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Guide
Private label clothing lets you sell garments under your own brand without owning a factory. Turkey, and Istanbul in particular, is one of the best places in the world to do it. This guide explains how private label production works, what drives the cost, and how to launch your first collection step by step.
Key takeaways
— Private label clothing is made by a manufacturer and sold under your own brand name and labels.
— Turkey offers quality cotton, skilled garment makers, low minimums and fast shipping to Europe.
— At Akyüz Textile, private label production starts from 100 pieces per design.
— The process: design, fabric and sample, bulk production, labels and packaging, quality control and shipping.
Private label clothing is apparel produced by a manufacturer and sold under your brand. You decide the design, fabric, fit, colours and branding, and the factory handles production. The finished garments carry your neck labels, hang tags and packaging, so your customers only ever see your brand.
White label products are ready-made designs that many brands buy and simply relabel. Private label products are made to your own specifications. That gives you a unique product, better margins and full control over quality, which is why most growing fashion brands choose private label.
Turkey has become one of the most popular sourcing destinations for fashion brands in Europe, the UK and beyond. Here's why.
Turkey is one of the world's leading cotton and textile producers. Fabric sourcing is fast, the choice is wide, and quality is consistent, from lightweight jersey to heavyweight cotton and denim.
Istanbul sits between Europe and Asia, so orders reach European customers far faster than shipments from the Far East. Shorter lead times mean quicker restocks and less money tied up in inventory.
Many Turkish manufacturers accept small orders, which makes Turkey ideal for startups, emerging designers and brands testing new products.
Istanbul has generations of textile expertise. Akyüz Textile alone works with a network of more than 100 experienced garment makers, with family roots in the industry going back to 1987.
Learn more about Akyüz Textile →Every manufacturer works a little differently, but a professional private label process usually follows these six steps.
01
Send your sketches, tech pack or reference photos. If you don't have a tech pack yet, your manufacturer can help you create one.
02
Select the fabric type, weight (GSM), colours and trims such as zips, buttons and drawcords.
03
A sample is made so you can check the fit, fabric, colour and print before anything goes into bulk production.
04
Once the sample is approved, your order is produced. At Akyüz Textile, this starts from just 100 pieces per design.
05
Your neck labels, care labels, hang tags and packaging are added, so every piece is retail-ready.
06
Each garment is inspected before it is packed and shipped to your warehouse or customers, anywhere in the world.
There is no single price list, because every private label order is different. These are the main factors that shape your quote:
— Fabric type and weight
— Quantity per design and per colour
— Design complexity, such as seams, details and washes
— Printing or embroidery
— Custom labels, tags and packaging
— Shipping destination
The quickest way to get an accurate price is to share your design, quantity and target price with the manufacturer. A good partner will suggest ways to reach your target cost without compromising quality.
Request a private label quote →Almost any garment can be produced under your own label. At Akyüz Textile, popular private label categories include:
— T-shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts
— Jeans and denim
— Dresses, blazers and modest wear
— Shirts, shorts and suits
— Streetwear such as joggers and oversized hoodies
Men's clothing →Women's clothing →Streetwear →— Start with a small, focused range of three to five designs.
— Always approve a physical sample before bulk production.
— Prepare clear size specifications, or ask your manufacturer to help with the tech pack.
— Plan your labels, hang tags and packaging early so they're ready on time.
— Order small batches first, then reorder your bestsellers.
Minimums vary by manufacturer. At Akyüz Textile, private label production starts from 100 pieces per design, which suits startups and growing brands.
Yes. Private label means the garments carry your brand: custom neck labels, care labels, hang tags and packaging are all part of the process.
No. A tech pack speeds things up, but sketches or reference photos are enough to start. An experienced manufacturer can develop the tech pack with you.
For many brands, yes. Turkey offers lower minimums, high-quality cotton and much faster shipping to Europe, while China can be cheaper for very large volumes. For European brands and startups, Turkey is often the best balance of cost, quality and speed.
Yes. Akyüz Textile ships worldwide and has delivered orders to more than 30 countries.