Intimate Business: Sourcing Underwear

Phase 3.

1. Production Hubs

• Shantou (Gurao/Chendian): The sexy lingerie and bra capital.
• Zhongshan (Xiaolan): Men's boxers and briefs.
• Huludao (Xingcheng): The Swimwear capital. 40% of global swimwear comes from this one beach city.

2. Swimwear Fabrics

• Chlorine resistance is key.
• Recycled: "Repreve" (recycled plastic bottles) fabric is the biggest trend in swimwear.

3. Sizing

• Bras are technical. A 2mm error makes it unwearable.
• Fit Model: You need a live fit model to test samples. Don't rely on mannequins.

Summary

Swimwear has high returns due to fit issues. Focus on adjustable straps and ties to minimize sizing problems.