Page 4 of 4. Things worth knowing before you place an order, written from the manufacturing side.
From South India the East Coast is usually the shorter route, which is the opposite of the Far East pattern most US importers are used to. What decides the choice, and what to check before you nominate.
United StatesLess changed for goods from Asia than people assume, and more changed for goods from the EU. What a UK apparel importer actually needs now, and what to hand to a customs broker.
United KingdomBoth handle the India trade and transit times are close. The decision is really about where your warehouse is, what your forwarder's lane performance looks like, and how much slack you have built in.
United KingdomFive documents and three facts. Get them prepared alongside the shipment rather than chased after it sails, and clearance stops being the part of importing that goes wrong.
United KingdomClothing carries meaningful duty into South Africa and the paperwork is unforgiving. What your clearing agent needs, what NRCS is concerned with, and what to get from your supplier before the container sails.
South AfricaDurban is the short route from South India and usually the right default. When Cape Town or Port Elizabeth is the better answer, and the days that never appear on a sailing schedule.
South AfricaOn a multi-year uniform contract, colour is the thing that quietly fails. How to write shade continuity into the agreement, manage it across styles and intakes, and what to check at each repeat.
South AfricaWhat South African market labelling covers — fibre composition, country of origin, care instructions and importer details — and why having it applied in the factory saves more than it costs.
South AfricaPromotional work has different economics from retail. What fabric weight actually suits it, which decoration method fits which run, and the specification decisions that stop a giveaway tee looking like one.
South AfricaThe sea leg, the time zone and the cotton. What actually moved South African apparel sourcing towards India, where the Far East still wins, and what to check before you switch.
South AfricaSend a tech pack, a reference garment, or just a photo and a quantity. We come back with a quote and an honest lead time — usually within one working day.
