Clothing Manufacturer for Manchester Brands
Nevear makes custom clothing for Manchester brands, from a first run of 50 pieces per item to around 50,000 pieces in a single shipment. We work with partner factories in the UK, as well as in the US, Pakistan and China.
This page covers what matters for a Manchester label: making in the UK or abroad, duty and VAT on imports, how containers reach the North West, and how an order works.
- Minimum order
- Typically 50 pieces per item
- Made in the UK
- UK partner factories, so no import duty
- Duty on imports
- 12%, or 0% from Pakistan when origin rules are met
- VAT registration
- Required above £90,000 taxable turnover
Why Manchester brands work with Nevear
- Small first runs. Our minimum is typically 50 pieces per item, so you can launch or test a style without committing to hundreds of units. Read what MOQ means.
- Made in the UK or abroad. Produce with our UK partner factories for a short supply chain, or in Pakistan, where clothing can enter the UK duty-free when the origin rules are met.
- Room to grow. Repeat orders can reach around 50,000 pieces in a single shipment, from the same approved sample.
- A predictable timeline. Samples take 2–3 weeks, and bulk orders usually arrive 3–4 weeks from the order date, shipping included.
We make t-shirts, hoodies, tracksuits, jackets, jeans and caps for Manchester labels.
From Cottonopolis to your label
Manchester was once the international centre of the cotton industry, which earned it the name Cottonopolis. After about 1820, cotton manufacturing spread out to the surrounding towns, and the city centre became chiefly the place where cotton textiles were bought and sold. The Science and Industry Museum tells that story, including the cotton supply's dependence on enslaved labour.
Today a Manchester brand can make clothing in the UK or abroad. Making in the UK keeps the supply chain short and avoids import duty; making abroad usually lowers the price per piece. The table below shows what each choice costs at the border.
Imports into the North West: duty and VAT
Containers can reach the North West through the Port of Liverpool, which Peel Ports runs together with the Manchester Ship Canal. The port has two container terminals, including the deep-water Liverpool2 terminal, built to take the largest container ships.
| Where the clothing is made | Duty into the UK |
|---|---|
| UK | None: no import |
| Pakistan | 0% under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme, or 12% |
| China | 12% |
| US | 12% |
Import VAT of 20% is charged on top, except on qualifying young children's clothing. If you are VAT-registered, postponed VAT accounting lets you declare and reclaim it on the same VAT return. You must register for VAT once your taxable turnover goes over £90,000 in a 12-month period. Our UK guide covers origin rules and fibre labelling.
How an order works
From sample to delivered order
Sample
2–3 weeks
Bulk order and delivery
3–4 weeks from your order, shipping included
Weeks from the start of sampling
- Send your designs or a tech pack, with quantities per size and color.
- We confirm the minimum, price, production country and timeline in your quote.
- We make a sample in 2–3 weeks so you can check fit, fabric and finish.
- Once you approve it, the bulk order usually arrives in Manchester 3–4 weeks from the order date, shipping included.
Frequently asked questions
Do you manufacture in the UK?
Yes. We work with partner factories in the UK, as well as in the US, Pakistan and China, and deliver to brands in Manchester. UK-made clothing pays no import duty.
What is the minimum order?
Typically 50 pieces per item. The exact minimum depends on the product, fabric and production process, and is confirmed in your quote.
What duty do I pay on clothing imported into the UK?
The normal rate on clothing is 12%. Clothing made in Pakistan can come in at 0% under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme when it meets the rules of origin. Import VAT of 20% applies on top, except on young children's clothing.
How long does an order take?
Samples take 2–3 weeks. Once you approve the sample, bulk orders usually arrive 3–4 weeks from the order date, shipping included.
Sources
- Science and Industry Museum: The world's first industrial city
- Science and Industry Museum: Manchester, cotton and slavery
- Peel Ports: Port of Liverpool
- UK Trade Tariff: cotton T-shirts, commodity 6109100010
- GOV.UK: Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS)
- GOV.UK: VAT thresholds
Facts checked on . Rules change, so confirm with the source before you rely on them.
Making clothing for Manchester?
Tell us what you want to make and how many pieces. We will confirm the minimum, the best production country and a timeline in your quote.