Portugal is an unmissable option when it comes to fashion Manufacturing, and there is a reason for it. Being a major production hub for cotton, linen, and wool, it has a strong textile base set up, which makes it easier for production, with high quality and a high variety of raw materials. It also has a long-standing tradition of intricate and fine craftsmanship, which has eventually translated into a very skilled set of workforce with workers who know what they are doing in terms of garment construction and techniques. This gives Portugal an upper hand in the International fashion scene.
Along with traditional practices, Portugal is also known for being in step with the latest innovation. The country is filled with budding new techniques and ideas that result in interesting fabrics and techniques. Portugal is a prominent exporter with numbers upto 7 Billion Pounds every year just within the fashion industry.
Portuguese manufacturers are educated and friendly. They are flexible and accommodating to suit your needs. Their prices can be a little higher in comparison to their Asian counterparts, but it’s worth the extra dollar. The label “ MADE IN PORTUGAL” holds a lot of weightage and importance globally and all the big brands want it under their umbrella.
Apart from all of these factors, Portugal is a great option for ethical manufacturing. The country is known for its respect and importance for Human rights. The labor laws and general working style promotes healthy and optimum working conditions added with fair pay. As an added sense of confirmation, we at Deepwear personally audit every single factory we partner with to check if the factory ticks all the right boxes.
And lastly, Sustainability is not an option, but rather mandatory in Portugal. The country as a whole believes in and legislates sustainable practices. It focuses on optimum recycling for fabric wastage post-production, conscious use of materials like water, and energy saving. This along with all the other factors mentioned above make garment fashion production in Portugal a prime destination for high-quality products and services.
WHAT TO MANUFACTURE IN PORTUGAL?
ACTIVEWEAR & SWIMWEAR
Portugal is a great hub for Activewear and swimwear production. It offers everything from technical wear, swimwear, lingerie, Athleisure wear, yoga wear, etc. But choosing the right Activewear and swimwear factory can be a challenge because of two main reasons: Fabric and Construction. Activewear and swimwear fabrics are not regular fabrics, they are highly technical with a calculated composition of various materials. Depending on the final use, it is important to choose which qualities to prioritize like breathability, durability, water resistance, water absorbent, moisture wicking, lightweight, two-way stretchable, and four-way stretchable. Even if we choose the right fabrics, if the construction is not paid detail to, nothing can happen. The construction of Activewear and swimwear is so technical that every millimeter counts. It requires a great understanding of fabric movement and pattern-making to make this work. This doesn’t have to be disheartening. With the right guidance and understanding of the market, we can help you find your perfect factory, contact us today!
PORTUGUESE SHOES
Apart from the garments, Portugal is famous for its high-quality shoes. The craftsmanship that Portugal offers is truly incomparable. With the country growing technologically and establishing itself as a startup nation, the Portuguese shoe industry has majorly benefitted from it too. The country now offers traditional as well as technologically new and modern shoes. While Asian countries definitely turn heads when it comes to cheaper costs, Portuguese shoes stand out for being exclusive and of premium quality showcasing the highest talent. Want to manufacture premium footwear in Portugal? Click here.
KNITWEAR
Portugal is one of the strongest markets when it comes to high-quality premium knitwear. The country’s knowledge about the technicalities of knitwear along with access to premium quality Cotton and wool make it optimum for production. The country is known for its T-shirts, sweaters, sweatpants, socks and many other knitwear products. In terms of MOQ, the country is known for its mid-large MOQs. Portuguese companies are quite versatile in terms of what they offer. Whether it’s circular knitting, flatbed knitting, hand knitting, or some other specialized method of knitting, everything can be found here, if you know what and where you’re looking for. There are so many options available when it comes to knitwear fashion manufacturing in Portugal which can be confusing if not approached correctly. It requires a certain level of expertise and understanding of the technicalities of knitwear production to filter and choose the right people to work with. Our in-house merchandisers have years of experience and knowledge in their portfolios, which helps us present only the best to you. To learn more about knitwear manufacturing and start your journey, click here.
MEET ONE OF OUR FACTORIES!
We wanted to talk about one of our trusted factories in Pombal, Portugal. Established in 1996, this company has more than 27 years of expertise in socks production. The factory is so versatile, it can produce a multitude of socks variants such as men’s, women’s, kids, babies, sports socks, etc. One of the things we love about this factory is its turnaround time. They can produce quantities in about a week or two. They are also capable of producing small quantities and have dropshipping capabilities within their office. They specialize in intricate and fancy knitted socks which are visually appealing which makes them a leading socks manufacturer in Portugal. They have a wide variety of fabrics that they work with. They use a special yarn for producing socks called polyamide, which is only used by the most exclusive brands. Sometimes they mix it with organic materials such as organic cotton to make the socks soft, comfortable and help eliminate odor.
DEEPWEAR IN PORTUGAL
Recognizing the strategic importance of the Portuguese fashion Industry, Deepwear has a permanent office in Porto Matozinhos, Portugal. Our team of highly skilled professionals is always on the lookout for new and exciting yet trustworthy factories to partner with. We have an in-depth of the market, where to produce what, how to negotiate the Portuguese way, and how to ensure everything is on track. Whether you need an activewear, swimwear, knitwear or socks factory we have you covered. Our network of factories cover all of Portugal.
With all the benefits it offers, everyone wants the “Made in Portugal” tag, and since everyone wants to produce in Portugal the real good factories are often very busy and are running at full capacity. Therefore, they are more careful and generally hesitate before taking any brand on board, it’s better to have a good agent that the factories also trust. It’s always better to have a good agent representing you on the ground in Portugal even with the factories that you find on your own. When a factory knows that you have a team inside their territory, it changes the dynamic.
On the other hand just because Portugal is in Europe, is no guarantee that all the factories are better, not at all. Like everywhere in the world some Portuguese factories can be extremely slow, with bad communication, a conservative mentality, and a dishonest or abusive attitude. It is essential to distinguish between real factories, and fake factories, good factories and bad factories strong factories and weak factories, safe factories and risky factories, Deepwear can support you, guide you and advise you That’s why we are stationed there, we can be your eyes and ears on the ground. You don’t have to travel to Portugal for every step and can rather rely on us to supervise the whole production process, however, you are more than welcome to join us on a buying trip, where we will be bringing you straight to the source. We can help you even in the design process. Our team of designers can help you ideate, brainstorm, and translate those ideas into industry-recognized quality techpacks. To start your journey in Portugal, You’re just an email away.
