In short
To manufacture sweatpants or joggers, specify the fabric (fleece or French terry, blend and finished GSM), a measurement chart covering waist, rise, thigh, cuff and inseam, the waistband and cuff constructions, pockets, trims and labels. Children’s styles must meet drawcord rules such as EN 14682. Clear specifications give accurate quotes and fewer sample rounds.
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To have sweatpants or joggers made well, you need to specify six things: the fabric and its finished weight, the fit through the rise, thigh and inseam, the waistband construction, the leg finish, the pockets, and the trims. Children’s styles also need drawcords that meet safety rules. A factory can only price and sample accurately what is written down, so this guide goes through each decision in the order a tech pack needs it.
Sweatpants or joggers: what is the difference?
In the trade the two words are used loosely, but a factory will read them differently if you do not define them. Sweatpants usually means a relaxed, straight or wide leg with an open or elasticated hem. Joggers usually means a tapered leg that finishes in a rib cuff or an elastic channel at the ankle. Track pants are often a lighter or synthetic version with a zip at the ankle.
Do not rely on the name. Put a technical sketch and a measurement chart in the tech pack, and name the leg shape (straight, tapered, wide) and the hem finish (open, cuffed, elastic, zip). That removes most of the misunderstandings before the first sample.
Which fabric: fleece or French terry?
Almost all sweatpants are cut from one of two knitted fabrics. Both have a smooth jersey face and loops on the back:
- French terry (loopback) leaves the loops unbrushed. It is cooler, drier to the touch and suits spring, summer and warm climates.
- Fleece is the same kind of fabric with the loops brushed into a soft pile. It is warmer and softer, and suits autumn and winter.
Specify three things for either one: the fibre blend (100% cotton, a cotton and polyester blend, or recycled content), the finished weight in GSM after dyeing and brushing, and any elastane for stretch and recovery. Our fabric and GSM guide gives typical weight ranges and explains how to state them. For a matching set, cut the joggers from the same fabric and dye lot as the hoodie. Our bulk hoodie and sweatshirt page covers the tops.
Cotton-rich fleece feels best, but it shrinks more than a blend. Ask for a wash test on the finished fabric before cutting, so the pattern can be adjusted for shrinkage. Bottoms show shrinkage quickly: a leg that loses a few centimetres after the first wash turns a full-length jogger into a cropped one.
How to specify the fit: rise, thigh and inseam
Fit is where sweatpants succeed or fail. Customers forgive a slightly different shade; they return a pair that sits too low or bags at the knee. The points of measure for a jogger are:
| Point of measure | How it is measured | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Waist, relaxed | Across the top edge, laid flat, not stretched | How it looks on the hanger |
| Waist, extended | Across the top edge, fully stretched | Whether it fits over the hips |
| Hip | Straight across at a set distance below the waist | Room in the seat |
| Front rise | Waist seam to crotch seam, front | Where the waistband sits |
| Back rise | Waist seam to crotch seam, back | Comfort when sitting and bending |
| Thigh | Across the leg just below the crotch | Slim, regular or relaxed look |
| Knee | Across the leg at a set distance down the inseam | How much the leg tapers |
| Leg opening or cuff | Across the hem, relaxed and extended | Whether a foot gets through a tapered cuff |
| Inseam | Crotch seam to hem, along the inside leg | Leg length |
| Outseam | Top of waistband to hem, along the side | A cross-check on total length |
Give every point a tolerance, the plus or minus you will accept, and say how each is measured. The back rise should be longer than the front rise, to give room when the wearer sits. If your customer wants a stacked look over trainers, add length to the inseam deliberately rather than hoping it happens.
For movement, ask about a crotch gusset, a diamond-shaped panel that stops the seam pulling. It adds a little cost but helps with athletic and relaxed fits.
Waistbands: which construction should you choose?
The waistband does more work than any other part of the garment, and it is where a cheap construction shows first. The common constructions are:
- Elastic in a channel: a band of elastic enclosed in a fold of the main fabric. It is simple and cheap, but the elastic can twist or roll inside the channel. Stitching through the elastic in a few places stops that.
- Elastic with a drawcord: the same, with a cord through two eyelets or buttonholes at the front. It is the classic jogger waistband. Specify the eyelet type (metal or embroidered) and back the fabric behind metal eyelets so they do not pull out.
- Knitted rib waistband: a separate band of rib, often with elastic inside, matching the cuffs. It gives a sporty look and good recovery.
- Covered or exposed branded elastic: a jacquard elastic with your logo, sewn on so it shows. It looks premium and costs more, with a minimum quantity for the elastic itself.
State the elastic width and type, whether the cord is flat or round, the cord length, the tip finish (metal, silicone or knotted), and whether the cord is stitched in at the back so it cannot be pulled out. Test the waistband after washing: cheap elastic loses its recovery quickly.
Leg finish, pockets and seams
The hem. Joggers usually finish in a rib cuff, or in an elastic channel in the main fabric. Sweatpants usually have an open hem, finished with a coverstitch. A rib cuff needs its own length and relaxed and extended widths on the measurement chart, because a tight cuff is uncomfortable and a loose one loses the jogger shape.
Pockets. Choose from side-seam pockets, slanted front pockets, a back patch pocket and zip pockets. Specify the pocket bag fabric: a lighter jersey or mesh keeps bulk down in heavy fleece. A zip pocket for a phone needs the zip type and puller in the tech pack, and a facing so the zip does not rub.
Seams. Knitted bottoms are usually overlocked and then coverstitched on visible seams. Flatlock seams lie flatter and suit activewear. On heavy fleece, ask how the crotch seam is reinforced, because it takes the most strain.
Decoration. A small embroidered logo on the thigh or a screen print down the leg are common. Place artwork away from the knee, where it cracks or wears first.
Not sure which fabric to choose?
Send a garment you like or describe the feel you want. We propose fabrics that suit the product, its price and your market.
Drawcord safety for children’s sweatpants
If you make sweatpants for children, the drawcord is a safety issue, not a style choice. In Europe, EN 14682 sets requirements for cords and drawstrings on children’s clothing up to the age of 14. It splits children into two groups: young children, up to 7 years or up to 134 cm tall, and older children and young persons, from 7 up to 14 years. It treats the waist as its own zone of the garment, and the 2014 edition revised the waist-area rules.
The exact lengths and loop limits are in the standard itself, so buy it or ask your test laboratory, and design the waistband to it rather than to a rule of thumb. For young children, leaving the drawcord out altogether and relying on elastic is the simplest way to comply.
In the United States, the federal drawstring rule at 16 CFR 1120.3 names children’s upper outerwear in sizes 2T to 16 with drawstrings that do not meet ASTM F1816-97 as a substantial product hazard. It covers jackets and sweatshirts, not trousers. That is not a reason to skip care: a buyer or marketplace may still require a safety review, and the same child may wear your joggers in Europe. Our kidswear page covers the other tests children’s clothing needs.
Labels and HS codes
Sweatpants need the same labels as any garment: fibre content in every market, care instructions where the law requires them, and country of origin. Make sure the fibre content matches the finished fabric, including any elastane in the rib.
For customs, knitted sweatpants are classified by who they are for and what they are made of. Sold as separate trousers, cotton knit trousers for men and boys fall under subheading 6103.42, and for women and girls under 6104.62. Synthetic versions have their own subheadings. A matching top and bottom sold together as a tracksuit may instead fall under heading 6112. The US tariff shows why the difference matters. Its general duty rate is 16.1% for men’s cotton knit trousers under 6103.42.10, 14.9% for women’s under 6104.62.20, and 14.9% for cotton tracksuits under 6112.11, and additional duties can apply on top. Our page for US brands sets out the current position for goods from Bangladesh. Confirm the code for your style with your customs broker before costing.
Import duty on sweatpants from Bangladesh: UK, EU and US
Into the UK and the EU, knitted sweatpants from Bangladesh pay no import duty when the shipment carries valid proof of origin. On the UK Trade Tariff, cotton styles under 6103 42 00 (men’s and boys’) and 6104 62 00 (women’s and girls’), and synthetic styles under 6103 43 00 and 6104 63 00, carry a standard rate of 12%, and 0% for countries in the Developing Countries Trading Scheme’s Comprehensive Preferences, which include Bangladesh. The EU tariff shows the same 12% third-country rate for all four subheadings and 0% for Bangladesh under Everything But Arms.
The 0% is claimed, not given. For the UK the exporter puts an origin declaration on the invoice; for the EU it is a statement on origin under the REX system. Our guide to proof of origin for clothing sets out the wording, and the UK import duty guide compares the rates with other sourcing countries. EU duty-free access continues to about November 2032 under current rules, as our guide to Europe’s duty-free window explains.
In the United States there is no tariff preference for apparel from Bangladesh, so the general rate applies: the cotton rates given above, and 28.2% for synthetic knit trousers under 6103.43.15 and 6104.63.20, which makes the fibre choice a cost decision as well as a design one. Goods entered from 24 July 2026 also pay a further 10% Section 301 duty on top.
| Market | Subheading (men’s / women’s) | Standard rate | From Bangladesh | What you need |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States, cotton | 6103.42.10 / 6104.62.20 | 16.1% / 14.9% | Same rate, plus 10% Section 301 duty since 24 July 2026 | Code confirmed by your broker |
| United States, synthetic | 6103.43.15 / 6104.63.20 | 28.2% / 28.2% | Same rate, plus 10% Section 301 duty since 24 July 2026 | Code confirmed by your broker |
| United Kingdom | 6103 42 00 / 6104 62 00 (cotton); 6103 43 00 / 6104 63 00 (synthetic) | 12% | 0% (DCTS Comprehensive Preferences) | Origin declaration on the invoice |
| European Union | 6103 42 00 / 6104 62 00 (cotton); 6103 43 00 / 6104 63 00 (synthetic) | 12% | 0% (Everything But Arms) | REX statement on origin |
A sweatpants tech pack checklist
- Technical sketch, front and back, with the leg shape and hem finish named.
- Fabric: construction (fleece or French terry), fibre blend, finished GSM, elastane, colour and any wash.
- Measurement chart for every size, with tolerances and how each point is measured.
- Waistband: construction, elastic width and type, cord type, length and tips, eyelets.
- Cuffs or hem: rib type, length, relaxed and extended widths.
- Pockets: type, position, bag fabric, zips and pullers.
- Seams and stitches for each seam, and reinforcement at the crotch.
- Decoration: method, size and placement from a fixed reference point.
- Labels: main label, care and fibre label, size label, and their positions.
- Packing: folding, polybag, carton marks and size ratio per carton.
Our free tech pack template has a section for each of these.
Ordering joggers in bulk from our own knitwear factory
We make joggers and sweatpants in our own knitwear factory in Narayanganj, in the same French terry and fleece as our hoodies and sweatshirts, so for these you deal directly with the manufacturer, not a middleman. Orders start at 500 pieces per style and colour. Joggers have no minimum of their own, so the exact figure for your style is confirmed on the quote. The count is per style and per colour: one jogger in black, grey and navy is three counts, and how the pieces in each colour are spread across your sizes is agreed on the quote.
A bulk order follows the stages in the table below, and each stage closes one of the decisions in the checklist above. Nothing is cut until you have approved a sample, and the approved pre-production sample is kept as the standard that every inspection is measured against. On joggers, the points worth naming for those inspections are the waistband’s recovery after washing, the cuff’s relaxed and extended widths, and the crotch seam.
We do not publish a standard number of days for sampling or production. The delivery date depends on the fabric, the colours and the quantity, and it is confirmed in writing with the price once the sample is approved. Our page on how an order runs covers every stage in more detail.
| Stage | You send or approve | We confirm or check |
|---|---|---|
| Enquiry | Tech pack or a reference pair, quantities per colour and size, your markets | Questions, fabric options and a first costing |
| Fabric and sampling | Fibre blend, finished GSM, colours; lab dips and trims | Fabric and trims sourced; lab dips; a fit sample |
| Order confirmation | Approval of the sample, price and delivery date | Price, delivery date and terms in writing |
| Pre-production | Size set and pre-production sample | Bulk fabric tested; the sealed sample becomes the standard |
| Production | Nothing, unless we raise a point | Checks on the line from the first bundles |
| Final inspection and shipment | The inspection report, then release of the goods | AQL final inspection, packing, export documents; FOB, CIF or DDP |
What to do next
If you are starting with a small range, our sister company, Collective Studio Ltd., has a small-run joggers and shorts route that makes from 150 pieces per style and colour, in fleece or French terry, cut from your pattern, at its own prices; our co-founder Homaira Jashim co-founded it and AB Rahman is its Head of Growth. For larger programmes, send your tech pack or a reference pair through the contact page, with the quantities per size and your markets, and we will come back with the fabric options and questions before we quote.
Questions buyers ask.
What is the best fabric for sweatpants?
For most brands it is a cotton-rich fleece or French terry, and the choice depends on season and feel. Fleece has its back loops brushed into a soft pile, so it is warmer and suits autumn and winter ranges. French terry leaves the loops unbrushed, so it is cooler, drier and suits spring, summer and warm climates. Both have a smooth knitted face that takes printing and embroidery. A cotton and polyester blend shrinks less and usually costs less than 100% cotton; recycled polyester content is available where your customers ask for it. Adding a small amount of elastane improves stretch and recovery at the knee and seat, which matters for slimmer joggers. Whatever you choose, specify the finished weight in GSM after dyeing and brushing, ask for a shrinkage test before cutting, and cut matching sets from the same dye lot.
What is the difference between joggers and sweatpants?
Joggers usually have a tapered leg that finishes in a rib cuff or an elastic channel at the ankle, while sweatpants usually have a relaxed, straight or wide leg with an open or elasticated hem. In the trade the two words are used loosely, so a factory may read them differently unless you define them. Both are normally cut from the same fabrics, cotton-rich fleece or French terry, with the same waistband options, so the difference that matters in production is the leg shape and the hem finish. Do not rely on the name in your brief. Put a technical sketch and a measurement chart in the tech pack, name the leg shape as straight, tapered or wide, and name the hem as open, cuffed, elastic or zip. For a cuffed jogger, give the cuff its own length and relaxed and extended widths, because a tight cuff is uncomfortable and a loose one loses the shape.
Are drawstrings allowed on children’s joggers?
Often, but with limits, and for young children the simplest answer is to leave them out. In Europe, EN 14682 sets requirements for cords and drawstrings on children’s clothing up to the age of 14. It divides children into young children, up to 7 years or up to 134 cm tall, and older children and young persons, from 7 up to 14, and it treats the waist as a separate zone of the garment with its own rules. The exact length and loop limits are in the standard, so buy it or ask your test laboratory to check the design. In the United States, the federal rule at 16 CFR 1120.3 covers drawstrings on children’s upper outerwear, such as hoodies and jackets, in sizes 2T to 16, rather than trousers. The simplest safe design for young children is an elastic waistband with no cord at all.
What GSM is best for sweatpants?
For most brands, French terry at 280 to 380 GSM or brushed fleece at 280 to 500 GSM, the ranges our fabric and GSM guide gives for these two fabrics. French terry suits spring, summer and warm climates; fleece suits autumn and winter and a heavier, warmer feel. There is no single correct figure, because the right weight depends on the season, the fit and whether the joggers match a hoodie; for a set, cut both from the same fabric and dye lot. Always state the finished weight, after dyeing and brushing, with a tolerance such as plus or minus 5%, because brushing thins the back and a fleece quoted on greige fabric may finish lighter. Ask for a wash test on the finished fabric before cutting as well: cotton-rich fleece shrinks more than a blend, and a leg that loses a few centimetres after the first wash turns a full-length jogger into a cropped one.
Do you make joggers and sweatpants in your own factory?
Yes. Joggers and sweatpants in French terry and fleece are knitwear, and we make them in our own factory in Narayanganj, alongside the hoodies and sweatshirts they are often matched with. Orders start at 500 pieces per style and colour; joggers have no separate minimum, so the exact figure is confirmed on your quote, and each colour counts on its own. Matching hoodies have a confirmed minimum of 500 pieces per style and colour. For a smaller first range, our sister company, Collective Studio Ltd., makes runs from 150 pieces per style and colour, which we manage. We do not publish standard sampling or production days: the delivery date is confirmed in writing with the price once you approve the sample. A jogger cut from woven twill, such as a chino jogger, is a woven garment; we place those with an audited partner factory that is named before production.
Is there import duty on sweatpants made in Bangladesh?
It depends on where you sell. In the UK and the EU, cotton knit sweatpants under subheadings 6103 42 00 and 6104 62 00 pay 0% from Bangladesh, under the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme and the EU’s Everything But Arms, when the shipment carries valid proof of origin: an origin declaration on the invoice for the UK, a REX statement on origin for the EU. Without it the standard rate of 12% applies. In the United States there is no preference: the general rate is 16.1% for men’s cotton knit trousers under 6103.42.10 and 14.9% for women’s under 6104.62.20, and goods entered from 24 July 2026 pay a further 10% Section 301 duty. Synthetic sweatpants pay the same 12% or 0% in the UK and the EU, under 6103 43 00 and 6104 63 00, but 28.2% in the United States under 6103.43.15 and 6104.63.20, plus the Section 301 duty. A top and bottom sold together as a tracksuit may fall under heading 6112 instead. Confirm the code with your customs broker before you cost the order, and note that the rates were checked on 2 November 2026.
What measurements should a sweatpants or joggers size chart include for the factory?
A jogger measurement chart should cover the waist relaxed and extended, hip, front rise, back rise, thigh, knee, leg opening or cuff relaxed and extended, inseam and outseam, each with a tolerance and a note on how it is measured. The relaxed waist shows how the pair looks on the hanger and the extended waist whether it fits over the hips. The back rise should be longer than the front rise, to give room when the wearer sits, and the outseam is a cross-check on total length. The cuff needs both widths because a foot has to get through a tapered cuff. If you want a stacked look over trainers, add length to the inseam deliberately, and for athletic or relaxed fits consider a crotch gusset.
Which waistband construction is best for joggers?
For most joggers the classic choice is elastic in a channel with a drawcord through two front eyelets, while a knitted rib waistband suits a sportier look and branded jacquard elastic a premium one. Plain elastic in a channel is simple and cheap, but the elastic can twist or roll inside it, which a few lines of stitching through the elastic prevent. With a drawcord, specify metal or embroidered eyelets and back the fabric behind metal ones so they do not pull out. Branded elastic costs more and carries a minimum quantity for the elastic itself. In the tech pack, state the elastic width and type, flat or round cord, cord length, tip finish and whether the cord is stitched in at the back, then test the waistband after washing.
What seams should fleece sweatpants have, and where do they need reinforcing?
Knitted sweatpants are usually overlocked and then coverstitched on visible seams, with flatlock seams as the flatter option for activewear, and the crotch seam is the one to reinforce, because it takes the most strain. On heavy fleece, ask the factory how it reinforces the crotch, and for athletic or relaxed fits consider a crotch gusset, a diamond-shaped panel that stops the seam pulling and adds a little cost. Open hems on sweatpants are usually finished with a coverstitch. Pocket bags in a lighter jersey or mesh keep bulk down in heavy fleece, and a zip phone pocket needs a facing so the zip does not rub. List the seam and stitch type for each seam in the tech pack, and name the crotch seam as an inspection point.
Sources
Checked . Rules and figures change, so confirm anything that affects your pricing.
Show all 17 sourcesHide the sources
- NSAI / Intertek Inform — I.S. EN 14682:2014 Safety of children’s clothing, cords and drawstrings, free preview (scope to age 14; age groups; waist zone) (opens in a new tab)
- iTeh Standards — EN 14682:2014 catalogue entry (CEN standard details) (opens in a new tab)
- Cornell LII — 16 CFR 1120.3 (children’s upper outerwear drawstrings, sizes 2T to 16, ASTM F1816-97) (opens in a new tab)
- US International Trade Commission — Harmonized Tariff Schedule search (6103.42, 6104.62, 6112 and their general duty rates) (opens in a new tab)
- Federal Trade Commission — Clothes Captioning: Complying with the Care Labeling Rule (US care labels) (opens in a new tab)
- Business Companion (Trading Standards) — Labelling of textiles (fibre content labels in Great Britain) (opens in a new tab)
- UK Trade Tariff: 6103 42 00 00 men’s or boys’ cotton knitted trousers and shorts (third-country duty 12%; DCTS Comprehensive Preferences 0%), read 2 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- UK Trade Tariff: 6104 62 00 00 women’s or girls’ cotton knitted trousers and shorts (third-country duty 12%; DCTS Comprehensive Preferences 0%), read 2 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- UK Trade Tariff: 6103 43 00 00 men’s or boys’ synthetic knitted trousers and shorts (third-country duty 12%; DCTS Comprehensive Preferences 0%), read 2 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- UK Trade Tariff: 6104 63 00 00 women’s or girls’ synthetic knitted trousers and shorts (third-country duty 12%; DCTS Comprehensive Preferences 0%), read 2 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- UK Trade Tariff (data service): geographical area 1062, Developing Countries Trading Scheme Comprehensive Preferences (members include Bangladesh) (opens in a new tab)
- European Commission, TARIC: measures for 6103 42 00 00 (men’s or boys’ cotton knitted trousers) from Bangladesh on 2 November 2026 (third-country duty 12%; tariff preference 0% under Everything But Arms, Regulation (EU) 978/2012) (opens in a new tab)
- European Commission, TARIC: measures for 6104 62 00 00 (women’s or girls’ cotton knitted trousers) from Bangladesh on 2 November 2026 (third-country duty 12%; tariff preference 0% under Everything But Arms, Regulation (EU) 978/2012) (opens in a new tab)
- European Commission, TARIC: measures for 6103 43 00 00 (men’s or boys’ synthetic knitted trousers) from Bangladesh on 2 November 2026 (third-country duty 12%; tariff preference 0% under Everything But Arms, Regulation (EU) 978/2012) (opens in a new tab)
- European Commission, TARIC: measures for 6104 63 00 00 (women’s or girls’ synthetic knitted trousers) from Bangladesh on 2 November 2026 (third-country duty 12%; tariff preference 0% under Everything But Arms, Regulation (EU) 978/2012) (opens in a new tab)
- US International Trade Commission, Harmonized Tariff Schedule: general duty 28.2% for synthetic knitted trousers and shorts, men’s or boys’ (6103.43.15) and women’s or girls’ (6104.63.20), read 2 November 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- USTR, Federal Register 2026-15181 (28 July 2026): Section 301 duty of 10% on products of Bangladesh, in addition to the regular duty, for goods entered on or after 24 July 2026, with listed exemptions (opens in a new tab)