Custom Sportswear & Fitness Apparel Manufacturer

What sportswear and fitness apparel do we manufacture?

We are a cut-and-sew sports clothing manufacturer, which means every style is built from a pattern, cut from knitted fabric and assembled on sewing lines — not knitted to shape on seamless machines. Our range covers the categories fitness and yoga brands actually sell:

• Leggings and yoga pants — high-waist, 7/8 and full length, with gusset, hidden waistband pocket and squat-proof fabric weights
• Sports bras and bra tops — light to medium support, removable padding, racerback and cross-back builds
• Performance tops — training tees, tanks and long sleeves in moisture-wicking polyester/spandex
• Shorts — running shorts, 2-in-1 lined training shorts and biker shorts
• Joggers and warm-up pants — tapered gym fits in heavier knits

Brands searching for a fitness clothing manufacturer, a gym apparel manufacturer or a yoga clothing manufacturer usually need the same thing: one factory that holds stretch-fabric tolerances across a whole collection. Because leggings, bras, tops and joggers share fabrics and construction, we run them as one program — one fabric conversation, one fit standard, one QC checklist — instead of four separate supplier relationships.

As a fitness apparel manufacturer we work from your tech pack or from a reference garment with notes. Private label is the default: your woven labels, care labels, hangtags and packaging go on every piece, and the collection arrives retail-ready.

Which fabrics and construction methods do we use for gym apparel?

The workhorse fabrics are nylon/spandex and polyester/spandex knits between 160 and 280 GSM. Lightweight polyester/spandex jersey at 160–200 GSM goes into training tees and tanks, where moisture wicking matters most. Nylon/spandex interlock at 220–280 GSM goes into leggings and sports bras, where the fabric must stay opaque under stretch — what the market calls squat-proof. Spandex content usually sits between 15% and 25%: enough for four-way stretch and full recovery, not so much that the garment ages quickly. If you need help matching a fabric to a silhouette, our fabric sourcing team works from your target hand-feel, weight and price point.

Construction is what separates gym apparel from fashion knitwear. Seams that sit against moving skin are sewn on flatlock machines, so the join lies flat and does not chafe. Hems and waistband attachments use coverstitch, which stretches with the fabric instead of popping a thread. Leggings get a diamond or triangular gusset to remove the cross-seam pressure point. Waistbands are separate components — covered elastic or a fabric-encased band, bar-tacked at stress points — and sports bra elastics are set with a zigzag that keeps tension even around the underband.

• Flatlock seams — flat, low-bulk joins for leggings, bras and base layers
• Coverstitch hems and bindings — stretchable finishing that recovers with the fabric
• Four-way stretch knits — stretch in both directions, required for leggings and bras
• Moisture-wicking finishes — move sweat to the fabric face so it evaporates

How does production work from tech pack to bulk order?

Send a tech pack if you have one; a reference garment with notes also works. Either way we need your size range, target fabric weight and the fit you want, because stretch fit cannot be judged from a photo. We confirm fabric, draft or adjust the pattern, and produce a prototype in 8–15 days. Fit is checked on the size you sell most, revisions go through the same sample development loop, and the approved sample becomes the reference for bulk.

Bulk production runs 24–30 days after sample approval, with in-line QC on the sewing lines and a final inspection before packing. MOQ is 50 pieces per style, and sizes can be mixed freely inside those 50. Printing, embroidery and any wash effects are handled by audited partner workshops we have used for years, so decoration stays inside one managed supply chain instead of becoming a vendor you coordinate yourself.

What quality control and tolerances apply to sportswear?

Stretch garments fail differently from woven ones, so the tests differ. We measure critical points — waist, hip, inseam, underband — against the approved chart with a ±1 cm tolerance, and we test the production fabric rather than assuming it matches the sample. Stretch and recovery — how far the fabric extends and how completely it returns — is measured with the method described in ASTM D2594/D2594M, the standard test for knitted stretch fabrics. A legging that stretches but does not recover bags at the knee within a week of wear, and a waistband that relaxes after ten washes is the most common reason a first drop does not reorder.

Every fabric batch also goes through shrinkage testing after laundering, colourfastness to washing and perspiration, and an AZO-free dye check reported per batch to EN ISO 14362-1. If your retailer asks for chemical-safety documentation, the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 page explains what a full harmful-substances certificate covers, and we can discuss certified fabric options for your program. We are an Alibaba Verified Supplier with an SGS on-site audit, and orders ship worldwide by DHL, FedEx, UPS or sea freight with full export documentation.

Frequently asked questions about sportswear manufacturing

What is your MOQ for sportswear?

50 pieces per style, with sizes mixed freely inside that quantity. A first drop of leggings in one colour across XS–XXL is a normal starting order. Reorders keep the same MOQ, so you can test the market before committing to volume.

Can you make seamless leggings or seamless sports bras?

No. Seamless garments are knitted on circular seamless machines, which is a different production technology from cut-and-sew, and we do not run it. If seamless construction is central to your product, we are not the right factory — everything we make is cut from fabric and sewn.

Which fabric should I choose for squat-proof leggings?

A nylon/spandex interlock between 220 and 280 GSM with four-way stretch. Below roughly 200 GSM most knits go sheer at full extension. We cut a swatch from the production roll and check opacity under stretch before cutting your order.

Do you offer recycled or sustainable fabrics?

Recycled polyester and recycled nylon options are available through fabric sourcing on request; availability and price move with the market, so ask for current options when you brief us. Every fabric batch ships with an AZO-free test report to EN ISO 14362-1 as standard.

Can you add my logo and a custom waistband?

Yes. Logos are screen printed, sublimated or heat-transferred, and embroidery works on tees and joggers — all through audited partner workshops. Waistbands can be custom jacquard elastic with your brand name woven in, or covered elastic with a printed mark.

How long do samples and bulk production take?

Samples take 8–15 days depending on style complexity and whether new fabric must be sourced. Bulk production takes 24–30 days after you approve the sample. Decoration or special finishes can add a few days, which we confirm in the quotation.

What size range can you produce?

XS to XXL on US, UK, EU or AU size charts, or graded to your own chart. For sportswear we recommend approving fit on your best-selling size and grading from that block, because stretch fit reads differently on every size.

How do you test stretch and recovery?

We measure fabric stretch and growth using the method in ASTM D2594/D2594M, the standard test for knitted stretch fabrics, and check recovery after repeated extension. Waistband elastic gets the same treatment — it is the component most likely to fail in customer wear.

Do you ship to the US, UK, EU and Australia?

Yes, worldwide. Samples and small orders go by DHL, FedEx or UPS; bulk orders ship by air or sea freight depending on your timeline and budget. We handle export documentation, and your labels and care content are sewn in exactly as supplied.