Finding the right sweatshirt manufacturer in the USA can make or break your apparel business. With rising demand for quality, fast turnaround, and ethical production, brands need suppliers they can truly rely on. In this curated list, we highlight the top 10 sweatshirt manufacturers in the USA, covering OEM, private label, and wholesale capabilities. Compare production strengths, MOQs, lead times, and certifications to quickly identify the best manufacturing partner for your brand.
Top 10 Sweatshirt Manufacturers in USA
Quick Comparison: Top Picks
| Manufacturer | Location | Core Strength | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sansansun Sports | Dongguan, China (Global Shipping) | Custom Hoodies, Activewear, Seamless Garments, Yoga Wear | Best for brands needing flexible MOQs and dual production (seamless & cut-and-sew) capabilities. |
| Hanesbrands Inc. | Winston-Salem, NC | Sweatshirts, Hoodies, Fleece, Core Basics | Ideal for mass-market retailers requiring massive scale and cost-effective basics. |
| Royal Apparel | Hauppauge, NY | Organic Sweatshirts, Sustainable Hoodies | Top choice for eco-conscious brands prioritizing GOTS-certified organic and US-made fleece. |
| American Apparel | Los Angeles, CA | Fashion Basics, Hoodies, Fleece | Perfect for fashion-forward brands seeking a vertically integrated, ethically made urban aesthetic. |
| American Giant | United States | Heavyweight Hoodies, Casual Wear | The go-to for premium quality and durability with a fully domestic supply chain. |
| Innovate Apparel | United States | Custom Hoodies, Customizable Fleece | Excellent support for startups and corporates needing comprehensive customization services. |
| Bella+Canvas | Los Angeles, CA | Premium Tees, Sweaters, Activewear | Leader in retail-quality wholesale fashion with a focus on eco-manufacturing and printability. |
| Los Angeles Apparel | Los Angeles, CA | Heavy Fleece, Garment-Dye Basics | Best for streetwear brands looking for heavyweight fabrics and expert garment dyeing. |
| Stylus Apparel | West Palm Beach, FL | Private Label Hoodies, Custom Apparel | Full-service partner offering integrated design, cut-and-sew, and decoration under one roof. |
| American Stitchco | Mountain Home, AR | OEM Services, Custom Apparel, Embroidery | Reliable choice for corporate and institutional buyers requiring large-capacity contract manufacturing. |
Sansansun Sports
Sansansun Sports is a China-based activewear and sweatshirt manufacturer founded in 2008 in Dongguan, Guangdong. With two specialized factories for both sewn and seamless products, 400+ machines, and 16+ years of experience, Sansansun provides end-to-end OEM/ODM solutions for global brands. The company offers flexible MOQs starting from around 30–150 pieces, fast sampling, and a monthly capacity of up to 600,000+ pieces, making it ideal for both startups and established labels. Key strengths include in-house design support (8+ designers), innovative fabric R&D, strict multi-stage quality control, and strong expertise in sweatshirts, hoodies, gym wear, and athleisure collections for the US and European markets.
📊 At a Glance:
- 📍 Location: Dongguan, China (Global Shipping)
- 🏭 Core Strength: Custom Hoodies, Activewear, Seamless Garments, Yoga Wear
- 🌍 Key Markets: USA, Europe, Australia
Why We Picked Them:
| ✅ The Wins | ⚠️ Trade-offs |
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Hanesbrands Inc.
Hanesbrands Inc. functions as a primary structural pillar in the global basic apparel market, managing end-to-end production for brands like Hanes and Champion. Instead of chasing fast fashion trends, they focus on the consistent output of high-demand staples, offering substantial stability for wholesale partners. Their vertical supply chain model provides control over cost structures from raw material processing to final assembly, ensuring consistency across large SKU counts.
This manufacturer leverages industrial-scale facilities to achieve price points that smaller facilities cannot match. The infrastructure supports high-velocity retail replenishment, utilizing distribution hubs in Winston-Salem, NC, to reduce lead times for North American clients. Their operational model prioritizes volume and standardization, ensuring strict compliance with the logistical requirements of big-box retailers and mass-market distributors.
📊 At a Glance:
- 📍 Location: Winston-Salem, NC
- 🏭 Core Strength: Sweatshirts, Hoodies, Fleece, Core Basics
- 🌍 Key Markets: Major Retailers, Wholesale
Why We Picked Them:
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Royal Apparel
Royal Apparel distinguishes itself as a domestic manufacturer specializing in eco-conscious production lines. Located in Hauppauge, New York, they operate a facility focused exclusively on sustainable textiles, including organic cotton, viscose bamboo, and RPET blends. Unlike standard blank suppliers, they maintain a vertically integrated supply chain within the United States, catering specifically to brands that market heavily on ethical labor and domestic origin.
The facility prioritizes material traceability and compliance. Their production capabilities hinge on GOTS-certified organic cotton and recycled polyester derived from plastic bottles. By keeping production onshore, they eliminate the logistical lead times associated with overseas import while ensuring strict adherence to US labor regulations. This setup supports rapid replenishment for retailers needing high-quality fleece and jersey knits without the regulatory risks of offshore sourcing.
📊 At a Glance:
- 📍 Location: Hauppauge, NY
- 🏭 Core Strength: Organic Sweatshirts, Sustainable Hoodies
- 🌍 Key Markets: Eco-Conscious Brands, Retailers
Why We Picked Them:
| ✅ The Wins | ⚠️ Trade-offs |
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American Apparel
American Apparel operates as a heritage manufacturer specializing in fashion-forward basics. Unlike standard blank apparel providers, they utilize a vertically integrated model based in Los Angeles to control the production lifecycle. Their market position centers on providing high-quality knitwear that aligns with strict ethical labor standards, distinguishing them from low-cost overseas competitors.
The company focuses heavily on fleece and jersey knit production, targeting wholesale brands and fashion retailers. Their manufacturing infrastructure supports consistent output for high-demand items like hoodies and fashion basics. By maintaining localized production, they reduce lead times compared to offshore sourcing, though this structure reflects in a higher wholesale price point suitable for premium private label programs.
📊 At a Glance:
- 📍 Location: Los Angeles, CA
- 🏭 Core Strength: Fashion Basics, Hoodies, Fleece
- 🌍 Key Markets: Wholesale Brands, Fashion Retailers
Why We Picked Them:
| ✅ The Wins | ⚠️ Trade-offs |
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American Giant
American Giant defines the domestic manufacturing sector by vertically integrating their supply chain entirely within the United States. They bypass the fast-fashion model to focus exclusively on heavyweight construction and fabric resilience, positioning themselves as the primary reference point for American-made casual wear. Their business model relies on a direct-to-consumer approach that funds higher material costs rather than marketing overhead.
Their production methodology prioritizes material density and longevity over rapid SKU turnover or trend chasing. By controlling every stage from cotton sourcing to final assembly, they eliminate offshore dependency and maintain strict quality control protocols. This results in garments specifically engineered to withstand years of daily use, distinct from the lighter-weight alternatives common in mass-market sourcing.
📊 At a Glance:
- 📍 Location: United States
- 🏭 Core Strength: Heavyweight Hoodies, Casual Wear
- 🌍 Key Markets: Direct-to-Consumer, Premium Wholesale
Why We Picked Them:
| ✅ The Wins | ⚠️ Trade-offs |
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Innovate Apparel
Innovate Apparel positions itself as a domestic manufacturing partner for US-based brands seeking control over the production lifecycle. Unlike print-on-demand services, this facility manages end-to-end fabrication, supporting both emerging labels and established corporate entities. Their infrastructure connects design concepts directly to finished goods without the logistical delays often associated with offshore sourcing.
The company structures its production line to handle bespoke requirements, ranging from specific fleece weights to custom pattern grading. Technical capabilities extend to material sourcing and prototyping, reducing the friction often found in product development. By maintaining operations domestically, they offer reduced lead times and direct communication channels for quality control adjustments during the sample approval phase.
📊 At a Glance:
- 📍 Location: United States
- 🏭 Core Strength: Custom Hoodies, Customizable Fleece
- 🌍 Key Markets: Startups, Corporate Merchandise, Brands
Why We Picked Them:
| ✅ The Wins | ⚠️ Trade-offs |
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Bella+Canvas
Bella+Canvas occupies a specific segment of the wholesale market by supplying retail-grade apparel intended for high-end decoration. Unlike manufacturers producing standard tubular tees, this Los Angeles-based entity focuses on side-seamed construction to serve the specific needs of the print-on-demand and private label sectors. Their supply chain is structured to support brands requiring consistent sizing and a modern fit profile rather than bulk promotional volume.
Production relies heavily on their proprietary Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton process, which removes impurities to create a flatter surface optimized for direct-to-garment (DTG) and screen printing. Their operational facilities integrate significant eco-compliance measures, including dye house water reduction systems that utilize significantly less water than industry averages. This technical approach yields a product with higher durability and reduced fibrillation compared to standard open-end carded textiles.
📊 At a Glance:
- 📍 Location: Los Angeles, CA
- 🏭 Core Strength: Premium Tees, Sweaters, Activewear
- 🌍 Key Markets: Print-on-Demand, Fashion Brands
Why We Picked Them:
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Los Angeles Apparel
Los Angeles Apparel operates as a fully vertically integrated manufacturer within South Central Los Angeles. Founded by the creator of American Apparel, the company controls knitting, dyeing, and cutting under one roof to maintain strict oversight on production timelines and labor standards. They serve wholesale buyers seeking a specific 1990s-inspired aesthetic rooted in North American manufacturing rather than traditional fast fashion models.
Their technical expertise lies in heavyweight knitwear, specifically 14oz fleece and durable jersey fabrics designed for screen printing and branding. Unlike importers relying on offshore assembly, they employ a local workforce earning fair wages to execute complex garment dyeing processes. This localized supply chain allows for rapid restocking of core basics but comes with higher unit costs compared to offshore alternatives.
📊 At a Glance:
- 📍 Location: Los Angeles, CA
- 🏭 Core Strength: Heavy Fleece, Garment-Dye Basics
- 🌍 Key Markets: Wholesale, Quality-Conscious Retailers
Why We Picked Them:
| ✅ The Wins | ⚠️ Trade-offs |
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Stylus Apparel
Stylus Apparel operates as a vertical contract manufacturer based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Unlike standard print shops that strictly modify pre-made blanks, this facility manages the production lifecycle from fabric sourcing to final assembly. They position themselves to serve private label brands that require custom garment construction, specifically offering services like pattern making and grading to establish proprietary fits rather than relying on generic industry sizing.
The facility integrates cut-and-sew operations with in-house finishing departments, including screen printing and embroidery. This operational structure allows for decoration on raw fabric panels before assembly, enabling edge-to-edge designs that are impossible to achieve on finished goods. They specialize in heavy fleece and jersey materials, providing brands with the ability to produce custom hoodies and sweatshirts with consistent quality control across both the construction and the graphic application.
📊 At a Glance:
- 📍 Location: West Palm Beach, FL
- 🏭 Core Strength: Private Label Hoodies, Custom Apparel
- 🌍 Key Markets: Private Label Brands, Promotional Companies
Why We Picked Them:
| ✅ The Wins | ⚠️ Trade-offs |
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American Stitchco
American Stitchco operates as a significant contract manufacturer based in Mountain Home, Arkansas. Unlike boutique fashion houses, their infrastructure supports industrial-grade sewing and large-scale OEM requirements. They primarily service corporate and institutional sectors, providing a domestic solution for supply chain managers seeking to reduce reliance on offshore production for uniforming and automotive accessories.
Their facility handles complex fabrication tasks ranging from automotive components to custom embroidery. The production lines accommodate high-volume orders, ensuring consistent output for diverse product categories. By integrating embroidery and assembly services under one roof, they streamline the procurement process for buyers requiring finished, market-ready goods without multiple logistical handoffs.
📊 At a Glance:
- 📍 Location: Mountain Home, AR
- 🏭 Core Strength: OEM Services, Custom Apparel, Embroidery
- 🌍 Key Markets: Corporate Clients, Institutional Buyers
Why We Picked Them:
| ✅ The Wins | ⚠️ Trade-offs |
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Why US-Made Sweatshirts Command Higher Prices
Executive Insight: Domestic labor costs run 3x–7x higher than offshore options, while smaller batch sizes and strict compliance standards further elevate the baseline production price.
Labor Cost Disparities
The primary driver of the price premium is wages. Domestic production labor in the U.S. and Canada typically costs between $10 and $20 per hoodie. In contrast, overseas manufacturing in regions like China or Bangladesh often ranges from just $3 to $8 per unit. This 3x to 7x difference in baseline labor expenses creates a starting floor that no amount of efficiency can fully offset.
Regulatory Compliance and Safety Standards
US manufacturers operate under strict regulatory requirements and voluntary certifications such as OEKO-TEX, GOTS, and CPSIA. These aren’t just rubber stamps; they cost money. Quality assurance testing for factors like colorfastness, shrinkage, and seam strength adds approximately $0.05 to $0.15 per garment to the production cost. While these compliance measures ensure higher safety and ethical standards, they inherently increase the cost base compared to less regulated markets.
Operational Overhead and Batch Economics
Domestic facilities face higher operational costs across the board. Administrative expenses and facility maintenance are allocated at roughly $2 to $5 per hoodie. Scale significantly impacts the unit price here as well:
- Small Batches (e.g., 50 pieces): Average $22–$28 per unit.
- Bulk Orders (1,000+ pieces): Can drop to $9–$14 per unit.
Many US manufacturers prioritize smaller, higher-quality runs over mass-market volume. This prevents them from achieving the extreme economies of scale seen in offshore factories, but allows for tighter quality control.
Popular Cotton Blends in American Manufacturing
Fabric sourcing has shifted from pure cost-efficiency to performance hybrids, with domestic mills engineering hemp, flax, and recycled poly blends to meet strict GOTS sustainability standards.
Standard Poly-Cotton and Performance Blends
Hamrick Mills anchors the traditional production sector with durable polyester/cotton blends and 100% cotton woven fabrics, leveraging a vertical integration model established in 1900. For active applications, California Textile Group and Nick of Time Fabric specialize in performance-oriented blends, incorporating spandex with cotton for jersey, denim, and rib knit structures.
- Industrial Utility: These conventional blends remain a staple in American manufacturing because they balance durability with necessary stretch.
- Market Position: Despite the organic trend, standard poly-cotton dominates workwear and home furnishing sectors where tensile strength is non-negotiable.
Sustainable Hemp and Flax Combinations
Tuscarora Mills leads the charge in plant-based hybrid fabrics, producing unique blends like organic flax mixed with cotton in plain weaves. The market currently favors organic cotton and hemp twills, which offer a rugged texture similar to canvas but with a significantly lower carbon footprint than pure cotton.
- Selvedge Integration: American denim manufacturers now weave hemp and flax fibers into selvedge lines to enhance fabric strength and texture.
- Sustainability Profile: These blends reduce water consumption during cultivation while extending the garment’s lifecycle through superior fiber durability.
Certified Organic and Recycled Innovations
Manufacturers like Wazoodle, Hemp Fortex, and ZS Fabrics target the eco-certified tier, combining organic cotton with recycled polyester. These fabrics frequently meet rigorous GOTS and OEKO-TEX standards, directly addressing the transparency requirements of environmentally conscious buyers.
- Premium Blends: Recent innovations include blending long-staple Supima cotton with organic varieties to create soft-touch fabrics that maintain strict sustainability credentials.
- Transparency: This sector prioritizes chain-of-custody documentation, ensuring that “green” claims are backed by verifiable audit trails.
Launch Your Custom Activewear Brand with Industry Experts
How to Choose the Right Sweatshirt Manufacturer in USA
Align your factory choice with your current volume reality—startups bleed cash with high-MOQ giants, while scaling brands stall without vertical integration capacity.
Assessing Production Scale and Minimum Order Quantities
Most emerging brands fail because they chase the wrong tier of manufacturer. Large-scale wholesale producers like Hanesbrands Inc. or Bella+Canvas operate on massive efficiency models that often exclude small batches. If you are launching a new line, your priority must be flexibility, not just unit price.
- Match Stage to Capacity: Startups typically require partners like Innovate Apparel or Lefty Production Co., which specialize in smaller runs and allow you to test the market without sitting on dead inventory.
- Clarify Volume Barriers: Ask about Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) immediately. High entry barriers from mass-market giants will drain your capital before you sell a single hoodie.
- Plan for Growth: Ensure your partner can scale. You need a manufacturer that handles your 500-unit order today but has the infrastructure to manage 5,000 units next year without doubling lead times.
Verifying Material Sourcing and Manufacturing Standards
“Made in USA” is a legal claim, not just a marketing slogan. You need to audit the supply chain transparency to confirm domestic raw materials. Brands like Royal Apparel set the standard here by using organic cotton and recycled blends that are verifiable, whereas opaque supply chains often hide imported fabrics behind domestic assembly.
- Audit the Source: Confirm if they use domestic raw materials, such as Texas cotton. This distinction impacts the authenticity of your “Made in USA” labeling and justifies a higher price point.
- Check Labor Compliance: Prioritize manufacturers that strictly adhere to American labor regulations. This reduces reputational risk and appeals to the ethical consumer demographic.
- Physical Evaluation: Never trust a digital spec sheet. Request physical samples to test fabric weight (GSM), stitch durability, and shrinkage before you commit to a bulk order.
Evaluating Customization and Full-Service Capabilities
Logistics kill margins. Moving blanks from a knitting mill to a separate dye house and then to a screen printer adds cost and delay. Vertical manufacturers like Stylus Apparel or American Stitchco offer integrated services that streamline this chaos.
- Seek ‘One-Stop’ Solutions: specialized providers that handle pattern-making, sampling, and final production under one roof drastically reduce development time and error rates.
- In-House Finishing: Verify they handle screen printing, embroidery, or custom labeling on-site. Third-party finishers often become the bottleneck in your supply chain.
- Aesthetic Alignment: Review their portfolio. If they specialize in corporate basics, they likely lack the pattern expertise for oversized streetwear fits or complex athletic cuts utilized by brands like Los Angeles Apparel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the typical Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) for custom sweatshirt orders?
MOQs dictate your production partner. Specialized manufacturers like Innovate Apparel or Stylus Apparel often accommodate startups with lower thresholds (typically 50–100 pieces per design). In contrast, mass-market giants usually require 300 to 600 units to initiate a run. While some print-on-demand services advertise “no minimums,” serious cut-and-sew manufacturing requires a volume commitment to ensure quality consistency.
What lead times should I expect for USA-based production?
Domestic manufacturing beats overseas shipping speed, generally averaging 2 to 6 weeks for standard styles. A complete custom production cycle typically breaks down as follows:
- Design & Tech Packs: 1–2 weeks.
- Sampling: 1–2 weeks (critical for fit approval).
- Material Sourcing: 1–3 weeks (often the main bottleneck).
- Bulk Production: 2–5 weeks.
Complex custom designs or fabric shortages can extend this timeline to 12 weeks.
Is there an official “Made in USA” certification?
No government agency issues a single “Made in USA” certificate. Instead, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces strict legal standards. To label a sweatshirt “Made in USA,” all or virtually all significant parts and processing must originate domestically. Brands like American Giant and Royal Apparel maintain rigorous supply chain documentation to legally substantiate these claims without needing a third-party seal, though optional private audits exist.
What sustainable fabric options are currently available?
The industry favors bio-based and recycled materials. Royal Apparel leads this segment with GOTS-certified organic cotton and recycled polyester (rPET) blends. Beyond the basics, manufacturers now utilize TENCEL™ (Lyocell) and innovative fibers derived from agricultural waste. Buyers demanding sustainability should verify the fiber source rather than just relying on the finished garment label.
Where are the major hubs for sweatshirt manufacturing in the USA?
Production concentrates in three key regions. Los Angeles dominates the premium and fashion-forward market, home to American Apparel, Bella+Canvas, and Lefty Production Co. The Southeast remains a stronghold for large-scale operations, with Hanesbrands Inc. in North Carolina and Stylus Apparel in Florida. The Northeast supports specialized eco-production, anchored by Royal Apparel in New York.
Final Thoughts
Domestic manufacturing costs more upfront but protects you from dead inventory. Use the faster lead times to react to trends rather than competing on basement-level pricing.
Stop analyzing and start auditing. Request physical samples from three vertically integrated partners today to verify fabric weight and stitch durability before committing capital.
