The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Fabric for Custom Clothing

26 May.,2025

 

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Perfect Fabric for Custom Clothing

Custom cloth making is a big business. According to projections by Business Research Insights, the global custom-made clothes market size might hit USD .9 million in . That would represent a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9% from when the industry was valued at USD million.

Link to PPF ELEMETNS

So, if you’ve always desired to set up a custom made clothing brand, now is the time to take the plunge.

Selecting the right fabric is one way to drive the demand for custom made clothing. The good news is that there are numerous materials to pick from. However, it’s best to understand the perks and drawbacks of each option before adding it to your production line.

How to get custom made clothing

This article will share some insights on choosing the perfect fabric for your custom made clothing brand.

Photo Credit: Unsplash.com

Understanding the Different Fabric Types and Their Distinct Features

As mentioned, there’s a plethora of fabrics for custom made clothing at your disposal. The idea is to acquaint yourself with each option before adding it to your business.

Below are the most popular fabric materials used by custom clothing businesses;

1. Cotton

Cotton is the most popular fabric choice for many custom made clothing companies. The material is super soft and breathable, making it suitable for diverse climates. It can help your customers to brave extreme weather, from summer’s searing heat to winter’s icy chill.

Cotton fabrics are available in different weaves, each having its defining features. They include twill, poplin, and Oxford.

Twill is diagonally layered and slightly heavy, making it especially ideal for winter weather. Poplin is lighter and smoother while Oxford provides a more casual and relaxed feel.

2. Wool

Wool is best known for its insulating properties. It’s an excellent fabric for cold and wet weather outfits.

Wool is also reasonably durable. The material doesn’t soil easily even if exposed to oils and grease, making it a suitable choice for outdoor garments.

Moreover, wool is naturally flame retardant. No wonder it’s the material of choice for firefighting gear.

3. Silk

If you’re into luxury custom made clothing, silk should be your number one fabric. The material is outstanding for its lustrous appearance and comfortable feel.

Silk is lightweight too. The fabric’s remarkable draping qualities designates it as the official material for formal outfits.

However, silk is notorious for its wrinkly appearance.

4. Linen

Linen is reasonably lightweight and incredibly moisture-wicking. Like wool, this fabric perfectly suits clothing intended for hot and humid weather. Linen also sports a relaxed look and is recommended for casual and summer attire.

5. Polyester

Setting up a custom made clothing business requires a significant capital investment. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly fabric, polyester might be your best bet.

Polyester is one of the most affordable yet durable fabrics. It’s wrinkle-free, hence easy to wash and care for.

However, polyester is less breathable and may cause skin irritation during hot weather. 

6. Composites

Composite fibers are a blend of two or more fabrics. The individual materials in a composite depends on the desired properties. For instance, a cotton-polyester blend brings together cotton’s softness and polyester’s wrinkle-free appearance.

Insist on composites if you’re yet to define your clients’ needs.

Photo Credit: Unsplash.com

Narrowing Down Your Choice

1. Outfit Purpose

If you’re designing all-rounder custom clothing, you may choose between cotton and composites.

Cotton delivers on diverse weather while composites let you blend the properties of their distinct fabrics.

For sportswear, polyester would serve you best. The fabric is durable and moisture-wicking, making it ideal for wearing during intense workouts.

2. Print Technology

There are several fabric printing technologies to explore. The most popular one remains direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, which involves using special inkjet printers to render prints on fabrics.

DTG works exceptionally well with cotton. However, it’s a universal printing technology that may suit many different fabrics.

Other common printing methods include dye sublimation and digital printing.

Photo Credit: Unsplash.com

3. Care and Maintenance

Fabric’s ease of maintenance depends on its washability.

Wrinkle-prone fabrics like linen shouldn’t be washed frequently. Therefore, such materials are suitable for luxury as opposed to casual, everyday clothing.

Whichever fabric you prefer, clearly outline its maintenance instructions in your clothing’s packaging. Highlight any special care required, such as gentle washing, machine washability, or dry cleaning.

It’s an ingenious way to prolong the durability of your clients’ outfits while also endearing the customers closer to your brand.

4. Hypoallergenic Properties

Most natural fabrics feel soft and comfortable on the skin. It’s the synthetics you should be wary of.

If your custom made clothing business primarily relies on synthetic fabrics, ensure the materials are free from chemicals that may irritate the skin.

5. Eco-Friendliness

The past few years have witnessed a significant increase in eco-awareness among consumers. It’s the reason behind the surge in organic and biodegradable products.

Are you interested in learning more about women's custom clothing supplier? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

Considering that textiles constitute 7.7% of municipal solid waste in landfills, it’s best to prioritize materials that pose minimal threat to the environment. Many fabric makers experiment with eco-sustainable options like bamboo.

Bamboo fabrics contain the most features as cotton.

However, bamboo is the fastest-growing plant. Your clothing business may never run out of naturally sourced, biodegradable raw materials.

Photo Credit: Unsplash.com

Wrap Up

Choosing the right fabric for your custom made clothing business should be less about personal style and more about your client’s preferences. Strive to understand your target clientele to figure out the clothing fabrics that appeal most to them.

What is Made to Order Clothing: The Ultimate Guide ()

As per Statista, the fashion industry is projected to reach $661.60 billion in . That’s why most fast fashion brands produce far too many clothes to keep pace with trends and earn more revenue.

But the fact is that overproduction can’t meet your business goals and make the largest profit margins. The made to order clothing method opens up a sustainable and environment-friendly fashion era that reduces waste and overconsumption. Do you want to learn more about this method?

In this article, we’ve highlighted all key factors like benefits, top made to order brands, and factors that help to choose the right one. So, before diving deep, let’s start with made to order clothing, meaning in the next section!

What is Made-to-Order Clothing?

Made to order clothing indicates customized outfits that are produced after placing an order through customers. It’s all about transforming your consumer’s preferred fashion style or visions into reality. Like off-the-rack or mass-production, these products are not advanced and are stored in warehouses.

In the MTO manufacturing process, consumers get both customized and personalized flexibilities to place individual orders, such as fabric, color, size, design, and other garment details. Consumers can place individual orders.

Curious to explore: why do businesses prefer custom made to order clothing? Or, why is a made to order clothing brand a more sustainable choice to meet fashion trends? Let’s have a closer look at the key benefits of the MTO process.

The Benefits of Fashionable Made to Order Apparel

The key benefits of make to order lie in maintaining less overproduction and reducing textile waste, which contributes to environmental protection. For more in-depth details, check out other benefits below:

Craft Your Dream Clothes Design

Small batches allow both customization and personalization to highlight your unique apparel style and fulfil consumers’ needs. Its ultimate goal is to fit consumers’ bodies perfectly and give a comfortable and confident outlook through clothes. From color to design or fabrics, it allows you to stand out from the competition. 

Quality Focused approach

Compared to mass production, the made-to-order clothing model focuses on quality, details, craftsmanship, and durability. From fabrics to materials selection, you get personalized options and skilled craftspeople to meet your consumers’ demands. Also, it leads your business to higher customer satisfaction, which helps increase loyalty and positive recommendations.

Reducing Excessive Waste

One of the most important parts of made to order production is that it minimizes overstock, overproduction, and excess inventory space cost, reducing fashion industry waste. It encourages slow-down rate production and contributes to the environmentally friendly model. That means it encourages slow fashion, eliminating production lead times and transportation emissions (carbon footprint).

Inclusive Sizing

The made to order fashion business model is designed to create the perfect outfit that fits your body, as it is tailored to your client’s requirements. Mainly, it opens up personalized apparel style options for plus-sized folks, disabled ones, and other people. This fashion business model allows dropshippers and fashion brands to remain flexible and agile.

Community Engagement

It is ideal for small businesses, fashion entrepreneurs, dropshipers, and artisans looking to create unique and bespoke collections without large-scale manufacturing hassle. The model fosters a sense of consumer community and allows brands to showcase their unique creations. 

Searching for made to order clothing brands or manufacturers to get high-quality products, natural fabrics (organic cotton, linen, etc.), and other features? Let’s look at some sustainable and renowned fashion brands offering made-to-order service.

5 Best Made to Order Clothing Manufacturers in

You might consider starting a dropshipping business or already running one and need a unique business model to stay on top of the latest trends or competition.

With made to order you can fulfill your desired goal. But there is a sea of fantastic made to order clothing manufacturers out there. So, we’ve made a list to help you pick the right one for your apparel business.

Let’s get started!

1. Trendsi

  • Category: Women’s apparel, footwear, and accessories (beauty & lifestyle)
  • For: Women
  • Shipping address: Global to non-US destinations
  • Shipping time: 7-10 business days (International orders 5-10)
  • Minimum order quantity: 60 pieces

First in our listing is Trendsi, the best made to order women’s clothing manufacturer. With this all-in-one partner, you can boost your ecommerce operations and optimize your inventory management effectively. Also, they provide design rights so that you can upscale your brand and build authenticity. Their in-house expert designers provide the best fit and trendy outfits as per your consumers’ requirements.

Why choose Trendsi?

  • Provide inventory management solution for made to order dropship products
  • Offer returns on demand or defective product items for made to order option
  • If you want, Trendsi can send a product sample before full-scale production
  • You get all intellectual property rights to your unique apparel design [Trendsi only takes on the distribution rights]

Note: With Trendsi, you can explore a diverse range of made-to-order fashion categories. For more details, sign up and send a request to get your answers.

2. Citizen Wolf

  • Category: Tees, polos, sweats, t-shirts, etc.
  • For: Men & Women
  • From: Worldwide 
  • Shipping time: 7-10 days (faster delivery need to pay $20/item)
  • Minimum order price: Free international shipping (orders over $250 or $15 otherwise)

Another of the best made to order clothing companies is Citizen Wolf, where you explore the award-winning (Magic Fit®) algorithm that helps in customized apparel solutions. From sweats to ethical T-shirts, you get a wide range of clothing lines. They earned an Ethical Clothing Australia certificate for their sustainable clothes and high-quality fabrics. 

Why choose Citizen Wolf?

  • Provide custom clothing solutions with Magic Magic Fit® technology 
  • Use organic cotton, hemp, and merino wool 
  • Offer bulk discounts on made to order clothing models
  • Offer made to measure garments to fulfill individual needs

3. Alamour

  • Category: Gowns (XXS to 9XL)
  • For: Women
  • Shipping address: Worldwide
  • Shipping time: 4-6 weeks (shown on the product page)
  • Minimum order quantity: One per order

Almour The Label is one of the most trusted and trendy made to order clothing suppliers. Their modern fashion designers bring out timeless elegance and trends to their gowns. From bold colors to delicate lace, soft lines, and many more, you get in one place. If you plan to enter the gown clothing business, it will be an excellent hub for you to get bridal, formal, prom wear, resort, and many more collections.

Why choose Alamour?

  • Provide style and design flexibility (excluding Bridal or beaded gowns), i.e., color, fabric, neckline, and more
  • You can return made to order products (excluding custom orders) for a store credit
  • Ensures in-time shipping and high-quality fabrics (except busy periods March-June and September-October)
  • Like Citizen Wolf, they offer made to measure solutions

Note: You can’t get customized flexibility on Alamour The Label Dresses, Sale Items, In-Stock Items, and the Bridal Collection.

4. Unmade

  • Category: Apparel, sportswear, and teamwear
  • For: Fashion & sportswear brands
  • Shipping address: Worldwide
  • Shipping time: 3-5 days (major cities) & 7-9 days (others)
  • Minimum Order Price: Free on orders INR 999

Do you want to automate your apparel design? Unmade is the most popular and on-demand apparel design and manufacturing software where you get on-trend and personalized options. From made to order womens clothing to sportswear, you get real-time customization from their SaaS software (unmade OS).

Why choose Unmade?

  • Offer unlimited manufacturer-ready variations
  • Support multiple production methods to provide the best-fit clothes
  • Secure and scalable subscription-based automated software
  • Allow fast and in-time made to order shipping to fulfill individual custom orders

5. eShakti

  • Category: Dresses, tops, jumpers, skirts, pants, etc (XS to 6X).
  • For: Women
  • Shipping address: Physical shipping addresses (Contiguous United States)
  • Shipping time: 13-19 days (except Alaska & Hawaii) & 28 days (personalized denim)
  • Minimum order value: $20 (assorted mask) & $40 (mask combo and apparel)

Last on our custom clothing or made to order clothing website is eShakti, which offers fine-tuned and feminine clothes. As a successful online apparel retailer, they offer both made to measure and made to order Indian to different traditional clothes. You can customize the neckline, sleeve, hem length, and others through the eShakti FX tool. 

Why choose eShakti?

  • Provide easy, fast, and high-quality made to order products
  • Offer a wide range of fabrics varieties (gauze, velvet, linen, cotton woven, etc)
  • You can return custom products (items from the Sale section) within 30 days from the ordering date
  • Offer several women’s clothes for work, vacation, wedding, or casual

After acknowledging the best and top-rated made to order clothing company, it’s time to start your own. Thinking about how to start a made to order clothing line or dropship made to order to enrich your business?

Check out the next section now!

Factors to Remember While Looking for a Made to Order Women’s Clothing Suppliers

When picking the right made to order clothing suppliers, here are some factors to consider:

Check Out the Experience and Reviews of the Suppliers

First, research the supplier’s reputation and expertise in working with global brands should be preferred. For this, you can look for reviews, testimonials, and social media shares to get insights into their reliability, quality, and customer support. For example, Trendsi earns 4.9 ratings and lots of love from their customers and merchants.  

Help to Explore Your Dream Design

Assess the made to order (MTO) fashion manufacturers’ commitment to high-quality apparel. You can request samples or review their product page to measure the material’s quality and overall product standards. Also, remember to check the pricing structure on customization, shipping, and additional costs.

Custom Packaging and Private Labeling Solutions

Ensure the supplier you choose offers a wide range of customization options, i,e., fabric selection, color, sizing flexibility, style modifications, and more. The more custom options they offer, the better the chance you meet diverse customer preferences. Also, to maintain authenticity, pay attention to private product labeling like Trendsi.

Low MOQ & Fast Reorder

Consider the minimum quantity per order. Some made to order suppliers may demand high MOQs, which might not align with small-size businesses’ needs. Also, prioritize reordering or returning policies. 

Offer Fast Shipping

Fast shipping or production timelines help to achieve your business goals and fulfill consumers’ needs. So, consider both bulk and small orders’ shipping time for managing customer expectations.

However, after considering these factors, we hope you can pick the right supplier to boost your fashion industry or apparel business sales line.

FAQs About Custom Made to Order Clothing

Conclusion

There you have it – what is made to order clothing and a list of manufacturers. Whether you are planning to get started or have some experience in this business model, the manufacturers or suppliers mentioned in this article should provide a good starting point to achieve your business goal.

Ready to move your apparel dropshipping business to the next level? Don’t forget to check out the best clothing dropshipping suppliers!

For more ladies wear manufacturerinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.