Where Do Jeans Companies Get Their Fabric? Inside The Industry Secret

Each pair of jeans has a story, beginning with the denim fabric. But do you wonder where jeans companies get their fabric?

So, while the answer is long, it’s also essential if you’re starting your brand. Not all denim is created equal: one production technique may work better. Also, the fabric quality will vary from region to region.

Our experts have cut through the denim jungle to make it simple. This article discusses all of the best jeans fabrics that jeans manufacturers use. 

We will also discuss the factors that affect its manufacturing and end product. By reading this, you can make a more informed sourcing decision for your Jeans Brand.

Keep on moving to get a complete overview of the denim fabric industry.

Source Locally vs Internationally – Where Do Jeans Companies Get Their Fabric? 

You might be faced with the decision to source locally or internationally. This decision affects cost, quality, sustainability, lead times, and flexibility. If you are still confused about everything, read “How to start a denim brand.” 

Some brands only source locally for ethical and sustainable reasons. Yet some opt for overseas mills to obtain exquisite craftsmanship at low costs. 

Here is a local vs global comparison in denim fabric manufacturing.

Advantages of Local and International Sourcing

Major Factors Influencing the Jeans Companies’ Fabric Choice – Industry Insights 

Choosing fabric for denim is one of the most essential things jeans brands do. This choice affects longevity, comfort, price, sustainable approach, and brand values. The following are the significant aspects governing the denim fabric selection:

1. Fabric Composition

Denim is usually made from cotton. Yet blends with elastane, polyester, or recycled fibers are not unusual. Companies consider:

• 100 %Cotton: Durable and has a traditional denim feeling. 
• Cotton–Elastane Blend: Giving stretch and flexibility for comfort.
• Cotton-Poly Blend: Improves durability and resists wrinkles.
• Eco-sustainable Options: organic cotton, hemp, or recycled materials for eco-friendly brands.

The jeans are usually made using high-quality denim. Brands look for fabric with tensile strength, tactical weight, and premium cotton blends.

2. Fabric Weight

Fabric weight influences the hand and durability of denim. Denim is classified by weight:

• Lightweight (5-10 oz): Summer jeans, stretch denim, soft and comfy fit.
• Midweight (11-13 oz): The most typical weight for jeans you would wear daily. Best balance between strength and comfort.
• Heavyweight (14-21 oz): Tough and rigid, used in raw denim and workwear. 

3. Weave & Texture

Denim woven differently impacts strength and beauty. Even a Twill Direction affects the end product.  Both Right-hand and Left-hand twill have different feel and fading patterns. 

• Selvedge denim: A type of tightly woven denim with a self-finished edge.
• Open-End & Ring-Spun Yarn: the ring-spun denim is more durable and softer.

4. Stretch & Flexibility

Brands select between rigid and stretch denim depending on their target market. Rigid Denim is a classic, heavy-duty choice ideal for raw looks. 

Stretch Denim is a popular material amongst women’s jeans. They are best for slim-fit jeans with added comfort level. However, Super Stretch Denim Contains higher elastane content for extreme flexibility. Check the post about Elastane Vs Spandex.

Expert Advice: Study your targeted audience and what they are looking for. Choose stretchability and flexibility as per their daily needs. 

Ibrahim Sengul, Textile Purchasing

5. Sustainability Considerations

Brands ensure suppliers comply with ethical labor, sustainability, and quality standards. Major Luxury brands favor organic fabrics with certifications. Certifications such as GOTS, BCI, and OEKO-TEX ensure responsible procurement.

Environmentally friendly textile selections are on the rise as follows:

• Recycled & Organic Cotton: Minimizes eco-footprint
• Saving Water During Dyeing: Laser and ozone finishing to reduce water consumption
• No Harmful Finishing Chemicals Used: Chemical-free washes and distressing.

6. Cost & Scalability

A brand often offers a mix of premium and budget-friendly product lines. On the fabric side, manufacturers weigh quality against the costs of production.

• Luxury Materials: Expensive, but provide uniqueness and resistance.
• Budget-Friendly Substitutes: Blended materials or denim from a fast fashion house.
• Mass Availability: Consistency in bulk quantities is a prerequisite for long-term supply chains.

Pricing Insight: Japanese or Italian selvedge denim costs a fortune. Conversely, mass-produced denim from China and Pakistan is cheap. Brands play the cost-quality game with their offerings. 

7. Color & Washability

Many shades of denim with washes play an infinite role in brand aesthetics. Raw Denim is untreated and rigid and develops its character over time. Yet, Pre-Wash Denim is washed with enzymes and water for a worn-in hand feel.

Color insights: Choose trendy styles with a pre-faded look for your following collection. These are the top choices of fashion-forward brands.

8. Personalization &  Bulk order capability 

Many brands will work with a mill to create their unique fabric. They have tailored blends, finishing, or dyeing techniques. Treatments such as stone washing, laser distressing, and ozone fade are essential.

Yet, high-volume brands need mills that can produce quickly and have expandable capacity.

Limited production runs may be done for smaller niche brands. They would have to collaborate with artisanal mills. 

9. Market Trends & Consumer Preferences

Circular fashion is a trend in which the fabric from old clothes can be recycled. Brands are investing in recycled denim, organic cotton, and waterless dyeing. 

Fabric selection with AI is optimizing the sourcing process. Traditional chemical-heavy processes are being replaced with laser distressing & ozone finishing. Raw denim heavyweights are gaining traction in the Heritage & Workwear Revival. 

Recommended Reading: Top 10 Italian Jeans Brands

The Anatomy of Denim – Types of Denim Fabric Used in Jeans Production 

The denim type will define jeans’ quality, comfort, and overall appearance. Each type offers a specific rationale for your sartorial benediction. 

Different types of denim fabric affect fit, feel, and function.

1. Raw Denim (Unwashed Denim)

Nature is Raw, dark, rigid fabric with no washes/filters or distress. It is found in premium denim jeans that acquire distinctive fades and abrasions. Nature will last a long time and conform to the wearer’s body. However, it requires a break-in period and can shrink or bleed dye.

2. Selvedge Denim

It features a very clean, self-edge denim with a tight weave. They are used in premium jeans and vintage/heritage-style denim. Selvedge denim is made more substantial and more durable with enhanced craftsmanship. The only downside is its high price, and it is heavier than mass-market denim.

3. Stretch Denim

You might have regularly seen it in skinny jeans, jeggings, and comfortable denim. It is blended with Spandex Fabric, elastane, or Lycra to create flexible fabric. You can also read this guide about Spandex vs Lycra. When it comes to mobility, it is absolutely perfect without any sagging. Yet, if regularly worn, it may lose its elastic quality over time. Different fabrics are also used in slim vs skinny jeans.  

4. 100% Cotton Denim (Rigid Denim)

It is traditional, classic, non-stretch denim made of 100% cotton. You can wear it in classic straight-leg jeans and retro silhouettes. The biggest pro of 100% cotton denim is that it is breathable, rugged, and durable. However, initially, the wearer can feel stiff, taking time to break in.

5. Acid Wash Denim

Acid-wash denim has a washed-out look with a marbled effect. This unique look is created by treating it with chlorine and pumice stones. You can see it in vintage jeans and statement fashion. Most people complement its distinctive look and airy feel. 

6. Stone-Washed Denim

It is dried with pumice stones to soften and give a worn-in appearance. This denim fabric can be used in relaxed and casual-fit jeans. It is soft from the beginning, making it easy to wear. The production process requires a lot of water, so there is an environmental impact. 

7. Slub Denim

Depending on the thickness of the yarn, it provides a flat, somewhat irregular texture. They bring life to expensive denim and all kinds of vintage. The good thing about them is the Original texture, which is pleasing to the eye.

Key Centres of Denim Fabric Production in the World

Here is a snapshot of major local denim hubs worldwide with solid denim production. 

1. USA – Revival of Domestic Denim 

Vidalia Mills (USA) is one of the Major Suppliers. However, they mainly focused on High-end selvedge denim and organic denim fabric. They are ideal for Heritage-quality denim and ethical USA-made fashion. 

Disadvantages: Expensive, low availability, at least when it comes to mass production.

2. EU – Premium & Sustainable Denim

It includes the Regions of Italy, Spain, and Turkey. Candiani (Italy), Tejidos Royo (Spain), and Isko (Turkey) are some of the big names. Their primary niche is premium denim with sustainable & eco-friendly manufacturing. If you need innovative and sustainable fabrics like premium brands, then it’s the best choice. 

Disadvantages: More expensive than suppliers from Asia.

3. Brazil – Growing Industry 

Vicunha and Santista are the key suppliers in the Region. Their quality is moderate, but they are expanding their focus on sustainability. If you are focusing on Latin America, they are ideal choices. 

Disadvantages: Less high-end production than Europe and Japan

4. Japan – The Premium Selvedge Denim King

Kaihara; Kuroki; Nihon Menpu; Collect Mills are the Major denim vendors. They specialize in quality selvedge denim and artisanal production. Most luxury Private Label brands that appreciate craftsmanship source from them. 

Disadvantages: Pricey, cannot mass-create in an extensive range

5. China – Mass-Produced Denim Capital of the World

Orta Anadolu and Advance Denim are top vendors. They offer you low-cost, high-volume manufacturing. Mostly affordable and fast fashion brands or startups sourced from China. 

Disadvantages: Concerns about sustainability, needs proper quality checks and vetting.

6. India – Cheaper Denim 

Arvind and Raymond UCO are major denim suppliers. Their unique selling point is the organic cotton denim line at affordable rates. However, India offers a perfect balance if you value quality and price. 

Disadvantages: More shipping time to the West and Sustainability concerns. 

7. Pakistan – New Front Runner in Sustainable Bulk Denim

Artistic Milliners, Soorty, and US Denim Mills are their major denim suppliers. They offer a unique combination of sustainability, quality and value for money. Their Denim is designed for value-based and eco-conscious brands. 

Disadvantage: Considered of lesser quality than Japan & Europe.

Recommended Reading: Best Portugal Clothing Manufacturers That Deliver Beyond Expectations

Key Factors in Choosing Denim Suppliers to avoid common mistakes brands make 

Sourcing from an appropriate manufacturer is arguably one of the most critical choices. A poor decision can cause inconsistent quality, delays, and high costs. 

You would think these points are obvious. Yet many newbies to the denim sourcing game make easily avoidable errors. Some common mistakes are opting for the lowest bid while ignoring quality controls.

Here is a more thoughtful guide to avoiding frequent pitfalls while sourcing.

Standardization to avoid Quality inconsistency 

The most common mistake newbies make is finding suppliers with cheap fabric quality.

You need to ensure standardization by paying attention to these factors: 

• Make sure Fabric weight & composition are scaled to your brand. (10oz for lighter-weight jeans, 14oz+ for heavy-duty denim, etc.)
• Type of weaving: Make sure it should have a uniform texture, durability, and color.
• Shrinkage rate: Shrinkage that is out of control can spoil the production size.
• Colorfastness: Check if the fabric fades after washing.
• Tensile Strength: See if the fabric can withstand stretching and wear.

MOQs – Aligning Supplier Capability With Your Requirements

Nobody wants to partner with a supplier whose minimum order quantities are too high. You would end up buying too much stock! 

So what to Check in the MOQ? 

Some mills ask for 1,000+ yards per type per fabric. Such a large order could be excessive for a small brand. If you are sourcing fabric directly, use flexible suppliers(100 to 300 yards). You also need a different fabric quantity in trousers vs. jeans. 

It’s better to partner with a jeans manufacturer that gives you fabric samples. This will save you hassle in fabric selection and MOQ issues from mills. 

Total Cost Transparency 

While getting quotes, don’t calculate the fabric price per yard only. Consider many other expenses, like dye and finishing expenses. FANCY WASHINES AND COATINGS cost more! You must know “How jeans are manufactured?” concerning each process’s costs. 

Import Duties and Taxes are also included in the sourcing costs. However, they vary from state to state. Always receive a total cost breakdown before filling out an order.

Supplier Reliability

Be Cautious before working with an untrustworthy supplier that leads to production delays.

Check track records by verifying how long they have been in the business. You should see references or reviews from past clients. If you can’t visit a factory or inspect by a 3rd party before placing an order. 

Also, Production capacity is most important. They must be able to deliver on time and not compromise on quality. The standard denim lead time is 4 to 8 weeks but is often delayed. 

Expert Advice: Check their Crisis management strategy. Inquire about how they respond to production interruptions. Take examples of shortages in raw materials and factory closures. 

Matthias Borchardt, Senior Buyer Men Textile Denim @ Zalando SE

Sustainability & Certifications 

Neglecting environmental and ethical compliance can damage the brand image. 

Make sure your chosen supplier has Certifications:

• GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) – Organic denim
• OEKO-TEX Standard 100 – This item is free from harmful chemicals.
• ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals) – Sustainable production.

Sustainability Tip: Get your suppliers to provide sustainability reports & factory audits. 

Tailor-made & Unique Solution as per your Requirement

The Common Pitfall is selecting a supplier that does not offer substantial customization. It directly affects your branding and capabilities to catch trends. They must have: 

Unique laundry and finishes: Stone-wash, acid-wash, distressed effects

Stretch & performance denim: Blends with lycra, fabrics that wick away moisture.

Embossing & prints: Options for personalization with prints and custom embroidery. 

Colors: Options for custom dyeing should be available.

Expert Advice: The production turnaround should be 6-8 weeks. However, this varies per supplier. 

People Also Ask About Where Do Jeans Companies Get Their Fabric 

What’s Next

Choosing a denim fabric is the foundation of a jeans brand. However, you also need a reliable cut-and-sew manufacturer to shape your jeans. Even the slightest error could ruin the whole product. 

So how can you avoid such quality errors in your Jeans Production? 

JaceApparel helps you produce jeans with the highest level of precision. Our skilled workers ensure craftsmanship through a strict quality control system. 

Let’s partner to create a denim brand that would dominate the market! 

Sources: 

1. sewport.com– Denim Fabric Types 
2. cottonworks.com – Denim Manufacturing Basics