For the last 20 years, “Made in China” has been the default for global manufacturing. But in 2026, the landscape has shifted. Rising labor costs in China, volatile trade tariffs, and high Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) are forcing brands to look elsewhere.
For activewear and team wear brands, the real battle is now China vs. Pakistan.
As a manufacturer based in Sialkot, I’m biased—but I’m also a realist. Pakistan isn’t the right choice for everything. But for textiles, gym wear, and team uniforms, it is often the superior choice. Here is the honest breakdown of where you should source your next collection.
1. The “White Gold” Advantage: Why Pakistan Wins for Gym Wear
Winner: Pakistan 🇵🇰
If your brand focuses on the popular “Streetwear x Fitness” aesthetic—oversized hoodies, heavy cotton joggers, and pump covers—Pakistan is the undisputed king.
- The Cotton Economy: Pakistan is the 4th largest cotton producer in the world. We don’t just import fabric; we grow it. This allows us to produce heavyweight 350-450 GSM French Terry and Fleece at a fraction of the cost of Chinese factories, who often have to import high-grade cotton.
- Hand-Feel & Wash: Chinese mass production often focuses on speed. Pakistani textile engineers specialize in “finishing”—enzyme washes, acid washes, and silicon softeners that give gym wear that premium, soft “vintage” feel right out of the bag.
2. The Hardware & Accessories Reality: Where China Leads
Winner: China 🇨🇳
To be fair, we must acknowledge where China is untouchable. If your product relies heavily on complex “hard goods” rather than just fabric, China has the edge.
- Zippers & Trims: China is the world’s factory for zippers, metal aglets, toggles, and complex silicone patches. When you order a jacket with 10 different custom zippers from Pakistan, we often import those specific zippers from China.
- The Implication: For highly complex technical outerwear (like Gore-Tex ski jackets with waterproof zippers), China’s integrated supply chain is faster. For standard activewear (leggings, hoodies, tees), this difference is negligible.
3. The Synthetic Reality: The “Hybrid” Model
Winner: Tie (Best Value: Pakistan)
There is a misconception that Pakistan cannot produce high-end synthetics (Nylon, Lycra, High-Compression Spandex).
- The Truth: China is indeed the world leader in manufacturing synthetic yarn. That is why we import our premium synthetics directly from China’s top mills.
- The Strategy: At GYMHUR, we source high-grade Nylon and Polyester Spandex blends from the same certified Chinese suppliers that serve global giants like Lululemon and Gymshark.
- The Benefit to You: You get the exact same world-class fabric you would find in a high-end Chinese factory, but you pay Pakistani manufacturing rates for the cutting, sewing, and finishing. It is the ultimate arbitrage: Top-tier inputs, cost-effective assembly.
4. Team Wear & Uniforms: The Sialkot Specialty
Winner: Pakistan 🇵🇰
Sialkot isn’t just a city; it is the world’s capital for soccer ball and kit production. This gives us a massive edge in manufacturing Soccer, Basketball, and American Football uniforms.
- Sublimation Expertise: While China creates generic “blanks,” Sialkot factories are set up for full custom sublimation. We don’t just print on a finished shirt; we print on the fabric roll, cut it, and then sew it. This ensures 100% coverage with no white streaks at the seams.
- Cut & Sew Flexibility: Team wear requires complex sizing (e.g., 10 “Skill Cut” jerseys and 5 “Lineman Cut” jerseys in one order). Chinese automated lines hate this variance. Our production lines are agile, allowing for “Player Grade” and “Fan Grade” variations in the same shipment.
5. Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) vs. Mega-Scale
Winner: It Depends on Your Size
- China (The Volume King): If you are Wal-Mart or Nike and need 100,000 units of a single color delivered in 3 weeks, China’s massive automated infrastructure is unbeatable. They win on pure volume speed.
- Pakistan (The Flexibility King): If you are a startup or a growing SME brand, Pakistan is your partner. We specialize in custom production with lower MOQs. At GYMHUR, we handle orders as small as 50 pieces. We can switch from sublimation baseball pants to cotton hoodies in hours, not days.
6. Import Duties & Trade Relations
Winner: Pakistan 🇵🇰 (For most Western Buyers)
Politics affects your profit margins.
- USA Buyers: The ongoing trade tensions between the US and China mean highly volatile tariffs. Pakistan enjoys a stable trade relationship with the US.
- EU/UK Buyers: Pakistan benefits from GSP+ Status (Generalised Scheme of Preferences), which means many textile goods enter the EU/UK at 0% Duty. Importing from China often incurs a standard 12%+ duty. That is an instant 12% saving on your bottom line.
The Verdict: Who should you choose?
Go to China if:
- You manufacture complex technical outerwear (Ski Jackets, Rain Gear) requiring specialized hardware.
- You need to manufacture hard goods (yoga blocks, water bottles, electronics).
- You are ordering 50,000+ units per style and price is your only concern.
Come to Pakistan (and GYMHUR) if:
- You sell Gym Wear: You need the best Heavyweight Cotton and Fleece in the game.
- You sell Team Wear: You need complex, custom-sublimated kits with player names and numbers.
- You want Flexibility: You need lower MOQs (50 pcs) and direct access to the factory owner.
- You want to save on Duty: You are in the UK/EU and want 0% import tax.
Ready to start? Stop guessing and start sampling. Contact Us today to discuss your next collection.
