Bangladesh has thousands of export garment factories, which makes it easy to find a supplier and hard to find the right one. This guide walks through the process we see work best for brands placing their first order.

1. Decide how you want to buy

There are three common routes:

  • Factory direct. You contract one factory. Best for large, repeat volumes in a single category, and when you have your own team to manage sampling and quality.
  • Buying house. A local company manages sampling, factory selection, quality control and shipping across a network of factories. Best when you make several product types or have no staff in Bangladesh. How buying houses work.
  • Marketplaces. B2B platforms are quick for price checks, but verification is limited and many listings are traders rather than manufacturers.

2. Match the factory to the product

Bangladeshi factories specialise. Knit units make t-shirts, polos, fleece and babywear; woven units make shirts, trousers and outerwear; denim needs a wash plant; sweaters need flat-knitting machines. Ask every supplier which products make up most of their current production — not just what they can make.

3. Check the minimum order quantity early

Conventional export factories often start at 1,000 pieces or more per style. Low-MOQ programmes start lower by using stock fabrics. If your quantity is small, say so in your first message to avoid weeks of back-and-forth. Our small-quantity programme uses stock fabrics to keep minimums low.

4. Verify licences and certificates

Ask for the trade licence, Export Registration Certificate, fire licence and DIFE factory licence, plus the social audits and product certificates your market requires. Check each one against its public registry — it takes about ten minutes. Our certifications guide lists every standard and where to verify it.

5. Request a sample before a price war

Quotes are only comparable once suppliers are quoting the same fabric, weight, construction and trims. Send a tech pack or reference garment, pay for a proto sample, and judge the sample and the communication, not just the price.

6. Visit, or inspect remotely

Visit the factory producing your order, or ask for a live video walkthrough of the cutting, sewing and finishing floors. Third-party inspection companies in Dhaka can run a factory audit or pre-shipment inspection for you.

7. Agree terms in writing

  • Price per piece, Incoterm (FOB, CIF or DDP) and currency
  • Delivery date and penalties for delay
  • Payment terms — commonly a deposit with the balance before shipment
  • Approved sample, measurement tolerances and AQL inspection level
  • Which factory will produce the order

Red flags

  • Prices far below every other quote for the same specification
  • No factory address, or reluctance to show the production floor
  • Certificates that don’t match the company name or have expired
  • Requests for full payment before production starts

Want a shortlist matched to your product and market? Send us your requirements and we will reply within one working day.