Why Import Textiles & Fashion from Korea?
$15B Textile Exports
Global textile exports annually
$8B Fashion Exports
Women's contemporary & activewear specialty
7-14 Day Turnaround
Fast fashion production capability
50-500 Units MOQ
Flexible minimum order quantities
Korea's Fashion Industry Strengths
- Advanced fabric technology (performance fabrics, smart textiles)
- Design innovation (Seoul Fashion Week trendsetter)
- Quality above China, price below Japan/Italy
- Small MOQ flexibility (50-500 units possible)
- K-Culture global influence (K-pop, K-drama styling)
Korea's Niche: Women's contemporary (not fast fashion commodity), technical/performance fabrics, premium casual wear, activewear/athleisure, trendy youthful styles
Textile & Fashion Product Categories
1. Fabrics & Materials 🧵
Performance Fabrics
Types: Moisture-wicking (sportswear), anti-bacterial (activewear), 4-way stretch (yoga pants), temperature-regulating, UV-protective
MOQ: 500-1,000 meters per color
Price: $5-20 per meter
Premium Fabrics
Types: High-quality knits (fine gauge), technical weaves, blended fabrics (wool-cashmere, cotton-modal)
MOQ: 300-1,000 meters
Price: $8-30 per meter
Denim
Types: Premium denim mills in Daegu region, selvedge denim, stretch denim (2-4% elastane)
MOQ: 1,000-3,000 meters
Price: $6-15 per meter
Specialty Materials
Types: Neoprene (sportswear), mesh (activewear), reflective fabrics (safety gear)
MOQ: 500-2,000 meters
Major Fabric Clusters:
- Daegu: Textile hub (denim, cotton)
- Seoul/Gyeonggi: Fashion fabrics (knits, technical)
- Busan: Synthetic fabrics
2. Women's Fashion 👗
Dresses
Day dresses, cocktail dresses, maxi/midi styles
MOQ: 100-500 units
Wholesale: $15-40
Retail: $60-150
Tops & Blouses
T-shirts, knit tops, blouses, crop tops
MOQ: 100-300 units
Wholesale: $8-25
Retail: $30-80
Bottoms
Jeans (slim, high-waisted), pants, skirts, shorts
MOQ: 100-500 units
Wholesale: $12-35
Retail: $50-120
Outerwear
Jackets, coats, cardigans
MOQ: 100-300 units
Wholesale: $30-80
Retail: $100-250
Popular Korean Fashion Styles: Minimalist chic (neutral colors, clean lines), oversized silhouettes, layering pieces, feminine with edge, street style influenced
3. Activewear & Sportswear 🏃
Performance Wear
Types: Leggings/yoga pants, sports bras, tank tops, running shorts
Features: 4-way stretch, sweat-wicking, seamless construction, compression zones
MOQ: 300-1,000 units
Wholesale: $10-30 | Retail: $40-100
Athleisure
Types: Joggers, hoodies, sweatshirts, track suits
Advantage: Competitive with Lululemon quality at 50% cost
MOQ: 300-1,000 units
Wholesale: $15-40 | Retail: $60-150
Import Regulations by Market
USA (FTC Requirements) 🇺🇸
Labeling Requirements (MANDATORY)
FTC Compliance is MANDATORY
All textile and apparel products imported to USA must have FTC-compliant labels. Non-compliance penalties: up to $50,120 per violation.
Required Label Elements:
- Fiber Content: % of each fiber in descending order (e.g., "60% Cotton, 35% Polyester, 5% Elastane")
- Country of Origin: "Made in Korea" or "Product of Korea"
- Care Instructions: Washing, drying, ironing, bleaching (symbols OK)
- RN Number or Company Name: Register free at FTC RN Registration
Example Complete Label
RN 12345 Made in Korea 60% Cotton 35% Polyester 5% Elastane Machine Wash Cold Tumble Dry Low Do Not Bleach Cool Iron If Needed
How to Comply:
- Provide label specs to Korean supplier
- Supplier prints and sews labels during production
- Verify labels on samples before bulk order
- Inspect final shipment
Customs Duty & KORUS FTA
| Scenario | Duty Rate | Example Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Without FTA (Standard) | 16.5-32% (apparel), 8-16% (textiles) | $10,000 shipment = $1,650-3,200 duty |
| With KORUS FTA (Korean fabric) | 0% | $0 duty |
| With KORUS FTA (Chinese fabric) | 16.5% (does NOT qualify) | $10,000 shipment = $1,650 duty |
Critical: "Yarn Forward" Rule
Requirement: Fabric must be made from yarn produced in Korea or USA
Qualifies for 0% duty: Korean cotton yarn → Korean mill weaves fabric → Korean factory sews dress → 0% duty ✓
Does NOT qualify: Chinese fabric imported to Korea → Sewn in Korea → 16.5% duty ✗
How to verify: Ask supplier "Is the fabric made in Korea?" Request Bill of Materials showing fabric origin.
European Union 🇪🇺
REACH Compliance (Chemical Regulation)
Restricted Substances in Textiles:
- Azo dyes (carcinogenic)
- Formaldehyde (>75 ppm for direct skin contact)
- Heavy metals (lead, cadmium, nickel in accessories)
- Phthalates (plasticizers in prints, coatings)
How to comply:
- Request test reports from Korean supplier
- Supplier tests at accredited lab (SGS, Intertek, TÜV)
- Product meets REACH limits
- Keep test reports 10 years
Testing Cost: €500-2,000 per product line | Timeline: 2-4 weeks
OEKO-TEX Certification (Optional but Valuable)
Independent certification proving no harmful substances. Standard 100 for textiles.
Cost: €1,000-5,000 per product line per year | Benefit: Marketing advantage in EU
Korea-EU FTA
- Most textiles/apparel: 0% duty
- More flexible rules than KORUS (no strict yarn forward)
- EUR.1 Certificate required (Korean customs issues, cost: KRW 5,000)
- VAT: 19-27% still applies (calculated on CIF value + duty)
Finding Korean Textile & Fashion Suppliers
Types of Suppliers
| Supplier Type | What They Do | MOQ | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric Mills | Raw fabric by the roll (greige/finished) | 500-3,000 meters | Fashion brands, textile wholesalers |
| CMT (Cut-Make-Trim) | You provide fabric, they cut and sew | 100-300 units | Established brands with own designs |
| Full-Service FOB | Source fabric + produce garments | 200-1,000 units | Small brands, startups (less hassle) |
| Trading Companies | Middlemen, consolidate factories | 100-500 units | Small orders, variety |
| Dongdaemun Market | 24-hour wholesale fashion district | 50-100 units | Fast fashion, testing styles |
Dongdaemun Market (Seoul) - For Small Orders 🏬
What is Dongdaemun?
24-hour wholesale fashion district in Seoul with 30,000+ shops, 20+ buildings. Fast fashion hub where designs are produced in 7-14 days.
Products: Women's trendy fashion, wholesale and retail, very low MOQ (50-100 pieces possible!)
Key Buildings:
- Doota Mall: Trendy women's fashion
- Good Morning City: Wholesale focus
- APM Place: Night market (8 PM - 5 AM!)
- Designer Club: Higher-end wholesale
MOQ: 50-100 pieces (lowest in Korea!) | Price: $10-30 wholesale | Production: 7-14 days
Dongdaemun Challenges
- Language barrier (little English)
- Cash-based transactions
- No contracts (trust-based)
- Quality varies (inspect samples!)
Solution: Hire Dongdaemun agent ($100-300/day for translation, negotiation, QC, shipping)
Trade Shows & Online Platforms
Seoul Fashion Week
March, October at DDP. Designer collections, trendsetting.
Preview in Seoul
March, August at COEX. Wholesale focus, 300+ brands.
EC21 & TradeKorea
B2B platforms with 1,000+ garment suppliers.
Instagram/TikTok
Search #koreanfashion #koreanwholesale for direct contact.
Supplier Verification Checklist
- Business License - Korean business registration number verification
- Factory Capacity - Number of workers, production lines, monthly capacity
- Certifications - ISO 9001 (quality), OEKO-TEX, WRAP (social compliance)
- Fabric Sourcing - In-house sourcing? Fabric origin (for FTA)?
- Samples - Order samples ($50-200), check quality, construction, sizing
- MOQ & Pricing - Clear MOQ per style/color, pricing tiers, payment terms (30/70 T/T)
- Lead Time - Sample: 7-14 days, bulk: 30-60 days, realistic timeline
- Communication - English proficiency, responsiveness (24-48 hour reply)
Import Costs & Pricing
Cost Breakdown Example: Women's Dresses (500 units to USA)
| Item | Calculation | Cost | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product (FOB) | 500 × $25 | $12,500 | 72.5% |
| Labeling (FTC) | $0.50 × 500 | $250 | 1.4% |
| Ocean Freight (LCL) | 6 CBM × $120 | $720 | 4.2% |
| Insurance | $12,500 × 1% | $125 | 0.7% |
| Customs Duty (KORUS FTA) | $0 (Korean fabric) | $0 | 0% |
| Customs Broker | Flat fee | $250 | 1.4% |
| Inland Transport | Port to warehouse | $350 | 2.0% |
| Quality Inspection | Pre-shipment | $400 | 2.3% |
| Misc | Samples, COO, buffer | $2,655 | 15.4% |
| TOTAL LANDED COST | $17,250 | 100% |
Profit Calculation
Per Unit: $34.50 landed cost Wholesale to retailers: $70-85 (2-2.5x) Retail (your store): $120-180 (3.5-5x) Gross margin: 55-60% (wholesale), 70-80% (retail)
Without FTA (Chinese Fabric)
Total landed cost: $19,250 Per unit: $38.50 (vs $34.50 with FTA) Extra cost: $2,000 for 500 units FTA savings are HUGE for apparel!
MOQ Negotiation Strategies
Typical MOQs:
- Large factories: 500-1,000 units per style
- Medium factories: 200-500 units
- Small factories: 100-300 units
- CMT: 100-200 units
- Dongdaemun: 50-100 units (lowest!)
Negotiation Tactics:
1. Order Multiple Styles
Factory prefers 3 styles × 200 units = 600 total volume over single style × 200 units
2. Offer Higher Price
Pay 10-20% more per unit to reduce MOQ by 50%. Example: $25/unit at 500 MOQ → $28/unit at 250 MOQ
3. Simplify Design
Fewer colors/trims = Lower setup cost, factory more willing to accept lower MOQ
4. Seasonal Timing
Off-season (January-February, July-August): Factories slower, more flexible on MOQ
Quality Control for Fashion
Pre-Shipment Inspection Checklist
Packaging:
- Correct polybag/carton
- Sizes labeled correctly
- Packing matches order (500 units = 500 units)
Labeling:
- FTC fiber label correct
- Care label correct
- Country of origin label present
- Brand labels/tags attached
- Size tags correct
Garment Quality:
- No loose threads
- Seams straight, secure
- Buttons/zippers functional
- Color consistent across batch
- Fabric flaws (holes, stains) <2%
AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit): Standard AQL 2.5 (2.5% defect rate acceptable)
Cost: $300-600 per inspection | ROI: Catch $5,000-$20,000 in defects before shipping
Inspection Companies: SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas, QIMA
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Ignoring FTC Labeling
Problem: Import 1,000 garments without FTC-compliant labels → Customs flags → Must relabel in USA ($2-5 per garment!) → $2,000-5,000 extra + 2-week delay
Solution: Provide label specs to supplier upfront, verify on samples, double-check bulk before shipment
2. Assuming All Korean Garments Qualify for FTA
Problem: Order dresses made with Chinese fabric → Assume 0% duty → Customs assesses 16.5% duty → $1,650 surprise bill on $10,000 order
Solution: Ask supplier "Is fabric made in Korea?" If not, budget for 16.5% duty or source Korean-fabric garments only
3. No Sample Testing
Problem: Approve based on photos → Receive bulk: poor quality, wrong sizing → Can't sell, stuck with inventory → $10,000+ loss
Solution: Always order physical samples (5-10 pieces), wear test, wash test, get feedback from 10+ people
4. Ignoring Size Differences
Problem: Order Korean sizes (S, M, L) → Korean sizes run small (M = Western S) → Customer complaints, returns
Solution: Request size chart from supplier (measurements in cm), convert to Western sizing, adjust for your market
Key Takeaways
- Korea = women's contemporary, activewear, technical fabrics - Niche strengths
- Dongdaemun = lowest MOQ (50-100 units) - Best for testing/small boutiques
- FTC labeling MANDATORY (USA) - Fiber, care, origin, RN/company
- KORUS FTA "Yarn Forward" rule - Korean fabric = 0% duty, Chinese fabric = 16.5%
- MOQ negotiable - 100-1,000 units typical, tactics to reduce
- Samples are critical - Test before bulk (fit, quality, wash)
- Korean sizes run small - Convert to Western sizing
- Pre-shipment inspection recommended - Catch defects before shipping
- K-Fashion cultural appeal - Leverage K-pop/K-drama trends
- Margin: 55-80% - Wholesale or retail, profitable if done right
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