How European Brands Work with ExploreTex: Your Premier Manufacturing Partner in 2026
In the fast-paced world of fashion, the difference between a successful brand and a failed venture often comes down to one decision: the manufacturing partner. For European brands, the search for a reliable supplier has historically been a choice between two extremes. You either choose local European factories—offering high quality but often prohibitive costs and limited capacity—or you look to Asia, risking communication barriers, quality fades, and ethical opaqueness.
But what if you didn’t have to choose?
This guide details exactly how European brands work with ExploreTex, a Lisbon-based manufacturing partner that has revolutionized the supply chain. We offer a unique “Hybrid Model” that bridges the gap between European design standards and global production scalability. whether you are a streetwear startup in Berlin, a luxury boutique in Paris, or a corporate uniform provider in London, this article explains how we turn your sketches into sold-out collections.
The ExploreTex Difference: Why Top Brands Choose Us
Before diving into the step-by-step process of how European brands work with ExploreTex, it is crucial to understand why they choose us. The modern fashion landscape demands more than just “cut and sew.” It demands transparency, sustainability, and agility.
The Hybrid Manufacturing Model
ExploreTex is not just a factory; we are a manufacturing ecosystem.
Headquarters in Portugal: Our management, design, and sourcing teams are based in Lisbon. This means when you work with us, you are dealing with a European entity. We operate under EU laws, we speak your language, and we understand the Western market’s quality expectations.
Global Production Infrastructure: While we handle sampling and luxury small-batches in Portugal, we also own and manage high-capacity facilities in Bangladesh.
This hybrid approach allows us to offer European project management with competitive global pricing. You get the safety and communication of a Portuguese partner with the cost benefits of Asian production—all managed by one team.
Solving the “Ghosting” Problem
The #1 complaint we hear from new clients about their previous suppliers is “ghosting”—factories that stop replying when problems arise. When learning how European brands work with ExploreTex, the first thing you will notice is our communication. We assign a dedicated account manager to every brand, ensuring real-time updates via WhatsApp, Slack, or email.
Step-by-Step: How European Brands Work with ExploreTex
We have streamlined the complex world of textile manufacturing into a transparent, 6-step process. This workflow is designed to minimize risk and maximize quality for your brand.
Step 1: Consultation and Brand Discovery
The journey begins with a conversation. Unlike transactional factories that just ask “how many units?”, we start by understanding your brand’s DNA.
The Discovery Call: We discuss your target market, your price points, and your long-term goals. Are you positioning yourself as a luxury eco-brand or a mass-market streetwear label?
Feasibility Check: We assess your designs to ensure they can be manufactured within your budget. If a specific fabric or print technique is too expensive for your target retail price, we suggest alternatives immediately.
No Hidden Costs: We provide a transparent quotation that includes fabric, labor, trims, and packaging. You will know your landed cost before a single thread is cut.
Step 2: Product Development (The Tech Pack)
One of the most critical aspects of how European brands work with ExploreTex is our technical support. Many startups arrive with only a mood board or a rough sketch. That is not enough for a factory floor.
Tech Pack Creation: Our Portuguese technical design team converts your ideas into professional Tech Packs. These blueprints include precise measurements, grading rules (how sizes scale from S to XL), and Bill of Materials (BOM).
Pattern Making: We don’t use generic templates. We create custom patterns for your specific fit—whether that’s an oversized “Balenciaga-style” hoodie or a fitted activewear set.
Step 3: Strategic Material Sourcing
Sourcing is where our location in Portugal becomes your competitive advantage. Portugal is the heart of Europe’s textile innovation.
Luxury Sourcing: We have direct relationships with the best mills in Northern Portugal (Porto, Braga, Guimarães). We can source premium linens, high-GSM heavy cottons, and technical fabrics.
Sustainable Options: We prioritize GOTS-certified organic cotton, recycled polyester (rPET), and Tencel/Lyocell.
Custom Knitting: For larger orders, we don’t just buy fabric; we knit it. We can create custom fabric weights (e.g., a specific 450GSM French Terry) and dye it to your exact Pantone color.
Step 4: The Sampling Phase (Prototyping)
This is the stage where your vision becomes physical. Understanding the sampling loop is key to understanding how European brands work with ExploreTex. We typically run three rounds of sampling to ensure perfection:
Proto Sample: A rough draft using available fabric to check the silhouette and fit.
Fit Sample: We refine the measurements. We often conduct “Fit Sessions” on live models to ensure the garment moves correctly.
Pre-Production (PP) Sample: The final “Gold Standard.” This sample uses the actual bulk fabric, the correct buttons, labels, and packaging. Bulk production does not start until you sign off on this sample.
Step 5: Production (Small Batch or Bulk)
Once the PP sample is approved, we hit the accelerator. Our production capabilities are flexible to match your growth stage.
Low MOQs for Startups: We are one of the few partners offering Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) as low as 50-100 pieces per style. This allows you to test the market without overcommitting capital.
Scalable Bulk Production: For established brands, our facilities can churn out 100,000+ units per month.
Hybrid Execution: Depending on your needs, we may produce high-end luxury items in our Portuguese partner facilities (Made in Portugal) or volume basics in our managed Bangladesh lines (High Quality, Lower Cost).
Step 6: Quality Control and Logistics
The process doesn’t end when the sewing stops.
AQL Inspections: We use Acceptable Quality Limit (AQL) 2.5 standards. Our QC teams inspect the fabric before cutting, check the stitching during assembly, and examine the final packed goods.
Custom Packaging: We handle all private labeling—neck tags, care labels, hang tags, and branded polybags.
DDP Shipping: We take the headache out of customs. We can ship DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), meaning the goods arrive at your warehouse in Europe, the UK, or the USA with all taxes and duties already handled.
Why Sustainability is Central to Our Partnership
When asking how European brands work with ExploreTex, sustainability is often the driving force. The European Union is implementing the “Digital Product Passport” and strict anti-greenwashing laws. Brands can no longer claim sustainability without proof.
ExploreTex ensures your supply chain is compliant:
Certifications: We work with facilities that hold GOTS, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, and BSCI certifications.
Traceability: We can tell you exactly where your cotton was spun and where your fabric was dyed.
Waste Reduction: We utilize digital markers to minimize fabric waste during the cutting process and offer solutions for upcycling textile scraps.
By working with us, you are not just making clothes; you are building a brand story that withstands scrutiny.
Case Studies: Real Scenarios
To better illustrate how European brands work with ExploreTex, let’s look at two common scenarios.
Scenario A: The High-End Streetwear Brand
The Goal: A brand from Berlin wants to launch a luxury heavyweight hoodie collection.
The Challenge: They need a specific “dry hand-feel” cotton and a complex puff-print graphic.
The ExploreTex Solution: We source a 500GSM organic cotton from a mill in Barcelos, Portugal. We develop a custom “box fit” pattern. We produce a small run of 150 units per color in Portugal to carry the “Made in Portugal” tag, justifying a high retail price point (€150+).
Scenario B: The Corporate Uniform Company
The Goal: A company in London needs 5,000 polo shirts for a client event.
The Challenge: Budget is tight, but quality must be decent.
The ExploreTex Solution: We utilize our hybrid model. We source high-quality pique cotton but execute the bulk production in our Bangladesh facility to keep costs down. The client gets a premium-feeling product at a wholesale price that allows for healthy margins, all managed by our Lisbon team.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) at ExploreTex?
We pride ourselves on flexibility. For our private label and custom manufacturing services, our MOQs start as low as 50 to 100 pieces per style/color. This is significantly lower than most industrial factories, making us the ideal partner for startups and small-batch collections.
2. Can ExploreTex help with design if I don’t have Tech Packs?
Absolutely. This is a core part of how European brands work with ExploreTex. Our “Apparel Product Development” service is designed for this exact situation. Our in-house designers and pattern makers will work with you to create professional Tech Packs and digital sketches based on your mood boards or reference garments.
3. Does ExploreTex handle shipping and customs?
Yes. We offer end-to-end logistics solutions. We can arrange shipping via air (for speed) or sea (for cost savings). For most European and US clients, we offer DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipping, meaning we handle all the customs paperwork and import duties. You simply receive the boxes at your door.
4. What is the difference between your Portugal and Bangladesh production?
Both options are managed by our Portugal HQ and adhere to strict quality standards.
Portugal Production: Best for luxury items, high-complexity garments, smaller batches, and brands that need the “Made in Portugal” marketing cachet.
Bangladesh Production: Best for larger volumes, basic items (tees, hoodies, denim), and brands looking to maximize profit margins without sacrificing quality.
5. How long does the manufacturing process take?
Timelines vary by project complexity. Generally:
Sampling: 4–6 weeks.
Bulk Production: 6–8 weeks after sample approval.
Shipping: 3–7 days (Air) or 30–45 days (Sea).
The Future of Fashion Manufacturing
The old way of manufacturing—sending emails into a black hole and hoping for the best—is dead. As we move through 2026, successful brands are those that build strategic partnerships.
Understanding how European brands work with ExploreTex unlocks a competitive edge for your business. It gives you the agility to react to trends quickly, the security of European legal protection, and the scalability to grow from a garage startup to a global powerhouse.
We are not just a service provider; we are your team on the ground. We check the fabric, we negotiate the prices, and we ensure the quality, so you can focus on building your community and selling your product.
Ready to Start Your Collection?
Ready to Start Your Collection?Now that you know how European brands work with ExploreTex, the next step is yours. Whether you have a fully developed tech pack or just a burning idea, we are ready to bring it to life.
Contact ExploreTex today for a free consultation. Let’s build a supply chain that your brand deserves.