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In this product guide, we cover the sportswear manufacturers in China and discuss the specifics of importing private label clothing and custom-designed fitness clothing. Read on and learn more about production clusters, material specifications, and product customization.
Sportswear Manufacturers in Asia
Sportswear Manufacturers, a title that can apply to clothing producers of a wide variety of products, are (with notable exceptions) concentrated in Fujian and Guangdong. Instead, they are part of the clothing industry in general.
Sportswear buyers should consider visiting the following cities:
Shenzhen, Guangdong
Guangzhou, Guangdong, Guangdong
Fuzhou, Fujian
Xiamen, Fujian
Jinjiang, Fujian
Quanzhou, Fujian
Specialization of Sportswear Manufacturers
Like all suppliers, sportswear manufacturers are specialized. In general, it can be said that textile manufacturers are mainly specialized in certain categories of products, materials, and target markets.
Below is a list of common industry products:
Compression clothing (Fitness, cycling, and yoga)
Hiking and outdoors
Jackets
Ski and snowboard clothing
Gold and tennis polo shirts
Swimwear
Specification of Fabrics and Materials
Buyers of sportswear can usually rely on materials and components supplied by subcontractors to clothing manufacturers. Also, They like to hire some products quality inspections companies in China to check the quality of each product before exporting to the Client.
However, the quality of the materials offered differs, as clothing manufacturers not only specialize in areas but also in price segments. While a supplier may be "reliable", that doesn't mean they focus on high-end sportswear.
What Technical Details for your Fabrics?
Quality can only be defined in technical terms. So the first step in the process is to write a hardware specification.
When you buy sports and fitness clothing, you should include it:
Fabric (e.g. 61% cotton, 33% polyester, 6% spandex)
Fabric weight (e.g. 180 g / m²)
Stretch (i.e. 4-way stretch)
Other materials (eg, lining and mesh)
Impression
Other fabric specifications (e.g. quick dry, antibacterial, antibacterial, UV protected)
Product Design, Customization, and Technical Packs
A material specification is completed with a design drawing, both of which must be included in the buyer's Tech pack.
Today, however, many clothing companies purchase private label products (ODM) rather than custom-designed clothing (OEM).
As the procurement and product development procedure is very different between ODM and OEM, we compare the key points in the table below:
Technical Fabrics
Sportswear is often made of coated fabrics and other technical textiles (often referred to as preferred fabrics). These textiles are often both branded and patented and therefore are not readily available in the same way as generic cotton or polyester fabric.
Clothing Regulations and Standards
In some countries and markets, sports and fitness clothing is subject to substance regulations.As far as I know, these regulations apply to most consumer products, including textiles, and do not specifically apply to sportswear.
Importers in the European Union should be aware of the following:
Normally, the first step in this process is to limit the selection of suppliers to those who are able to produce verifiable test reports.
However, as many experienced clothing buyers already know, many manufacturers do not have a history of compliance, making it difficult to tell if a supplier is truly capable of controlling their incoming materials.
Compliance Tests
As far as I know, the most effective way to check for compliance, when shopping for clothing, is to first confirm the materials and colors, which are tested for compliance very early in the process.
Sportswear buyers should also consider a range of other non-mandatory performance testing procedures, including the following:
Flammability
Thermal
Water
Fiber analysis
Resistance to abrasion and pilling of fabrics,
Feather and down tests
Resistance to tearing of fabrics.
Tissue samples can be tested in Mainland China or Hong Kong, where several accredited European and American testing companies are present.
Labeling Requirements
Importers are required to comply with all local labeling requirements.
The scope of regulation varies by country and market, but tends to include the following:
Material specification (80% Nylon / 20% Spandex),
Washing
Symbols (ie ASTM and/or washing)
Instructions
Cut
Country of origin (ie Made in China).
Sportswear Trade Shows in China:
Fashion Fair
Location: Hong-Kong
Period: October 27-30
Hong Kong Fashion Week (HKTDC)
Location: Hong Kong
The weather: July 4 - 7
Canton Fair (phase 3)
Location: Guangzhou
Time: October 31 - November 4
China International Sporting Goods Show
Location: Fuzhou
Time: May 8-11
Taipei Int'l Sports Textile & Accessory Expo (SpoMODE)
Location: Taipei
Time: March 2 - 5
ISPO Shanghai
Location: Shanghai
The weather: July 7 - 9
ISPO Beijing
Location: Beijing
Time: February 24 - 27
Do you want to start your own Collection of Bespoke Sportswear?
It can be difficult to go from a design drawing to a finished product.
To help you manage the entire process - from creating a specification to sampling and quality control - we've created a Starter Package for sportswear:
Sportswear Manufacturers Lists
Product specification models
Samples of sportswear labels
Tutorials, videos, and to-do lists that take you step-by-step through the process.
Regulations and Standards for Sports Products in the European Union
Are you planning to import or manufacture sportswear in the European Union? In this guide, we will address several topics such as the European REACH regulation ( Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemical Substances ), labeling requirements, laboratory tests, or compliance risks during import or manufacturing sportswear in the EU.
List of products mentioned in this article:
Yoga clothes
Swimwear
T-shirts
Sweatshirts
Track pants
Fitness gloves
Polyester fabrics
Nylon fabrics
REACH
REACH is a regulation implemented by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), which aims to limit the content of dangerous chemicals, heavy metals, and other dangerous substances in products manufactured, imported, and sold in the Union European, including sportswear.
Products that contain excessive amounts of restricted chemicals violate REACH and risk being banned by the European Commission. Importers of sportswear must therefore ensure that their products comply with REACH before importing them into the EU.
Here are some examples of controlled substances that can be found on sportswear:
Cadmium
Arsenic compounds
Benzene
Chrysene
Formaldehyde
Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC)
The list of substances of very high concern regulated by REACH is updated every year.
For example, the active substances of biocides, which are chemicals used against bad odor after sweating and which are common in sportswear, could be on the candidate list. It should be noted that most of the active substances included in the SVHC are those which also fall within the scope of the Biocidal Products Directive (BPD).
Laboratory Tests
Many manufacturers and suppliers in Asia are not necessarily familiar with REACH compliance testing and related procedures. Therefore, importers must give instructions to manufacturers before manufacturing the products.
It is risky to import products into the EU until you know if your sportswear is REACH compliant. It is therefore preferable to always have your products tested in the laboratory before importing them.
Companies Performing the Tests
Here you will find a list of laboratories that offer REACH tests:
Bureau Veritas (France)
QIMA (China)
Intertek Group (RU)
TUV (Germany)
SGS (Switzerland)
The Costs
The cost of REACH compliance testing for sportswear depends entirely on the number of different items, colors, and colorways. Typically, testing starts at $ 200 per item.
Compliance Risks
Sportswear is often made from synthetic materials, such as polyester and nylon. Although rare, these materials may contain excessive amounts of regulated chemicals, rendering the product as a whole non-compliant. In addition, zippers, buttons, plugs, and other parts can also contain excessive amounts of heavy metals, such as lead or nickel.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Directive
The sportswear that serves as protection against shocks, falls or any form of exterior strikes, such as protective gear for kickboxing or fencing, can be classified as personal protective equipment (PPE).
However, according to our research, not all sports protective equipment is classified as PPE. For example, in some minutes of the PPE working group meetings, it was argued that boxing gloves were not PPE, whereas bag gloves, which are designed to protect the wearer, are classified as PPE.
The European Commission requires that sportswear classified as PPE meets the requirements of the PPE Directive. Other required documents include the declaration of conformity and the technical files.
Laboratory Testing of PPE
There are different types of testing standards for PPE sportswear. For example, the test standards for protective equipment for martial arts are different from the standards for roller sports. Importers must have their sports protective equipment tested in a laboratory before placing it on the European market.
Here are some examples of European Committee for Standardization (CEN) standards harmonized under the directive:
EN 13277 - Protective equipment for martial arts
EN 14120 - Protective clothing - Wrist, palm, knee, and elbow protection for users of sports equipment on wheels
EN 15613 - Knee and elbow protectors for indoor sports
CE Label
The PPE Directive requires that all PPE products bear the CE mark, which must be affixed permanently. Note that it is always best to provide a digital CE label to the supplier as they could use the wrong format or miss the label.
You must also specify the dimensions, position, color, and printing of the label, both for the product and for the packaging and user manual.
CE Documentation
Under any CE Marking Directive, including the PPE Directive, importers are required to prepare the required documentation and submit it to the relevant authorities before placing products on the EU market.
Declaration of Conformity (DC)
The EU declaration of conformity is the document in which the manufacturer or importer declares that the products comply with all the essential requirements of the applicable European legislation.
Here is a checklist of what should be included in the declaration of conformity:
Product / SKU identification (e.g. SKU 156 hockey elbow pad)
Product Features
Name and address of manufacturer/importer
List of EN standards or directives
Location
Responsible person
user's Guide
The PPE Directive also requires that the user manual accompany products and be displayed to end-users. The following content should be included in the user manual:
Product Installation Guide
Introduction to product components
Safety instructions
Instructions
Elimination of wasted product
We recommend including the CE mark in the user manual to inform users
Technical File
Finally, importers must also create a technical dossier, which provides information on the design, manufacture, operation, and any other details necessary of the product to demonstrate its compliance with applicable regulations.
Test Report
All test reports concerning the product must be included in the technical documentation file.
General Product Safety Directive (GPSD)
The General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) provides a series of general safety guidelines for all products sold in the EU, although no specific mandatory EN standard applies.
The GPSD requires that all products imported and sold in the European Union present no danger to the human body. Importers should carry out a risk assessment and create the relevant documentation, taking into account the possible risks to consumers, including children.
When it comes to sportswear, it is important to assess whether the product poses any risk to the safety of the wearer or those around it. This is the case even if no specific standard applies to the product. However, you need to use common sense when designing sportswear and consider all the potential risks.
GPSD Test
Importers must ensure the safety of their imported products and performing laboratory tests against specific EN standards, even if voluntary, is often the safest way to comply with the guidelines.
EN Standards
EN standards are generally voluntary unless a certain regulation explicitly requires it. Importers can choose to adhere to EN standards for their imported products or to treat these standards as safety guidelines for product safety. Examples of EN standards applicable to sportswear
EN ISO 20932-1 - Determination of the elasticity of fabrics. Tape tests
EN ISO 20320 - Protective clothing for snowboarding
Tests EN
Testing of EN standards is standard practice for general products imported into the EU. Importers can therefore have these tests carried out by laboratory testing companies such as SGS, Intertek, QIMA, or TUV.
Textile Labeling
If sportswear contains more than 80% textile fibers, such as t-shirts or yoga pants, your products should be labeled with the correct fiber composition (for example, 100% cotton or 100% polyester).
Fiber content labels should be sewn properly and should not come off easily. You should also consider including the following content on labels, which must be permanently affixed to the product:
Fiber composition
Care instructions
The official language of the Member State
Some EU member states require products to bear care labels and size labels. We recommend adding them to products.
Non-Textile Parts of Animal Origin
If your products have leather in their composition, for example, leather fitness gloves, whether genuine leather or faux leather, you must specify this on the label.
Label File
Before you can start mass-producing your product, you must provide your supplier with a vector graphics file, usually in .ai or .eps format, showing the correct contents of the labels and how they should be sewn or printed on the product. and its packaging.
Label Information
Importers must provide the following information to manufacturers/suppliers:
The specificities of the label
Label material
The color
Sewing methods
We suggest that importers include graphics of care instructions on labels in the technical file provided to manufacturers/suppliers.
Directive n ° 94/62 / CE relating to packaging
Directive 94/62 / EC regulates the packaging of products in the European Union, establishing requirements for materials and recycling of packaging waste. All packaging imported into the European Union must comply with this directive.
Restrictions on Heavy Metals
Directive 94/62 / EC limits the concentration of heavy metals, in particular lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and cadmium, in packaging materials to a limit of 100 ppm by weight. Materials such as printer inks and dyes on product packaging must comply with this directive.
Importers should hire third-party laboratory testing companies, such as SGS, Intertek, TUV or QIMA, to test the packaging of related products.
Additional Packaging Information:
Product packaging materials should be easy to collect, reuse and recycle
Any mark or symbol applicable to the products must appear on the product packaging
Questions Answers
How Big is the Sportswear Market?
The value of the sportswear market in the United States has grown every year since 2015 and is expected to exceed the US $ 100 billion by 2025. The current market value is around the US $ 62 billion, of which about 60% is from shoes and 40% from clothing.
How Much is the Sportswear Industry Worth?
The sportswear market was valued at $ 167.7 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $ 248.1 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 5.1% from 2019 to 2026.
What is Sportswear?
Sports or activity clothing is clothing, including shoes, worn for sports or physical exercise. Sport-specific clothing is worn for most sports and exercise, for practical, comfort, or safety reasons. Typical sport-specific clothing includes tracksuits, shorts, T-shirts, and polo shirts.
What Type of Fabric is used for Sportswear?
Polyester. Polyester is another type of material commonly used in sportswear. It is basically a fabric made from plastic fibers, which makes it light, wrinkle-resistant, durable, and breathable.
What Material are Sports Shirts Made Of?
Polyester is the workhorse of training fabrics, the one most commonly seen on labels. It is basically a plastic fabric, durable, wrinkle-resistant, lightweight, breathable, and non-absorbent, which means that moisture from your skin evaporates instead of being drawn into the fabric.