Sourcing · Trust
How to find and vet an overseas clothing manufacturer (without getting scammed)
A practical checklist for brands sourcing overseas: how to find a garment factory, spot scam red flags, verify a supplier, and structure payments so you’re protected.
Founder, Trishakti Apparel 2 min read
Sending money to a factory you’ve never met, in a country you may never have visited, is the scariest part of sourcing overseas — especially with a smaller or newer supplier. The good news: a few disciplined steps remove almost all of the risk. Here’s how experienced buyers find and vet manufacturers.
Where to find manufacturers
- Sourcing marketplaces: Alibaba, Global Sources, Sewport, Maker’s Row, Fibre2Fashion.
- Trade bodies: national garment associations (e.g. Garment Association of Nepal) and export-promotion agencies list vetted members.
- Referrals: ask other brand owners — the highest-trust source of all.
- Search: “[product] manufacturer [country]” surfaces factories that invest in being findable.
Scam red flags to walk away from
- Pressure for a large 100% upfront payment to a personal account.
- No physical address, no registered company, no export licence.
- Prices dramatically below everyone else (bait pricing).
- Refusal to provide a sample, a video call, or references.
- Only a WhatsApp number — no website, no verifiable identity.
How to verify a supplier (the checklist)
- Confirm they’re a real registered exporter (business registration + EXIM/export code).
- Ask for a live video walkthrough of the factory floor and your goods on the line.
- Order a pre-production sample before any bulk commitment — judge fabric, fit, finish.
- Request references or named clients you can contact.
- Start with a smaller first order to build trust before scaling.
Protect your money with the right payment terms
Never wire 100% upfront to a stranger. Use staged terms — e.g. a deposit to start, balance against inspection or shipping documents — or a Letter of Credit (L/C) for larger orders, which releases funds only when documented conditions are met. Structure payment so your money tracks real progress.
The single best protection: approve a physical sample first, start small, and pay in stages tied to milestones. Scams rely on you skipping these — legitimate factories welcome them.
How we make it easy to trust us
We’re a registered exporter with a physical factory in Gaindakot, Nepal — visit in person or ask for a live video tour any time. Nothing goes to bulk until you approve a sample, and we work on fair, staged payment terms. See our duty-free advantage or request a sample — we’d rather earn your trust order by order than ask you to take it on faith.
Frequently asked
How do I verify an overseas clothing manufacturer is real?
What are red flags when choosing a clothing manufacturer?
Should I pay for samples from a factory?
About the author
Santosh Rijal runs Trishakti Apparel, the export knitwear factory his family built on three decades in Nepal’s fashion trade. He writes about sourcing, duty and production from the factory floor in Gaindakot.