Bulk hoodie and sweatshirt manufacturer in Bangladesh

The UK, the EU, Canada, Australia and New Zealand all admit cotton hoodies and sweatshirts made in Bangladesh at 0% duty under their schemes for least developed countries, each with its own proof of origin: a DCTS origin declaration or Form A for the UK, a REX statement for the EU, and the local-content rules that Canada, Australia and New Zealand apply. The EU rate continues for three years after Bangladesh graduates on 24 November 2029, so to about November 2032; the third-country duty on the cotton sweatshirt line after that is 12%. The United States is the exception: it gives Bangladesh no preference, so a cotton hoodie pays the 16.5% general rate for HTSUS 6110.20.20 plus the 10% Section 301 tariff from 24 July 2026. Everywhere except the US you still pay VAT or GST at import, which a registered business recovers; our landed cost calculator shows the delivered price.

Both fabrics are knitted with a smooth outer face and a looped inner face; the difference is what happens to those loops. French terry, also called loopback, keeps the loops intact, so it feels lighter, breathes better and suits transitional seasons, layering and garment-dyed styles. Brushed fleece has its inner loops brushed into a soft, fluffy pile that traps warmth, giving the cosy feel people expect from a winter hoodie. Weight matters in both: lighter terry sits around 280 to 320 GSM, while heavyweight fleece for premium streetwear can reach 400 to 500 GSM. Cotton-rich blends feel natural but shrink more, while cotton-polyester blends hold their shape and colour. We send swatches in the weights you are considering; ask for a shrinkage test after washing too, because fleece behaves differently from jersey once garments are dyed or washed.

Garment dyeing happens after the hoodie is sewn, so the whole garment shrinks during the dye process, and ribs, body fabric and hood can shrink at different rates. Controlling it starts before cutting. The fabric and rib are wash-tested in the planned dye method, the shrinkage is measured in length and width, and the pattern is adjusted so finished measurements land within tolerance after dyeing. A pre-production sample goes through the full dye and wash process and is measured against your size chart before bulk cutting is approved. During production, garments from each dye batch should be measured and grouped by shade, so colours stay consistent within a carton. Fabric composition affects results, since cotton-rich fleece shrinks more than blends. Tell us your target look early, because washes and enzyme finishes also change shrinkage and hand-feel.

We publish no prices: a basic hoodie is a standard fleece weight in a stock colour with no decoration, and garment dyeing, heavyweight fleece, embroidery, custom drawcords and metal trims each add to it and are quoted as separate lines. Our minimum for hoodies is 500 pieces per style and colour, and it applies per colour because each colour is a dye lot. Runs from 150 pieces per style and colour go to our sister factory (see the hoodie small-run page), which prices them separately and is the usual route for a first drop or a creator brand. Tell us the fleece weight, the colours and whether you want garment dye, and we will give you the price for your exact hoodie within one working day.

Weight is the first thing a customer feels and the first line on the cost sheet. French terry at 280–380 GSM is the lighter, loopback option that suits spring, layering and warmer markets. Brushed fleece at 300–450 GSM is the standard hoodie: soft inside, warm, and the range most streetwear and brand hoodies live in. Heavyweight fleece up to 500 GSM gives the boxy, structured look that holds its shape, at a noticeably higher fabric cost and slower drying. Two details matter beyond the number. Brushing raises the back of the fabric and reduces its finished weight, so specify the GSM after brushing. And the rib for cuffs and hem should be matched to the body fabric’s weight and stretch, or the garment looks unbalanced. We send swatches in two or three weights so you choose by hand-feel, and record the finished GSM with a tolerance on the order.

A 100% cotton fleece is the better choice for a garment-dyed or washed hoodie, and a cotton-polyester blend such as 80/20 is the better choice where holding shape and lower shrinkage matter more. Reactive garment dye bonds to cotton, so an all-cotton hoodie takes a full, even shade; it also shrinks more, so the pattern carries a larger allowance. A share of polyester helps the fleece hold its shape and colour through washing; on brushed fleece, specify the yarn quality either way, because that controls pilling. Two things outside the fabric decide it as well. Cotton-rich fleece is usually knitted in Bangladesh, while a significant share of polyester yarn is imported. And US duty follows the fibre that predominates by weight: on 1 October 2026 a mainly cotton hoodie pays 16.5% under HTSUS 6110.20.20, a mainly polyester one 32% under 6110.30.30, each plus the 10% Section 301 tariff. State the blend and its tolerance in the tech pack.

Embroidery suits small, solid logos on a hoodie and printing suits large graphics, and fleece changes how each behaves. Fleece has a pile, so an embroidered chest logo is digitised for the fabric with a denser underlay and sewn through a water-soluble topping film that stops the stitches sinking in; a large, dense embroidery stiffens the panel, so big designs are better printed or made as chenille or appliqué. For a big front or back graphic, screen printing is the usual bulk method, with puff and high-density inks giving a raised look. Placement is a construction decision on a hoodie. A print stretched across a seam or the kangaroo pocket is under uneven tension and cracks first, so ask for a design that crosses them to be printed on the cut panel before sewing; a zip-through front splits any centre design in two. Send artwork with sizes and positions, and each placement is quoted as its own line.

A two-panel hood is made from two mirrored pieces joined by one seam over the top of the head, while a three-panel hood adds a centre strip between them, for a rounder shape that sits closer to the head. The two-panel hood is the simplest to sew and the most common on sweatshirts; its single seam gives a slightly pointed crown. The three-panel hood takes a second seam and more fabric. Lining matters as much as panel count. A double-layer hood hides the seams and keeps its shape better, but it uses twice the fabric, which adds weight at the neck and cost. The opening can carry a drawcord through metal eyelets or be left clean with no cord, the usual route for children’s sizes, because hood cords are restricted on children’s clothing in the US and Europe. Put the panel count, lining, hood depth and width and the cord detail in the tech pack.

The zip on a zip-up hoodie goes wavy when the fleece shrinks and the zip does not: zip tape is typically polyester, which shrinks very little, so after washing the shortened fabric forces the longer tape into ripples. Cotton-rich fleece shrinks more than a blend, and a garment-dyed or washed hoodie shrinks during processing, so the risk is highest on the styles brands pay most for. Prevention is planned before cutting. The fleece and rib are wash-tested and the pattern is adjusted to the measured shrinkage; ask for the zip length to be set against the front length after washing, and for the front edge to be stabilised so that it is not stretched while the zip is sewn in. State the zip brand, type and colour in the tech pack. Then wash the pre-production sample to the care label, lay it flat and look along the zip before approving bulk.