Clothing manufacturers in the UK are concentrated in a few hubs: Leicester and the East Midlands, Greater Manchester, London, and the Scottish Borders for knitwear. UK factories suit small brands that want short runs, quick sampling and the chance to visit the factory floor, but unit costs are usually higher than overseas. Use directories such as Make it British and the trade body UKFT to find them, and check an ethical audit before you place an order.
This guide covers where UK garment manufacturing is based, what UK factories do well, how minimum order quantities usually work, how to find and vet a factory, UK labelling basics, and when making abroad with delivery to the UK is the better fit. To be clear from the start: Fabrickly is not a UK factory. We are based in Denmark and produce in Bangladesh and China. We do not name individual UK factories here, because we cannot vouch for them. Instead we show you where to look and what to check.
Where UK clothing manufacturing is based
The UK once had a large garment industry. Much of it moved overseas from the late twentieth century onwards, but several clusters remain.
- Leicester and the East Midlands: Leicester has the largest concentration of garment factories in the UK. Many make jersey and casual wear for online and high-street retailers. The wider East Midlands has a long history in knitwear, hosiery and lace.
- Greater Manchester and the North West: A historic textile region with a mix of cut-and-sew factories, sampling units and pattern cutters, serving fashion, outerwear and workwear brands.
- London: Mostly smaller factories and studios. They are often strong in sampling, short runs, tailoring and designer collections.
- Scotland: The Scottish Borders, around towns such as Hawick, are known for cashmere and fine knitwear. Scotland also has a tradition of wool cloth such as tweed.
- Elsewhere: There are smaller makers and specialist mills across the country, including wool weaving in Yorkshire.
What UK factories are typically good at
UK factories rarely compete on unit price. They compete on flexibility, speed and access.
- Short runs and repeats: Test a small quantity, then reorder what sells.
- Speed to market: No long sea freight or import customs for UK brands, and faster sampling rounds.
- Development support: Many units offer pattern cutting, grading and sampling in house.
- Jersey and casual wear: T-shirts, sweatshirts and joggers are common, especially in Leicester.
- Knitwear and premium wool: Particularly in Scotland.
- Tailoring and higher-end pieces: Often found in London.
- Access: You can visit, attend fittings and see working conditions for yourself.
UK production is weaker for high-volume basics at low unit cost and for some technical products that need specialist machinery. The UK also makes limited fabric for most garment categories, so many UK factories work with imported fabrics and trims.
How MOQs work with UK manufacturers
Minimum order quantities vary widely. Some smaller UK units will take a few dozen pieces per style, while larger factories set higher minimums so their lines run efficiently. A few points shape what you will be offered:
- CMT is common: Many UK factories work on a CMT (cut, make, trim) basis. You supply the fabric and trims, and they cut and sew. The factory’s own minimum may be low, but fabric mills and trim suppliers have minimums of their own.
- Full package is less common: Fewer UK factories source fabric and trims for you. Those that do may ask for larger orders.
- Per style and per colour: A minimum may apply to each colourway, not just each style. Ask how sizes and colours can be split.
- Set-up costs: Sampling, pattern and grading charges are spread over fewer pieces on a small run, which raises the unit cost.
Our guide to MOQs explained covers how to negotiate minimums in more detail.
How to find a UK clothing manufacturer
Good factories are often busy and do little marketing, so you will need several routes. Our step-by-step guide on how to find a clothing manufacturer covers the process in general. For the UK specifically:
- Make it British: A UK organisation founded by Kate Hills to support brands that want to make products locally. It publishes a paid directory of UK clothing and textile manufacturers, with details such as MOQs, capabilities and location, and has run trade events where UK makers exhibit.
- UKFT: The UK Fashion & Textile Association is the trade body for the UK fashion and textile industry. It brings together brands, designers, manufacturers and suppliers, runs UK manufacturing initiatives, and offers guidance on working with manufacturers, labelling and compliance.
- Trade shows and events: UK sourcing shows and regional events, such as Leicester Made, let you meet several factories in one day. Check what is running this year, as event line-ups change.
- Referrals: Pattern cutters, sample machinists, fabric agents and other founders often know which factories take small brands.
- Direct search: Search by product and region, for example “jersey manufacturer Leicester”, then shortlist and contact several.
How to vet a UK manufacturer
“Made in the UK” does not by itself guarantee good working conditions. In 2020, media reports, including an undercover newspaper investigation, alleged that some garment workers in Leicester were paid below the legal minimum wage and that conditions put staff at risk during the Covid-19 pandemic. An independent review commissioned by a large online fashion retailer later found serious failings in its Leicester supply chain. The industry and authorities have since worked to raise standards, but the lesson for brands of any size is to check, not assume.
- Visit the factory: Meet the people who will make your order and see where the work happens.
- Ask for an ethical audit: SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) is a widely used audit methodology. It is an audit report, not a certificate. The 2-pillar version covers labour standards and health and safety; the 4-pillar version adds environment and business ethics. Read the findings and corrective actions, not just the date.
- Check subcontracting: Ask whether any work goes to other units, and agree in writing that it will not without your consent.
- Check pay: Ask how workers are paid and confirm that everyone receives at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage.
- Check the company: Look up the business on Companies House and confirm the name and address match your contract.
- Start small: Approve a sample, then place a pilot order before committing to a full run.
- Agree quality in writing: Set measurements, tolerances and inspection standards before production starts.
UK vs overseas manufacturing: the trade-offs
| Factor | UK manufacturing | Overseas manufacturing (e.g. Bangladesh, China) |
|---|---|---|
| Unit cost | Higher, mainly due to labour costs | Usually lower, especially at volume |
| MOQ | Often flexible for small runs; CMT is common | Varies; large factories set high minimums, low-MOQ specialists exist |
| Speed to market | Short transit and quick sampling rounds | Longer transit by sea or air; samples sent by courier |
| Communication | Same time zone and language; easy visits | Time-zone gaps; works best with a clear tech pack and a local team |
| Fabric and trims | Much is imported; choice can be narrower | Large fabric and trim supply close to factories |
| Sustainability claims | Shorter shipping distance; claims still need evidence | Depends on factory audits and fabric certifications |
| Import admin | None for UK-made goods sold in the UK | Customs, duty and import VAT, unless shipped DDP |
Neither option is automatically more sustainable or more ethical. Both depend on the specific factory, the materials and how well you check them.
UK labelling basics
Whoever places clothing on the UK market, the manufacturer or the importer, is responsible for the labels. The main rules are:
- Fibre composition: Required by the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012 and the assimilated EU textile regulation. Use approved fibre names with percentages, in English, on a label that is durable, legible and accessible.
- Animal-origin parts: If a garment has non-textile parts of animal origin, such as a leather patch, the label must say “contains non-textile parts of animal origin”.
- Care labels: Not specifically required by UK textile labelling law, but customers and retailers expect them. The GINETEX care symbols are trademarked, and UKFT issues licences to use them in the UK.
- Country of origin: Not generally required on clothing, but any origin claim must be accurate. A “Made in Britain” claim that is not true can breach consumer protection law.
- Selling into the EU too: EU fibre labels must be in the official language or languages of each country where you sell.
When to manufacture abroad with DDP delivery to the UK
Making in the UK is not always the right fit. Overseas production often makes more sense when:
- Your margins need a lower unit cost: For example, when wholesale pricing leaves little room.
- You want full package production: One partner handles fabric, trims, sampling and sewing instead of you sourcing materials for a CMT factory.
- You need specific fabrics or processes: Some knits, washes and print techniques are easier to source near large textile hubs.
- You are planning a collection: Several styles ordered together, with time to plan sampling and shipping.
The usual worry with overseas production is customs. Under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), the seller handles import clearance and pays duty and import taxes, so the goods arrive at your door already cleared. Read more about DDP clothing manufacturing.
What to put in your tech pack
Whether you choose a UK factory or an overseas partner, a complete tech pack saves sampling rounds and quoting time.
- Flat sketches: Front and back views with construction callouts.
- Measurement chart: Every size, with points of measure and tolerances.
- Fabric details: Fibre composition, weight, knit or woven, and colour references.
- Stitching and seams: Stitch types, seam finishes and topstitching.
- Artwork: Print or embroidery files with placement and size.
- Labels and trims: Fibre composition and care label wording, positions, zips, drawcords and patches.
- Packing: Folding, polybags, swing tags and units per carton.
How Fabrickly can help
Fabrickly is not a UK factory. We are a tech pack and low-MOQ clothing manufacturing studio headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, with production at audited partner factories in Bangladesh and China, and DDP shipping to the UK and EU. For UK brands, that means your order arrives with import clearance, duty and import taxes handled. Orders start from 50 pieces per style, and sizes can be mixed within the 50. We prepare factory-ready tech packs in 7 days and send an itemised quote within one business day. You get branded samples before bulk, in-line QC during production and an AQL 2.5 final inspection. Standard fabrics are OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, with GOTS organic cotton on request, and we offer both private label and full custom cut and sew. To compare an overseas option with your UK quotes, send us a quote request.
Frequently asked
Q: Where are most clothing manufacturers in the UK?
Leicester and the East Midlands have the largest concentration of garment factories. Greater Manchester and London also have many cut-and-sew units, and the Scottish Borders are known for knitwear.
Q: Do UK clothing manufacturers accept small orders?
Many do, especially smaller units working on a CMT basis. Minimums vary by factory, product and whether you supply the fabric, so ask each factory for its MOQ per style and per colour.
Q: How do I check that a UK clothing factory is ethical?
Visit it, ask for a recent ethical audit such as SMETA and read the findings, ask whether any work is subcontracted, and confirm workers are paid at least the legal minimum wage. Start with a sample and a small pilot order.
Q: What must a clothing label include in the UK?
Fibre composition using approved fibre names, in English, on a durable and legible label. Care instructions are not specifically required by textile labelling law but are expected, and any country-of-origin claim must be accurate.
Q: Is Fabrickly a UK clothing manufacturer?
No. Fabrickly is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and produces at audited partner factories in Bangladesh and China. We offer DDP shipping to the UK, so orders arrive with duty and import taxes handled.
— Hasebul, Fabrickly