The underwear market keeps expanding by the day as customers increasingly seek more than just a better fit. They seek comfort, inclusivity, sustainability, you name it. This, therefore, means that picking a manufacturer needs to be based on adaptation to the diverse and flexible demography. This poses a perfect opportunity for brand owners, retailers, and fashion brands, but only under the condition that a manufacturing partner is picked right.

Choosing an underwear manufacturer can make or break your brand’s reputation. It all starts and ends with fabric quality, sizing consistency, and on-time shipment. The right partner acts as an extension of your business in that they support product development, ensure top-notch quality, and enable scalable growth.

This guide explores the primary factors businesses should consider when choosing an underwear manufacturer. The main focus is on OEM and ODM production, quality control, customization, and long-term collaboration.

What are OEM and ODM Underwear Manufacturing?

Before settling for a manufacturer, a business needs to have full knowledge about production models used in the underwear industry. This helps a great deal as far as flexibility or specificity options are concerned. The two main models include:

1. OEM Underwear Manufacturing

Original Equipment Manufacturer, or OEM for short, refers to a production model where the brand provides its own designs, specifications, and branding. Thereafter, the manufacturer then creates the underwear designs according to these requirements.

This option is a great recommendation if the brand already has design teams, a clear brand identity, or existing technical packs or product concepts in place.

While taking advantage of the manufacturer’s production capacity and expertise, OEM manufacturing allows full creative control.

2. ODM Underwear Manufacturing

The second production model option is Original Design Manufacturer, or ODM. Here, the manufacturer gives existing designs that are produced based on market trends. The brand can then perform some customizations like the logo, fabric, sizing, color, and so on.

For businesses that want cheaper and faster without compromising much of quality, this is their perfect option.

While OEM delivers uniqueness and ODM offers a faster market entry, a manufacturer that offers both of these is way better in terms of flexibility and consideration of a variety of brands.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an Underwear Manufacturer

1. Product Experience and Specialization

The contemporary underwear market majorly settles for comfort and inclusivity. This means that it requires:

• Stitching precision
• Expertise in stretch fabric
• Accuracy of sizing and grading
• Construction founded in comfort

It is important to ask such questions as those below when evaluating a manufacturer:

• For how many years have they been in the underwear manufacturing business?
• Do they specialize in intimate apparel or general garments?
• Can they produce men’s, women’s, and specialty underwear (e.g., nursing bras, period underwear, shape wear etc.)?

An experienced manufacturer has an in-depth understanding of varied markets in terms of fit, elasticity, and general wearability.

2. Fabric/Material Quality

Comfort, hygiene, skin health, durability, and maintenance of underwear rely on fabric quality. Whether natural or synthetic, a good manufacturer must offer a ranger of materials options that favor these factors. Examples of these materials could be:

• Cotton and cotton blends
• Modal and bamboo fabrics
• Microfiber and nylon
• Spandex and elastane blends
• Sustainable or recycled materials

Among the key factors to consider are breathability and softness, stretch recovery, color fastness, and skin safety standards.

Experienced manufacturers are in a position to advise brands on their choice of materials based on their target market and pricing options.

3. Customization Capabilities

Customization is a big advantage in private-label underwear manufacturing. The best manufacturer for a brand should support things like custom sizing and grading, waistband design and elasticity, labeling, packaging customization and logo placement and branding.

Strong customization capabilities allow brands to differentiate themselves in a competitive market while maintaining a consistent product quality and identity.

4. Sampling and Prototyping

Ideas are tested and perfected in sampling. Clear sampling timelines, transparent sample costs, willingness to revise and improve samples, and technical feedback on design feasibility are pointers to a professional underwear manufacturer.

An efficient sampling process cuts development time and saves on costly production errors in future.

5. Quality Control and Inspection Standards

Since quality control is non-negotiable in underwear manufacturing, buyers must familiarize themselves with how quality is monitored during production, what inspection standards are used, and whether final inspections are conducted before shipment.

Effective quality control starts with fabric inspection before cutting. This is followed by in-line production checks, stitching and seam strength tests, and fit and measurement verification before final random inspections.

To protect brand reputation and reduces returns, complaints, and rework costs, consistent quality must apply.

6. Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)

MOQ requirements vary between manufacturers. When evaluating options, consider whether the MOQ aligns with your business size, flexibility for test orders, or new product launches. Also, assess whether the option fits the ability to scale production as demand grows.

A strong manufacturing partner supports both small trial runs and large-scale production, allowing brands to grow without changing suppliers every other time.

7. Production Capacity and Lead Times

Knowing when goods will arrive on time helps in inventory planning and retail scheduling. Brands should therefore ask:

• What is the average production lead time?
• How many production lines are dedicated to underwear?
• Can the factory handle seasonal demand increases?

When manufacturers have stable production capacity and clear timelines, it helps brands maintain consistent supply chains.

8. Compliance, Ethics, and Sustainability

Due to increased awareness today, buyers are prioritizing ethical and sustainable manufacturing more. It is therefore important to consider:

• Compliance with labor laws
• Safe working conditions
• Environmental responsibility
• Certifications or audit readiness

An underwear manufacturer that follows ethical practices strengthens the brand’s credibility in international markets. Bypassed ethics by the manufacturer will in the long run hurt your brand as well.

What is The Role of Communication in Successful Manufacturing Partnerships?

Brands tend to downplay clear communication in the manufacturing success, yet it is very critical. A professional manufacturer should respond promptly to inquiries and provide clear quotations and specifications. They should also offer production updates and address issues transparently.

It is through this strong communication that misunderstandings are reduced, decision-making is sped up, and trust is built over time.

Why Long-Term Partnerships Matter in Underwear Manufacturing

Many successful brands choose to build long-term relationships with a single manufacturer instead of constantly changing suppliers. This improves product consistency and fastens sampling and production. Over time, businesses reap better cost efficiency and a deepened understanding of brand requirements since the manufacturing partner invests in the brand’s growth.

Market Trends Shaping the Underwear Manufacturing Industry

While choosing an underwear manufacturer, it is fundamental for brands to understand current market trends. Consumer expectations, retail models, and production standards have evolved in recent years and are still bound to change significantly, which only means that manufacturers must adapt to remain competitive.

As a brand, if you want to succeed in both established and emerging markets, the best choice is to align your sourcing decisions with these trends:

Comfort as a Deciding Factor

Comfort has become the primary purchasing factor for underwear consumers which push modern buyers to prioritize:

• Soft, breathable fabrics
• Tag-free or seamless construction
• Flexible waistbands
• Inclusive sizing

As a result, underwear manufacturers are expected to understand ergonomic design, body movement, and long-wear comfort. Brands depend on manufacturers to produce garments and advise on construction techniques that enhance comfort without increasing production costs.

Manufacturers with experience in comfort-focused underwear production can help brands reduce fit-related returns and increase customer trust and loyalty.

Growth of Private-Label and Direct-to-Consumer Brands

The rise of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands has redefined the underwear market. Today, many successful underwear brands: launch online before entering retail, start with limited product lines, and scale gradually based on customer feedback.

Because brands seek flexible production partners who can support small batches, frequent style updates, and faster turnaround times, this change has increased demand for OEM and ODM underwear manufacturing,

Manufacturers that understand the needs of DTC brands, such as lower minimum order quantities, efficient sampling, and consistent quality, are preferred more over traditional large-volume factories.

Sustainability is no Longer Optional

Sustainability has moved from being optional to becoming an industry expectation. Consumers and retailers expect brands to demonstrate environmental and social responsibility. As a result, underwear manufacturers lean toward organic, recycled, or low-impact fabrics, waste reduction in cutting and production, ethical labor practices, and more transparent supply chains.

Manufacturers are now expected to offer sustainable material options and comply with international standards. Brands sourcing from manufacturers that prioritize responsible production can strengthen their market positioning and meet retailer compliance requirements more easily.

Consistent Sizing and Fit Across Markets

Sizing inconsistency is one of the most common complaints in the underwear industry. Global brands often sell across multiple regions, each with different body standards and size expectations.

A reliable underwear manufacturer must be capable of accurate size grading, adjusting fits for different target markets, and maintaining size consistency across production batches. Manufacturers with strong technical teams and standardized measurement systems help brands avoid costly sizing errors and customer dissatisfaction.

Speed to Market Now Matters Most

The underwear market is increasingly trend-responsive. Brands that can move quickly from concept to shelf gain a significant competitive edge. This has increased demand for manufacturers that offer efficient sampling timelines, streamlined production workflows, and reliable lead times.

Delays in production can result in missed seasonal opportunities and excess inventory. For this reason, brands value manufacturers who prioritize planning, communication, and operational efficiency.

Technology and Innovation in Underwear Manufacturing

Advancements in manufacturing technology are shaping how underwear is designed and produced, with innovations including:

• Seamless knitting technology
• Improved elastic materials
• Enhanced fabric testing methods
• Digital pattern-making and grading

Manufacturers that invest in modern equipment and production techniques can offer better product consistency, improved comfort, and higher efficiency. For brands, partnering with a technologically capable manufacturer translates into higher-quality products and reduced development risks.

Manufacturers as Strategic Partners

As the underwear market becomes more competitive, brands increasingly rely on manufacturers as strategic partners rather than simple suppliers. Experienced manufacturers provide value through:

• Market trend insights
• Fabric recommendations
• Cost optimization suggestions
• Technical problem-solving

This collaborative approach allows brands to make informed decisions and avoid common production pitfalls. Manufacturers who understand both production and market dynamics become essential contributors to brand success.

Building Resilient Supply Chains

Global disruptions in recent years have highlighted the importance of resilient supply chains. Brands now prioritize manufacturers that offer production stability, transparent timelines, contingency planning, and long-term reliability.

Choosing the right underwear manufacturer is therefore not just about price or capacity, but about risk management and business continuity.

With these industry trends and buyer expectations in mind, selecting a manufacturing partner that combines technical expertise, flexibility, and long-term reliability becomes critical for underwear brands aiming to grow sustainably and gain trust in a competitive global market.

How Telige Supports Underwear Brands at Every Stage

Telige is an experienced underwear manufacturer with over 20 years of operations. We therefore provide comprehensive and flexible OEM and ODM solutions for global brands. With a focus on quality, customization, and reliability, Telige works closely with buyers to support product development throughout the production process.

Our key strengths include:

• 20+ years of experience in underwear and lingerie manufacturing
• OEM and ODM service options
• Wide fabric selection and customization choices
• Structured quality control systems
• Scalable production capacity
• Professional communication and buyer support

By combining technical expertise with a partnership-driven approach, Telige helps brands bring high-quality underwear products to market efficiently and confidently.

Final Thought

Choosing the right underwear manufacturer is a strategic business move that goes beyond being just a sourcing decision. From fabric selection and customization to quality control and scalability, every aspect of manufacturing affects the final product and the brand behind it.

Brands that take the time to evaluate manufacturers carefully are better positioned for long-term success. By working with experienced OEM and ODM partners who understand the demands of the underwear market, businesses can reduce risk, improve product quality, and focus on building strong, trusted brands.