Care Label Sourcing Program for Sportswear Brands: Activewear
Care Label Programme for Sportswear Brands: Activewear
This programme covers the full path from a care label requirement to a repeatable bulk supply for sportswear brands. Instead of buying whatever a catalogue happens to stock, you specify the base material, the 8# Gauge, the finish and the packing, and we hold that specification so every reorder matches the last one. It is built around activewear, which is where most of the specification detail sits.
The most common failure in care label sourcing is not price — it is drift. A base material changes mill, the shade moves, a plating bath changes and the item quietly stops matching the approved sample. We prevent that with a written spec, an approved counter sample and a golden sample retained at the factory.
What the programme covers
- Specification build from your tech pack or a physical reference sample
- Base material and finish options with costed alternatives
- Sampling, testing and approval against AATCC Test Methods
- Bulk production with in-line inspection and photo reporting
- Packing, documentation and shipment under the agreed Incoterm
Recommended specifications
- TPU — chosen when the item has to survive repeated laundering
- Genuine Leather — selected for colour depth and finish stability
- ABS Resin — best balance of cost, availability and test performance
- Polyester — best balance of cost, availability and test performance
Programme parameters
| Item | Care Label |
|---|---|
| Target sector | Sportswear Brands |
| Target application | Activewear |
| Standard size | 8# Gauge |
| Finish options | Enzyme Wash Finish, Epoxy Doming, Laser Engraved Finish |
| Processes | Weft Knitting, Rotary Printing, Heat Setting |
| MOQ | 500 pieces per specification |
| Sampling | 7 working days, 5 days per revision |
| Bulk lead time | 20-30 days |
| Compliance | AATCC Test Methods |
| Delivery terms | EXW / FOB / CIF / DDP |
Why buyers choose this route
- Costed alternatives shown at quotation so the trade-off is visible
- Trim and fabric sourced from audited mills with test reports on file
- Golden sample retained at the factory and a second one held by the buyer
- Consolidated shipping with documented carton ratios
- Compliance documentation issued with the shipment, not after it
How the programme runs
- Discovery call: quantity, target price, delivery window and compliance needs
- Material and finish proposal with costed alternatives
- Counter sample built from your tech pack or reference sample
- Approval, testing and pre-production sign-off
- Bulk production with in-line inspection and photo reporting
- Packing, documentation and shipment under the agreed Incoterm
FAQ
How long does sampling take?
7 working days for the first sample, with 5 days per revision round. Plated or dyed-to-match items add a few days.
Can you match a physical sample?
Yes. Send the reference and we reverse engineer the specification, then produce a counter sample for approval before any bulk commitment.
Do you hold stock for reorders?
Approved specifications are kept on file and, for repeat programmes, base material can be reserved against a rolling forecast.
What is the minimum order quantity?
Standard MOQ is 500 per style per colour. Mixed colourways can be combined on the same spec if the base material is identical.
Send the reference sample or tech pack and we will come back with a costed specification, a sampling timetable and the compliance documents your market requires.
