Sportswear OEM Manufacturer Guide: Products, MOQ, Lead Time, QC & Testing

If you’re looking for a reliable sportswear OEM manufacturer to produce leggings, sports bras, or shorts, this guide walks you through the full process—from product development and sampling to bulk production, quality control, and packaging—so you can launch with less risk and fewer returns.

At ShaperFactory, we support OEM/ODM and private label sportswear manufacturing for brand owners and Amazon sellers. For an overview of our capabilities, visit: /sportswear-oem/.

What “Sportswear OEM” Means (OEM vs ODM vs Private Label)

Sportswear OEM generally means a factory manufactures products based on defined requirements—such as your tech pack, size chart, fabric specs, branding, and packaging.

It helps to separate manufacturing lead time from development workload:

• OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing): You provide the design/specs (or a complete tech pack). The factory manufactures to your requirements. OEM is ideal if you want a differentiated product and full control of details.
• ODM (Original Design Manufacturing): The factory provides proven base designs and construction solutions. You customize branding, colors, packaging, and sometimes fit adjustments. ODM is ideal when you want to reduce development uncertainty and start from validated structures.
• Private label: You choose an existing style with minimal changes and focus on branding/packaging.

In real production, OEM and ODM can have similar bulk timelines, because fabric readiness, production scheduling, QC/testing, and packaging still apply either way. What changes most is how much design documentation the buyer needs to provide and how many development decisions are still open.

What Sportswear Products Can You Manufacture?

Sportswear demand varies by channel, season, and price point. Often, leggings have steady repeat demand and expand into more colorways and variations, while sports bras and shorts can fluctuate based on launches and seasonality.

Here are the main categories we manufacture:

1) Leggings

Common buyer requirements:

• Squat-friendly opacity
• Strong stretch recovery after wash
• Smooth seams and consistent sizing across runs

Typical risk points:

• Sheerness/opacity issues
• Pilling and abrasion in high-friction areas
• Waistband rolling or uneven compression

2) Sports Bras

Common buyer requirements:

• Support level matching the intended use
• Strap comfort and durability
• Stable band fit (reducing “digging in” complaints)

Typical risk points:

• Strap/band discomfort leading to returns
• Elastic fatigue after wash
• Sizing inconsistency between batches

3) Shorts

Common buyer requirements:

• Anti-ride-up construction
• Durable seams at stress points
• Breathability in panels/lining

Typical risk points:

• Leg opening rolling
• Fabric transparency under stretch
• Seams popping at high-tension points

Typical MOQ & Lead Time (What to Expect)

Typical MOQ: from 50 pcs per style, depending on:

• Product complexity (construction, panels, support level)
• Fabric availability (stock fabric vs custom dye)
• Color/size breakdown (more colors and a wider size range usually increases constraints)
• Packaging requirements (barcode, inserts, custom boxes)

Lead time depends on development stage:

• Sampling: depends on how complete your requirements/tech pack are and how many revisions are needed to confirm fit and performance
• Bulk production: depends on fabric readiness, production scheduling, QC/testing requirements, and packaging complexity

If you share your target market, estimated quantity per style, and reference images/links, we can recommend a practical production plan and timeline.

Materials & Fabric Specs Buyers Should Prepare

You don’t need to know every fabric detail to start, but the more you can specify, the faster and more accurate the quote will be.

Helpful specs include:

• Fiber composition (e.g., nylon/spandex)
• GSM (fabric weight)
• Stretch & recovery expectations
• Hand feel goals (soft, matte, compressive, cooling)
• Color requirements (dark colors often need tighter colorfastness control)

If you’re not sure, share:

• Your target price range
• Product reference links/photos
• Target market (US/EU/UK/Middle East)
  …and we can propose suitable fabric options.

Sportswear Manufacturing Process (From Idea to Bulk)

A standard OEM workflow looks like this:

1. Requirements & product positioning (use case, support/compression level, target price)
2. Tech pack + size chart confirmation (or ODM baseline selection)
3. Sample development and fit review
4. Pre-production approval (materials, construction, packaging)
5. Bulk production
6. Quality control (inline + final)
7. Packing and shipment

Quality Control & Testing Checklist (Sportswear-Specific)

Sportswear customers care a lot about durability and wash performance. Common QC/testing items include:

• Fabric inspection (GSM, defects, stretch)
• Size tolerance checks for key measurements
• Stretch recovery after wash
• Pilling/abrasion risk evaluation
• Seam strength at stress points
• Colorfastness (especially for dark colors and sweat exposure)
• Final inspection: appearance, labels, packaging accuracy

If you sell on Amazon, consistent sizing and clear documentation (photos + size chart + QC standards) can significantly reduce returns.

Packaging, Labeling & Multi-Market Requirements

We support US/EU/UK/Middle East markets, and packaging/labeling requirements can vary by brand and channel.

Common requests include:

• Polybag + barcode label
• Hangtags and size stickers
• Care label + fiber content label + country of origin
• Inserts for brand story, washing instructions, or bundle guidance

If you tell us your target channel (DTC, wholesale, Amazon), we’ll align packaging and labeling accordingly.

What We Need to Quote (Send This to Start)

To get an accurate quote, send:

• Target market (US/EU/UK/Middle East)
• Product type (leggings / sports bra / shorts)
• Estimated order quantity per style and color/size breakdown
• Reference photos or competitor links (optional)
• Tech pack (if available)
• Target price range (optional)

FAQ

What is your MOQ for sportswear OEM?
Typical MOQ starts from 50 pcs per style, ,depending on style, fabric, and color/size breakdown.

Can you do private label and custom packaging?
Yes. We support private label branding and packaging options including barcode-ready packaging.

Do you offer samples?
Yes. Sampling is available to validate fit, construction, and materials before bulk.

How do you control quality for bulk production?
We follow inline QC plus final inspection, and can align testing/checklists with your requirements.

Which products are most requested?
Demand varies by channel and season. Leggings often have steady repeat demand, while sports bras and shorts can fluctuate based on launches and seasonal collections.

Ready to Start?

Send your requirements and we’ll recommend the best construction, materials, and production plan for your target market and budget.
Get a quote: (your RFQ/contact link)