If you want to start a clothing line, especially in the activewear business, one of the most important things you need to know is how to source activewear. The way you source activewear will affect not only the quality of your items but also how people see your brand in the market. This includes picking the proper material and finding trustworthy suppliers.
Getting fabric sourcing right takes a planned and well-informed approach, whether you’re a new business owner or an established company that wants to add performance wear to its line. Before you start your voyage, let’s look at everything you need.
1. Understand Your Product and Target Market
You need to know exactly what you’re making before you start looking for cloth. When looking for sportswear, it’s important to know if your products are meant for serious athletes, casual fitness fans, or people who buy clothes for their lifestyle.
Different markets need different types of fabric:
- High-performance activewear may need textiles that wick away perspiration, let air flow through, and stretch.
- Lifestyle-focused products could put comfort, softness, and style ahead of extreme technical performance.
- This clarity will help you choose the right fabrics and keep you focused on the ones that really fit your vision.
2. Learn About Fabric Types and Properties
Knowing your materials is one of the most important parts of finding fabric. When it comes to finding sportswear, some fabrics are more popular than others since they perform better.
Some of the most popular fabrics for activewear are:
- Polyester blends are strong, light, and dry quickly.
- Nylon blends are soft, silky, and very stretchy.
- Spandex/Elastane are great stretch for clothes that fit well.
- Bamboo blends are good for the environment and let air flow through.
You can make better choices about where to get cloth that meets your consumers’ needs if you know these things.
3. Determine Your Fabric Performance Requirements
When looking for sportswear, it’s not enough to just like the appearance and feel of the fabric. It has to work well, too. You need to be clear about the exact performance features you want from the materials.
When looking for fabric, some common performance characteristics to think about are:
- Managing moisture (ability to wick and dry quickly)
- Stretching and getting better (4-way stretch for comfort and movement)
- Long-lasting and resistant to wear
- Finishes that reduce odours and kill germs
- Protection from UV rays for clothes worn outside
By precisely listing these requirements, you can choose the right fabric more quickly and save time and money.
4. Understand Fabric Testing and Certification
Lab testing is quite important when it comes to finding professional activewear. Testing makes ensuring that your fabrics live up to their performance claims and are safe to use.
When you get fabric, certifications like OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, GRS (Global Recycled Standard), and Bluesign® certification can help you develop confidence with your clients. They prove that your fabrics are safe, good for the environment, and made in a way that is fair.
5. Budget Planning for Fabric Sourcing
When you start looking for fabric, it’s easy to want to pick the cheapest one, but when you’re looking for sportswear, quality should always come before price.
Think about:
- Minimum order amounts (MOQs) from suppliers
- How much it costs per yard or meter and how it affects your sale pricing
- Duties on shipping and imports
- Costs of storing and handling
A clear budget makes sure that your fabric procurement process can grow and last.
6. Build Relationships with Reliable Suppliers
Having good ties with your fabric suppliers is the key to getting good fabric. When looking for activewear, engaging with providers who know about performance textiles will help you avoid making expensive mistakes.
When you look for providers, ask:
- Do they make materials for activewear?
- Can they meet the minimum order quantities you need?
- Do they let you change things like dyeing or adding special finishes?
- How long does it take them to make and ship?
Long-term trust in fabric sourcing comes from regular communication and openness.
7. Order and Test Samples
Always ask for samples before placing large orders for activewear. You may check the fabric’s performance, stretch, colorfastness, and comfort by testing samples yourself.
If you skip the sample stage while getting fabric, you can end up with pricey stock that doesn’t satisfy your criteria. Before you choose a source, always look at a few different ones.
8. Keep Sustainability in Mind
People today care about the environment, and where you get your cloth has a big effect on it. Using recycled polyester, organic cotton, or bamboo fibres in your activewear can help your business stand out.
Picking textiles that are excellent for the environment is not only beneficial for the world, but it’s also a terrific way to sell your business.
9. Plan for Scalability
If you want to grow your business, the way you get fabric should be able to grow with it. This includes picking providers who can handle bigger orders as your needs grow.
When you scale up your sportswear sourcing, you need to make sure that the fabric quality stays the same so that your customers always get the same product.
10. Maintain Quality Control
Quality monitoring is a must while buying cloth. For sourcing activewear, keeping up with high standards is important for keeping customers happy and loyal to your brand.
Regular checks, batch tests, and tight fabric standards help keep the quality of the products high.
Why TexNex Inc Is the Perfect Partner for Your Fabric Sourcing Needs
TexNex Inc is the best company to help you simplify and make your activewear and fabric sourcing process more professional. They are experts in high-performance fabrics made for the sportswear sector, as well as eco-friendly fabrics, technical finishes, and global supplier networks.
You can get the following things from TexNex Inc:
- A wide range of premium activewear fabrics
- Sustainable and eco-certified options
- Expert guidance on fabric selection and performance requirements
- Reliable supplier connections and timely deliveries
You can be sure that your athletic line will stand out in a crowded market if you work with TexNex Inc to help you find fabric.
FAQs on Fabric Sourcing and Activewear Sourcing
Q1: What is the difference between fabric sourcing and activewear sourcing?
Discovering and buying textiles for any kind of clothing is called fabric sourcing. Activewear sourcing, on the other hand, is only about discovering and buying materials that are good for sports and fitness clothing.
Q2: How long does it generally take to find the right fabric?
It can take anything from a few weeks to a few months to find the right fabric, depending on your supplier network and testing needs. This is especially true for custom or specialist sportswear textiles.
Q3: Does it cost more to buy eco-friendly activewear?
Sourcing eco-friendly fabrics may cost a little more because of the materials and certifications, but the long-term value of the brand and consumer loyalty usually make up for the extra cost.
Conclusion
Getting your fabric sourcing process right from the start will save you time, money, and a lot of trouble in production. This includes knowing who your target market is, extensively evaluating fabrics, working with the correct suppliers, and putting quality and sustainability first when purchasing sportswear.
You can make an activewear line that looks and performs great with the help of experts like TexNex Inc. They can help you figure out how to get the right fabrics.