands fit, fabric, finish, and freight—at scale.
At Fumao Clothing, we specialize in helping U.S. brands source sweaters, polos, loungewear, and ribbed tops with custom detailing. We support both bulk and made-to-order volumes with full transparency, inspection support, and DDP delivery options.
Ready to start or upgrade your knitwear sourcing? Contact our Business Director Elaine at elaine@fumaoclothing.com—and let’s build quality knitwear together, season after season.
