Sourcing
How to choose apparel suppliers for a growing brand
What changes when you move from a first sample to a repeat wholesale relationship, and how to evaluate suppliers as you grow.
Urban Stitch Wear editorial · Published 20 June 2026 · Updated 20 June 2026
The first order and the fifth order are different jobs
A first order tests whether the supplier can understand your brief. A repeat order tests whether they can find the same spec again. Growing brands should keep a simple archive: approved measurements, fabric notes, artwork, and packing.
Watch how they handle uncertainty
A serious supplier will mark unconfirmed capabilities as unconfirmed. If a website or salesperson promises every print method, every certification, and every lead time at once, ask for the evidence or move on.
Communication is part of quality
Late, vague, or contradictory emails create defective orders even when sewing is fine. Prefer a supplier that asks precise questions about quantity, destination, and decoration.
Continue on the site
Have a specification ready?
Send the garment type, quantity, destination, and any tech pack or artwork. A form submission is a manufacturing inquiry, not an order.
Request a manufacturing quote