Step-by-Step Guide for Apparel Sourcing from India(2024)

Introduction

Globally, a lot of sectors depend on India for their product sourcing, which has given the country a major economic boost. India stands as the seventh largest country in the world, with most of its 1.4 billion citizens having businesses in different sectors. The country is now one of the leading hubs for global businesses due to its low labor costs, young population, availability of skilled talent, and expanding consumer base. India's textile industry comprises almost 7% of India’s manufacturing output, 2% of GDP, and 12% of exports. This is one of the most significant reasons why Indian wholesale clothing is witnessing a major boom.

India is the one-stop shop for designers, brands, and buyers worldwide. After all, it owns the entire manufacturing value chain - from fiber to apparel, and offers the distinct advantage of backward integration. Planning to get into apparel retailing and wondering if India should be your sourcing destination? This guide gives you all the information on why and how to source your apparel from India.

Benefits of Sourcing from India ‍

Due to the country’s size and chaotic nature, doing business in India may seem a bit tough, but there are multiple advantages to choosing India as your sourcing destination. Let's understand what those advantages are:

Local Availability of Raw Material

India is among the top 3 cotton manufacturers in the world. Did you know that 51% of the world’s organic cotton is grown in India according to the Textile Exchange report? Moreover, all other raw materials for garment manufacturing, such as buttons and zips are also manufactured locally. There are a huge number of apparel manufacturers in India.

Manufacturing Facilities

India has millions of big and small garment manufacturing units. It is crucial to have a local partner who can identify and get things done based on the size of the order. The manufacturing units in India produce high-quality products and these units are extremely reliable. Moreover, for brands that require premium or certified manufacturing facilities, India has more than 1,254 GOTS (Global Organization for Textile Standards) certified factories and there are over 977 SA800 certified units.

Lower MOQs and Flexible Production

Clothes suppliers in India are generally more flexible on the Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) and different manufacturing units work with different minimum requirements. So, whether you need just 250 pieces of a product, or 50 thousand - both are possible to get done.

Language and Culture

With its English-speaking population and cultural affinity with the West in terms of a capitalistic and democratic society, Indians are generally quite easy to work with and understand customer requirements well. Moreover, Indian wholesale clothing online is doing extremely well all over the world.

Innovation

The wholesale clothing sector in India is currently a hotbed for innovation - for example, brands such as Boheco are trying to reduce and replace cotton in textiles with more sustainable hemp filers. Also, many companies are working on anti-bacterial and anti-viral treatments of fabrics for special applications.

IP Protection ‍

Intellectual property protection is one of the most significant issues in the ongoing trade war between China and the United States. However, the possibility of this problem occurring while apparel manufacturers in India is minimal. With Indian products, you have fewer problems with suppliers replicating your designs and reselling them to other customers.

Steps to Source from India

To make the most of sourcing from India, a thorough understanding of the local supply market is important. While a simple internet search offers millions of results, you must focus on choosing a manufacturing partner that offers the following:

• Environment-friendly manufacturing process
• On-time delivery of bulk orders
• Innovative and fresh samplings and designs
• Exclusive designs for individual clients
• Tailored designs as per client profile
• Reliability in terms of quality, workmanship, and ethical work practices

Wondering how to get wholesale clothing suppliers in India? We have collated a list of steps for you to follow:

Step 1: Choose your Business Model

The first thing you have to decide on is what kind of business model are you going to deploy - that is a wholesale business model or a dropshipping business model? A wholesale business model is appropriate for both large and small clothing businesses. It is a good choice for those who have additional space to store merchandise. In contrast, the dropshipping business model works for clothing businesses that do not have the space to store stock in bulk.

Step 2: Evaluate your Suppliers

One of the best ways of finding reliable wholesale clothing in India is through industry meetups. These meetups are exhibitions or trade shows comprising different types of manufacturers. Here, manufacturers display their merchandise and clothing designs. Also, social media is an excellent source for detailed information about the manufacturers and a great way to connect with high-quality manufacturers. Once you zero in on your list of potential suppliers, you must examine the collated data and analyze the supplier’s list. This will help you identify suitable suppliers for your niche.

Step:3: Send an RFQ and Analyze the Response

Once you identify the right apparel wholesalers in India for your business, we recommend that you send a Request for Quote (RFQ) to the supplier. The RFQ response from the supplier will help you decide if you want to go ahead with that supplier.

Step 4: Clear and Concise Communication with the Supplier

Always ensure mutual respect and coordination. Also, it is essential that you communicate your requirements to the supplier clearly before signing the contract, to ensure a long-term, effective relationship. There are a huge number of factories dealing with direct wholesale clothing in India online and it is best to reach out to these units with clear requirements.

Step 5: Execute an Effective Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)

SRM is an exercise that concentrates on building, managing, and nurturing business relationships with vendors. Once you zero in on a factory dealing with direct wholesale clothing in India, there are various procedural points to be discussed and assessed. Likewise, PPAP sample approvals, conforming delivery dates, formulating procurement strategy, logistics management, formalities, export documentation, and so on have to be decided. Retailers and suppliers need to build a mutually beneficial relationship that allows feedback and ideas to flow freely.

Wrapping Up

The Indian wholesale clothing supply market can prove to be complex. Moreover, an astounding number of suppliers and availability of goods can confuse buyers to find a relevant sourcing partner. Tradyl as your sourcing partner stands to offer several advantages that can help streamline your procurement process and enhance the overall efficiency of your business. With an extensive network of the most trustworthy suppliers, we ensure the best products at competitive prices. Reach out us to make sourcing from India the easiest and most efficient step in your business.