Summary of this article：Online wholesale clothes buying is becoming increasingly accessible, although "wholesale" could be understood differently on different sites. It might be anything from factory-direct wholesale purchases, to ordering straight from brand to retailer, to resale from a third-party. It's important to find the correct web site based on the MoQs, categories, price points and quality requirements. Here are 12 trusty web sites, divided by purpose:
Factory-direct & China sourcing web sites (Cheapest units)
The following wholesale clothes web sites are in China, offering low costs per unit. Alibaba (wholesale purchases &OEM/ODM, yet there are unreliable sellers), 1688 (the lowest cost for sellers inside China, & perfect for testing new SKUs, although working with a Chinese agent is advised), Global Sources (for discovering reliable suppliers, however a prior sampling is mandatory), & DHgate (medium-order quantities, yet beware for its tendency for counterfeits & inconsistent quality control).
US Fashion wholesale marketplaces (Ideal for boutiques & trendy products)
These include FASHIONGO (very ideal for boutiques & women's fashion stores - be sure to clarify its rating system & return policies with respective vendors), OrangeShine (good selection of items with variable MOQs - check fabric quality & dimensions via ordering samples), LA Showroom (a collection of boutiques from Los Angeles with fashionable items - clarify reputations, shipping times & pack ratio).
Brand-to-retail wholesale marketplaces (Great for brands & re-orders)
Faire connects independent brands with retailers & smoothly integrates with Shopify, though prices tend to be higher than those for factory-direct wholesale purchases. It's perfect for brands & retailers in the EU for procuring from other brands, so make sure to check international shipping costs & minimum purchase sizes.
Wholesaling sites for established fashion brands (True wholesale purchase)
The sites in this category require you to work with a professionally run wholesale relationship rather than a discount marketplace. JOOR serves both established brands and retailers for working on a wholesale level (you might be asked for special permissions), NuORDER offers digital show rooms & purchase for specific seasons (no minimum order quantities or discounts available).
Wholesaling directories (Ideal for supplier research)
A web directory designed for suppliers like Wholesale Central provides a vast range of specific categories where one can look for potential wholesale sources. Remember: the directory is the initial part of the investigation; inclusion within it is not a guarantee of the supplier's authenticity.
Wholesale clothes selection guide
When choosing an appropriate web site for wholesale clothing, make sure you consider your individual requirements: choose Alibaba and 1688 if cost is your top priority as well as if you're considering private labeling, FASHIONGO, OrangeShine, & LA Showroom if you require quality fashion items produced in USA, Faire and Ankorstore if you're aiming at independent fashion labels, JOOR and NuORDER for a traditional wholesale process of ordering established fashion labels, and Wholesale Central if you aim at performing research and potential outreach. Evaluate your potential suppliers against the following seven criteria: MOQs & pack ratio, fabrics, dimensions, allowances and fit standards, sample ordering, QC practice, delivery lead times & reliability for repeat purchases, and all landed costs.
Pitfalls of buying wholesale clothing online
The possible problems include unrealistic product photos (different from the product), lower quality fabrics, inconsistent sizes and measurements, the risk of receiving counterfeit brand names which could lead to legal issues or import confiscations, and additionally high shipping fees for a very light item (due to package size).
Flow chart for buying from China:
Make a list of 10 prospective vendors, inquire about fabrics, MOQ, size standards, production times & defective items, then place a trial order to inspect goods in person, finalize product specs & packaging, order final inspection of the goods before shipment, and finally Consolidate shipments to save per unit cost.
