Quick answer: Turkey is the third-largest clothing supplier to the European Union, after China and Bangladesh. Brands choose Turkish manufacturers for short shipping times to Europe, duty-free access to the EU under the customs union, a full fabric and trim supply chain, and minimum order quantities that small and growing labels can actually meet. This guide explains how to choose a manufacturer and what to agree before your first order.
Updated: October 2026, by the production team at Ermi Tekstil in Güngören, Istanbul.
Why brands manufacture clothing in Turkey
Turkey's apparel industry is built for European fashion brands. According to the Istanbul Apparel Exporters' Association (İHKİB), Turkish apparel exports reached about 16.8 billion US dollars in 2025, and 59.6% of that went to the European Union. Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom and France were the five largest markets.
| Indicator | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Apparel exports, 2025 | About 16.8 billion USD | İHKİB 2025 annual report (TİM data) |
| Share sold to the EU, 2025 | 59.6% | İHKİB 2025 annual report |
| Rank among EU apparel suppliers, 2024 | 3rd, after China and Bangladesh | İHKİB, based on Eurostat |
| Rank among world apparel exporters, 2024 | 7th | İHKİB, based on Trade Map |
| Knitted share of apparel exports, 2025 | About 54% | İHKİB 2025 annual report |
For a brand, those numbers translate into four practical advantages:
- Distance. Goods from Istanbul reach most of Europe by truck, so reorders and replenishment do not depend on ocean freight.
- Duties. Clothing of Turkish origin enters the EU duty-free under the EU–Turkey customs union when it travels with an A.TR movement certificate. Clothing from China or the US usually carries 12% EU import duty.
- Supply chain. Yarn, fabric, dyeing, printing, trims, labels and packaging are all produced in the country, which shortens sampling and sourcing.
- Order size. Many Turkish manufacturers work with smaller brands and quote minimums per style rather than per container.
Where clothing is made in Turkey
Production is spread across several regions, and each has its own strengths. Knowing them helps you look in the right place for your product.
| Region | Best known for |
|---|---|
| Istanbul (Güngören, Merter, Bağcılar, Zeytinburnu) | Cut-and-sew garment production, womenswear, fashion collections, sampling and pattern studios, trims and fabric traders |
| İzmir and the Aegean region | Knitwear and jersey basics, cotton supply, export-oriented apparel |
| Denizli | Cotton textiles, home textiles and towels |
| Bursa | Woven fabric production |
| Kahramanmaraş and Gaziantep | Yarn spinning and fabric production |
For fashion collections, Istanbul is usually the starting point: designers, pattern makers, sample rooms, fabric suppliers and garment factories are a short drive apart. Ermi Tekstil is based in Güngören, one of the city's main garment districts.
Types of clothing manufacturers in Turkey
Before you send enquiries, decide which kind of partner you need. The same factory can sometimes work in more than one way, so ask directly. Unfamiliar terms are explained in our clothing manufacturing glossary.
| Model | What the manufacturer does | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Full package (FOB) | Sources fabric and trims, makes patterns and samples, produces, checks quality and packs | Brands that want one partner from design to delivery |
| Private label | Full package production under your brand name, with your labels, tags and packaging | New and growing fashion brands |
| CMT (cut, make, trim) | Cuts and sews fabric and trims that you buy and deliver | Brands with their own fabric sourcing team |
| Wholesaler | Sells ready-made styles from stock, sometimes with your label added | Retailers testing products without development |
If you are building your own collection, a full package or private label clothing manufacturer saves you from managing fabric mills, trim suppliers and factories separately. If you already source your own fabric, see our cut and sew manufacturing page.
Minimum order quantities in Turkey
Minimum order quantity (MOQ) is the smallest order a manufacturer will accept. In Turkey it is usually set per style, and often per colour, rather than per order. Published minimums from Istanbul and İzmir manufacturers commonly fall between 50 and 300 pieces per style or colour, depending on the product and fabric.
Three things move the MOQ more than anything else:
- Fabric. Stock fabrics allow small runs. Custom-dyed or custom-printed fabric brings the mill's own minimum into play.
- Colours and sizes. One style in four colours is four production runs on the cutting table.
- Construction. Simple jersey basics are easier to run in small quantities than lined, tailored pieces.
Our guide to minimum order quantities explains how to read an MOQ and how to plan a first order around it. At Ermi Tekstil we agree the minimum per style and confirm it in writing with the quotation, so new labels can start with a small first run.
How production works, step by step
Most Turkish full package manufacturers follow the same sequence. At Ermi Tekstil it has eight steps:
- Brief. You share designs, references, quantities and target dates, and we hold a meeting to understand the collection.
- Quotation and sample. Once design, material and details are fixed, you receive an estimated price and a sample garment.
- Approval. After you approve the sample, you confirm a bulk order form covering materials, colours, fit comments, size breakdown and finishing.
- Material sourcing. We source fabrics and trims that match the design and ask for your approval on each.
- Sewing and production. Bulk production follows the approved sample.
- Quality control. Finished garments are inspected before they move on.
- Ironing and packaging. Garments are pressed, folded and packed for shipment.
- Shipping. We deliver through our contracted shipping agent, or through the forwarder you prefer.
The full process, with photos of each stage, is on our production process page. Whatever manufacturer you choose, ask for a written timeline that shows the date of each step, not only the final delivery date. Our guide to clothing samples explains each sample round.
What drives the price of clothing made in Turkey
Unit prices in Turkey are usually higher than those of the lowest-cost Asian producers, and lower than in Western Europe. What you pay for a specific garment depends on:
- Fabric and trims, normally the largest single line in a garment cost sheet.
- Labour minutes, set by the construction: seams, linings, pockets, closures and finishing.
- Order quantity, because cutting, line set-up and sampling costs are spread over fewer pieces in a small run.
- Decoration, such as printing, embroidery, washing or dyeing.
- Packaging and labelling, including hang tags, polybags and barcodes.
When you compare quotations, compare total landed cost: unit price, plus freight, plus duty, plus the cost of holding stock. Turkey's short transit time and EU duty-free access often close much of the unit price gap with Asia. Our guide to clothing manufacturing costs in Turkey breaks a cost sheet down line by line.
Duties and paperwork when importing from Turkey
| Destination | Duty on clothing of Turkish origin | Document |
|---|---|---|
| European Union | 0% under the EU–Turkey customs union; import VAT still applies | A.TR movement certificate, signed by Turkish customs |
| United Kingdom | Preferential rates under the UK–Turkey trade agreement when rules of origin are met | Exporter's declaration on origin |
| United States and other markets | Standard import duties of the destination country | Commercial invoice and certificate of origin as required |
Check product-specific rates for your HS codes with your customs broker before you place an order. For a side-by-side view, see Turkey vs China vs Portugal.
How to choose a reliable garment manufacturer in Turkey
A good partner is easier to recognise when you ask the same questions of everyone. Use this checklist when you compare factories:
- Specialisation. Do they already make your product category, in fabrics like yours? Ask to see similar garments.
- Sample quality. Judge the factory by its first sample: seams, measurements against your size chart, finishing.
- Written terms. MOQ per style and colour, unit price by quantity, sample cost, payment terms and delivery date, all in writing.
- Quality control. Who checks garments, at which stages, and what happens to pieces that fail.
- Communication. One contact person who answers in your language and sends production updates.
- Certificates. If a factory claims GOTS, OEKO-TEX or similar certification, verify the certificate number in the issuing body's public database.
- Visit. If you can, visit the workshop before bulk production, or ask for a video call from the production floor.
Working with Ermi Tekstil
Ermi Tekstil is a clothing manufacturer in Turkey with more than 20 years in garment production. From our workshop in Güngören, Istanbul, we make private label and custom collections for brands worldwide, with a strong focus on womenswear.
- Dresses and womenswear
- Menswear and denim
- Hoodies and sweatshirts, T-shirts and streetwear
- Bamboo clothing
If you are launching your first collection, read how we work with startups, or send us your project with styles, quantities and target dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is Turkey a good country for small clothing brands?
Yes. Many Turkish manufacturers set minimum order quantities per style rather than per container, and stock fabrics make small first runs possible. Short shipping times to Europe also let small brands reorder what sells instead of over-buying at the start.
Do I pay import duty on clothing from Turkey into the EU?
Clothing of Turkish origin enters the EU at 0% import duty under the EU–Turkey customs union, provided the shipment travels with an A.TR movement certificate signed by Turkish customs. Import VAT is still due in the destination country.
What is the difference between CMT and full package production?
With CMT (cut, make, trim) you buy and deliver the fabric and trims, and the factory only cuts and sews. With full package production the manufacturer also sources materials, develops samples, checks quality and packs the goods.
Which city in Turkey is best for clothing manufacturing?
Istanbul is the main centre for fashion and cut-and-sew garment production, with designers, sample rooms, fabric suppliers and factories close together. The Aegean region around İzmir is strong in knitwear and cotton basics.
Is clothing made in Turkey more expensive than clothing made in China?
Unit prices are usually higher than those of the lowest-cost Asian producers. Total landed cost to Europe is often closer, because shipping is shorter and Turkish-origin clothing is duty-free in the EU, while Chinese-origin clothing usually pays 12%.
How do I start working with Ermi Tekstil?
Send your designs or reference garments, the quantities you have in mind per style and colour, and your target delivery date through our contact form or to info@ermitekstil.com. We arrange a meeting, then prepare a quotation and a sample.
