How To Find Vietnam Clothing, Garment, And Apparel Manufacturers // Complete Guide
Updated October 22, 2023
Vietnam’s garment and textile industry, a cornerstone of the country’s booming economy, has emerged as a global powerhouse in the fashion and apparel sector. This industry, vital to Vietnam’s economic narrative, has seen remarkable growth, becoming the world’s third-largest textile and apparel exporter. With an export value surpassing billions of dollars annually and providing employment to millions, the sector is a pivotal component of Vietnam’s economic development. For businesses worldwide, tapping into this thriving market means accessing a hub of quality, innovation, and competitive pricing in clothing manufacturing.
This article explores the vibrant world of sourcing clothing, garments, apparel, and textiles from Vietnam, a country rich in manufacturing expertise and booming in its global trade contributions. Whether you are part of a fashion startup, a large retail chain, or a brand focusing on ethical production, understanding Vietnam’s textile landscape, backed by its impressive economic statistics, is crucial for successful sourcing.
We will delve into the heart of Vietnam’s textile industry, examining key economic stats that underscore its global standing and regional production strengths. This will include insights into the major export markets for Vietnamese textiles, the growth trends in various apparel categories, and the country’s commitment to sustainable and ethical manufacturing practices.
Furthermore, this guide will navigate you through the practicalities of finding and partnering with the right Vietnamese factories. We’ll discuss navigating language barriers, cultural business practices, and logistical nuances while aligning with factories that meet stringent compliance and quality standards.
Join us as we unfold the narrative of Vietnam’s garment industry, a story woven with economic prowess and global trade significance. For businesses looking to source textiles, this journey is about finding a supplier and engaging with a sector at the forefront of driving Vietnam’s economic growth.
If you need a sourcing company based in Vietnam, contact the Cosmo Sourcing team.
Please email us at info@cosmosourcing.com
What Types of Clothing, Garments, Textiles, and Apparel Does Vietnam Manufacture?
Vietnam’s textile and garment industry is renowned for its versatility and capacity, catering to various clothing and textile needs. The types of clothing, garments, textiles, and apparel manufactured in Vietnam include:
Casual Wear and Streetwear: T-shirts, jeans, tops, shorts, and casual dresses. Vietnam is known for producing high-quality, durable everyday wear.
Sportswear and Activewear: Specialized in manufacturing sportswear, including yoga pants, sports bras, athletic shirts, and other performance-oriented apparel.
Outerwear: Various types of outerwear, such as jackets, coats, and windbreakers, are produced, often using traditional and advanced materials.
Workwear and Uniforms: Manufacturing professional workwear and uniforms for various industries, including corporate, medical, and hospitality sectors.
Children’s and Baby Clothing: Production of a wide range of children’s apparel, from newborn outfits to clothing for older children.
Knitwear: Including sweaters, cardigans, and other knitted garments, leveraging Vietnam’s strong capabilities in knit fabric production.
Formal Wear: Production of formal attire like suits, evening dresses, and formal shirts, catering to men’s and women’s fashion.
Undergarments and Lingerie: Manufacturing various undergarments, lingerie, and sleepwear.
Swimwear and Beachwear: These include bikinis, swimsuits, and beach cover-ups, often made of high-quality, durable, and quick-drying materials.
Footwear: Vietnam is one of the leading footwear producers, including shoes, sandals, and boots for various purposes and markets.
Accessories: Production of textile-based accessories such as scarves, hats, gloves, and bags.
Home Textiles: Bed linens, towels, curtains, and upholstery fabrics.
Technical and Specialized Textiles: Manufacturing specialized textiles for industrial, medical, and technical applications, including protective clothing and medical-grade fabrics.
Sustainable and Eco-friendly Apparel: The growing production of clothing using sustainable and eco-friendly materials reflects the global trend towards environmentally responsible fashion.
Denim Apparel: Including a range of denim jeans, jackets, and skirts known for their quality and durability.
Ethnic and Cultural Clothing: Traditional Vietnamese clothing, such as Ao Dai, is known for its unique designs and cultural significance.
Maternity Wear: Comfortable and functional clothing designed for expectant mothers.
Fashion Accessories: Including belts, ties, and other fashion-complementing items.
High-Performance Athletic Gear: Specialized clothing for various sports featuring advanced materials for enhanced performance.
Winter Clothing: Including insulated jackets, thermal wear, and other garments suitable for cold climates.
Eco-Friendly and Organic Clothing: Apparel made from organic cotton, bamboo fiber, and other sustainable materials.
Corporate Apparel: Customized clothing for corporate environments, including branded shirts, blazers, and corporate uniforms.
Medical and Healthcare Uniforms: Including scrubs, lab coats, and other healthcare garments.
Protective Workwear: Including safety vests, protective overalls, and other industrial safety garments.
Costumes and Theatrical Wear: Customized outfits for performances, theater, and entertainment events.
Bridal Wear and Wedding Dresses: Elegant and intricately designed bridal gowns and related apparel.
Luxury Fashion Items: High-end fashion products catering to the premium segment.
Pet Clothing: Apparel and accessories designed for pets.
Plus-Size Clothing: Garments specifically designed for plus-size individuals, focusing on fit and comfort.
Beach and Resort Wear: Lightweight and comfortable clothing suitable for beach and resort settings.
Lingerie and Hosiery: Delicate and finely crafted lingerie items and various hosiery products.
Vietnam’s ability to manufacture a wide range of products, from everyday wear to specialized apparel, is a testament to its evolving capabilities and response to global market trends. This versatility and a commitment to quality and competitive pricing positions Vietnam as a critical player in the global textile and garment manufacturing industry.
Cut and Sew Manufacturing In Vietnam
Vietnam’s proficiency in the cut-and-sew manufacturing sector extends beyond clothing to various non-clothing items, particularly in categories like bags, purses, and related accessories. The country’s skilled workforce and experience handling diverse materials make it an ideal location for producing these items. Here are some critical non-clothing cut-and-sew products made in Vietnam:
Backpacks: Ranging from casual daypacks to specialized backpacks for hiking, travel, and school.
Handbags and Purses: These include a variety of styles like totes, satchels, clutches, and shoulder bags made from fabrics, leather, and synthetic materials.
Travel Bags and Luggage: Durable suitcases, duffel bags, carry-ons, and travel organizers.
Laptop Bags and Sleeves: Designed to protect and transport laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices.
Wallets and Small Leather Goods: Wallets, card holders, and coin purses.
Cosmetic and Toiletry Bags: Various pouches and bags organize cosmetics and toiletries.
Camera Bags and Cases: Specialized bags and cases for carrying and protecting photography equipment.
Tactical and Utility Bags: Including military-grade backpacks, tactical vests, and utility belts.
Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Bags: Made from organic or recycled materials, aligning with environmentally conscious manufacturing practices.
Sport and Gym Bags: Bags designed for carrying sports equipment, gym clothes, and accessories.
Diaper Bags: Functional bags for carrying baby essentials often feature multiple compartments and accessories.
Insulated Cooler Bags: Used for picnics, camping, or transporting perishable goods.
Drawstring Bags and Pouches: These lightweight bags are suitable for casual use, promotional events, or packaging for other products.
Pet Carriers and Accessories: Pet carriers, beds, and other pet-related sewn products.
Custom and Promotional Bags: Tailor-made for corporate branding or promotional events, such as tote bags with company logos.
Vietnam’s versatility in producing these varied cut-and-sew non-clothing items and its commitment to quality and competitive pricing make it an attractive destination for businesses looking to source these products.
Pros and Cons of Vietnam Clothing Manufacturing
Advantages of Vietnam Manufacturing
Price
Vietnam is one of the cheapest countries to manufacture clothing, textiles, and apparel without sacrificing quality.
Free trade and tariff advantages
Vietnam has free trade agreements with Southeast Asia as part of ASEAN, Japan, South Korea, India, and Australia. In addition, it should have a new free trade agreement with the E.U. this year and a bilateral trade agreement that's just short of free trade with the United States. We discuss this more below.
Very high production quality
Regarding the quality of finished goods for clothing, Vietnam is among the world's top 90%.
Lead time
In the fast fashion industry, there is a term called Speed to Market, also called Make to Market, which is the rate at which an item goes from the start of production to a retail store ready to be sold. Vietnam has one of the fastest rates in the world regarding Fashion and Clothing. For this reason, Vietnam is the largest supplier of stores such as Uniqlo and Marks And Spencer.
Disadvantages of Vietnam Manufacturing
Lack of flexibility with Order Quantity
Vietnamese manufacturers are less willing to do small orders, often less than 2000, and small sample runs. The low M.O.Q.s can cause headaches for those who wish to start small and scale up.
Many components come from China.
Even though Vietnam has a decent base to source raw materials in-country, many components, such as buttons and zippers, still need to be sourced and imported from China. This step can often add as much as a month to the production time. The delays due to shipping from China mainly affect the first order; by the second order, the supplier can order earlier so that you can have a faster lead time.
Logistics of Shipping Clothing From Vietnam
Vietnam has an extensive network of ports that allows quick shipping to the U.S. West Coast in 3 weeks, the U.S. East Coast in 4 to 6 weeks, and Europe in 4 weeks. One thing to keep in mind is that logistics in-country are less developed than they are in China. For instance, as a result, there may be delays in getting a container from the factory to a port. Ports are often overcrowded, and it's not uncommon for a week-long delay before the container can enter the port.
The Effect of Tariffs and Free Trade Agreements in Vietnam
Vietnam is arguably the most significant single winner in the trade war. Since the first tariffs, manufacturers, including clothing manufacturers, have rushed to Vietnam, causing a massive surge in demand and investments.
EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement
The European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement was ratified in 2015 and will go into effect by the end of the year. The Agreement will grant Vietnamese manufacturers and E.U. buyers the freedom to trade and allow European businesses and investors to set up manufacturing operations without many restrictions in Vietnam. Beyond the E.U. agreement, Vietnam has aggressively sought to get into more free trade agreements with several other countries. For example, Vietnam is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and has a free trade agreement with South Korea. As a result, Samsung alone produces $58 Billion worth of goods in Vietnam a year. They're also in talks to join the revised Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
Reports of the death of the Trans-Pacific Partnership were exaggerated. The CPTPP is the same as the old T.P.P., with one major exception: the United States is not involved. The deal will give Vietnam Free trade access to 13 countries, including Canada, Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, and Singapore. This Agreement will allow free exports and direct foreign investment into Vietnam. In addition, the CPTPP will help spur financing for a massive increase in production.
Tariffs on China Have Hit the Apparel Industry Hard
Some areas hit the hardest by the tariffs are apparel, clothing, textiles, and cut-and-sew. These categories thus see about 25% in extra taxes applied in China. As a result, about 83% of American businesses in China say that they will be looking elsewhere for future production, with Vietnam being the top target.
Clothing Manufacturers Trade Association in Vietnam
Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association
The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association represents hundreds of manufacturers, suppliers, and other companies associated with Vietnam's clothing industry. The Association seeks to promote Vietnamese apparel, garment, and textile manufacturers worldwide, host regular events and trade shows, and maintain a directory of manufacturers. Unfortunately, the index is limited only to those manufacturers that pay the membership fee, so it isn't as complete as it should be.
Best Clothing Manufacturing Trade Shows in Vietnam
THE VIETNAM INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE & APPAREL ACCESSORIES EXHIBITION
Vietnam is rapidly becoming one of the most important clothing and textile manufacturing countries. As a result, this show is becoming the hub for clothing manufacturers in Vietnam, China, and Southeast Asia.
This event is at the same time and venue as the Vietnam International Textile & Garment Industry Exhibition and the Vietnam International Footwear Machinery & Material Industry Exhibition. These events are focused more on the machinery and materials used in manufacturing than on final goods. If you want to create a new clothing line, I suggest this event and its two sister events.
Focus:
Fabrics
Accessories
Garments
Filaments
Dates: 21 - 24 September, 2022
City: Ho Chi Minh City
Venue: Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC)
799 Nguyen Van Linh, Tan Phu Ward, Dist 7.
VIETNAM INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE & GARMENT INDUSTRY EXHIBITION
This trade show focuses on machinery related to making textiles and garments and not so much on finished goods. The show is a popular event attended by over 10,000 people and has hundreds of exhibitors. Despite the focus on machinery, it is well attended by representatives of major fashion retailers and merchandisers. The exhibition is a great show to visit if you want to see major clothing innovations before they hit the market.
Focus:
Fibers
Textiles
Textile Machinery
Dates: 21 - 24 September, 2022
City: Ho Chi Minh City
Venue: Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center (SECC),
799 Nguyen Van Linh Parkway, Tan Phu Ward, Dist.7,
Vietnam Hanoi Fabric & Garment Accessories Expo (HanoiFabric)
C.P. Exhibition Hong Kong is organizing the Vietnam Hanoi Fabric & Garment Accessories Expo (Hanoi Fabric). This expo mainly focuses on the machinery, spare parts, technologies, dyes, and chemicals of the textile & garment industry. Together with HanoiFabric, the last event in 2019 was held successfully with 195 companies from 14 countries and regions, including China, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the U.K., the U.S.A., and Vietnam.
HanoiFabric 2020 will be held from 23 to 25 November 2022 at Viet-Xo Cultural Palace (I.C.E.), Hanoi, Vietnam.
Vietnam Saigon International Textile and Garment Industry Expo (SaigonTex)
VINATEX organizes SaigonTex - Vietnam National Textile & Garment Group, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, VCCI Exhibition Service Co Ltd. Vietnam Textile & Garment Industry Expo, the most important event in Vietnam's textile and garment industry. As the only textile & garment industry expo approved by U.F.I. (international exhibitor assurance of quality www.ufi.org), this expo was held concurrently with the Vietnam Saigon Fabric & Garment Accessories Expo. These two expos aim to provide a one-stop market for all buyers in Vietnam and the neighboring countries. The next event will be April 5-8, 2023, at SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Vietnam Clothing Wholesalers
If you are not interested in ordering your clothing directly from the factory, you may be interested in Clothing Wholesalers in Vietnam. Wholesalers are also a good option for those looking for a smaller M.O.Q. Wholesalers sell items by the hundreds instead of the several thousand manufacturers usually require. Note that most clothing wholesalers do not intend to ship to the U.S. or E.U. Thus, you need to be aware of this and ensure that the items are safe to import.
Is Vietnam Clothing cheaper than in China?
As of 2019, it is still cheaper to manufacture clothing and other similar items in Vietnam than in China. Vietnam’s monthly Minimum wage in 2019 is around 125-180 a month, depending on the location. In China, the wages range from $150-346 a month, varying by region. Vietnam’s and China’s wages are almost double those of urban areas vs. rural areas.
Both Vietnam and China see wages rise at a similar rate. However, Vietnam’s most significant disadvantage is its limited labor pool, which is very close to the maximum employment capacity and could reach a choke point in the next few years if demand continues rapidly.
What Clothing Brands Are Made In Vietnam
Since Vietnam is among the largest clothing manufacturers globally, any significant brand can be found manufacturing in Vietnam.
We listed some of the top brands that are manufactured in Vietnam below:
MANGO
GAP
C & A
Calvin Klien
Columbia
Walmart
Marks & Spencer
Target
Decathlon
JCPenney
The Children Place
Patagonia
The North Face
Columbia
Super Dry
Levi’s
Converse
Hurley
Jordan
Nike
Under Armour
Lacoste
Primary
P.V.H.
Gap
Esprit
Regulations When Importing Clothing into the U.S. and E.U.
Before importing clothing, textiles, garments, and other cut-and-sewn goods into the United States, you must be aware of a few regulations and requirements.
Both the U.S. and the E.U. have restrictions on chemical and heavy metals, including:
AZO dyes
Cadmium
Formaldehyde
Lead
Mercury
If importing to the E.U., you must comply with REACH regulations.
And if you plan on selling in California, you need to know Prop 65, which restricts and requires labeling known carcinogens.
Many but not all Vietnam suppliers with experience manufacturing for the U.S. and E.U. are familiar with these regulations. However, the buyer must verify the products.
Labeling Requirements
To import items into the United States, you must ensure that each clothing article is labeled correctly. Sewport has a detailed guide on Labeling Requirements.
Country of origin (in this case, “Made in Vietnam”)
Composition of Fibers
ASTM care labels
Cosmo Sourcing // Your Trusted Partner In Vietnam
Please email us at info@cosmosourcing.com
If you want to source from Vietnam, contact the Cosmo Sourcing team; we have been helping clients source from Vietnam since 2014. Cosmo Sourcing has the skills and the team to find you the best supplier possible. We are also established in China and are among the only companies that can find suppliers in China and Vietnam. Pick the one you think is best.
Our Vietnam Sourcing services allow you to access new manufacturers that you would not be able to in China and avoid Tariffs. Our services are designed to do everything to take your idea, turn it into a product, and ship it to the final destination. Cosmo can do everything from creating a product spec sheet to validating, sourcing, ordering, evaluating samples, arranging inspections, finding freight forwarders, quality assurance, negotiations, and shipping. We aim to handle every single step of your business in Vietnam for you.
If you start a new business, finding products and suppliers for your products is one of many things you need to handle. Our services are designed to handle every part of your business in China and Vietnam so you can focus on the rest of growing your own business.
We have helped clients from Fortune 500 companies, brick-and-mortar stores, F.B.A. sellers, and brand-new businesses. So don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know how we can help you.