Start with the problem you are solving
Most buyers who come to the desk have already tried something. A marketplace listing that looked right in photos and arrived thinner. A first order where three colors matched and two did not. A reorder that came back with a different edge finish because nobody wrote the first one down. None of these are unusual, and none of them are really about the supplier. They are about what was agreed, and where.
So before thinking about where to buy, write a short answer to three questions. Who is the customer and what do they wear now? Which shapes and fabrics does the range need? When do the goods need to be in your warehouse? Everything that follows, from the workshop you are matched with to the minimums you pay for, comes from those answers.
Where hijabs are made in China
A large share of hijab production in China runs through the scarf and accessories cluster around Yiwu, Zhejiang. Yiwu International Trade City has a dedicated scarf and shawl trading area, and many companies in and around the city list hijab manufacturing alongside knitting, weaving, printing and sewing. Industry sourcing reports describe Yiwu as accounting for a large share of China's scarf sales volume; the published figures vary, so we do not repeat a percentage.
Workshops in the cluster range from small sewing units that finish fabric bought from mills to integrated knit-print-sew operations. That range matters to you. A small run of printed modal in six designs sits well with a workshop that runs digital printing in-house. A large run of plain jersey underscarves in black and navy sits well with a workshop that knits and sews at volume. Matching the program to the workshop is most of the work. Read how the desk does it in our sourcing network.
The sourcing routes compared
There are three common ways in. Each works for some buyers and not for others.
| Route | Works well for | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace stock listings | Testing a few stock colors in small quantities | Fabric and size not written down; little control over reorders |
| Contacting workshops directly | Buyers with a team on the ground or prior sourcing experience | Language, sample handling, inspection and paperwork all on you |
| A sourcing desk | Brands, stores and programs that want one written spec and one contact | Check what the desk claims; ask for workshop profiles and written terms |
Whichever route you choose, the same documents protect you: a spec sheet, an approved sample, and written confirmation of minimums, lead time and packing.
A walkthrough, step by step
- Write the brief. Shapes, fabrics, sizes, colors or artwork, quantity per color, label and packaging ideas, the market you sell into, and a target in-warehouse date.
- Turn the brief into a spec sheet. Fabric and composition, size in centimeters, edge finish, color references, label content, packing. This is the document workshops quote against. Our spec sheet guide lists the fields.
- Request stock samples first. Stock samples ship in days and tell you quickly whether a fabric suits your customers.
- Develop custom samples. Lab dips for custom colors, strike-offs for prints, then a sewn sample in the agreed finish. Published examples put custom samples at about seven working days, up to around two weeks for new prints or colors.
- Confirm in writing. Minimums, lead time, test plan, labels and packing, all confirmed in writing for your program before bulk starts.
- Bulk production. Typically about 25 to 35 days after sample approval, longer in the weeks before Ramadan and Eid.
- Inspect before shipping. Check bulk against the approved sample: shade, print alignment, edge finish, measurements, labels and cartons.
- Ship and reorder. Keep the approved sample and spec sheet as the reference for every reorder.
Minimums and how they add up
Minimums in this category are counted per color and per style or design, not per order. For stock colors in standard hijab styles, workshops in the cluster typically start from about 50 to 100 pieces per color. Custom colors dyed to a reference are typically higher, because dyeing happens by lot. Custom prints typically start from about 100 pieces per design, confirmed per fabric and print method. All of these are reference ranges, confirmed in writing for each program. The practical consequence: a range of four colors in two fabrics often costs less in minimums than eight colors in one. See MOQ and lead time for how the numbers move.
Labels and compliance before you order
A hijab sold in the United States is a textile product. Its label states fiber content by generic name and percentage, country of origin, and the identity of the manufacturer or dealer, by name or RN. Care instructions are expected on textile wearing apparel, and whether a particular scarf or cap is covered or exempt is a classification question for a compliance adviser. Light, sheer fabrics also deserve attention under the clothing flammability rule, and kids' styles fall under children's product rules. Plan these at the spec stage, not after bulk. The compliance overview explains each one.
What to put in writing
A short list covers most disputes before they happen:
- Fabric composition, construction (knit or woven) and the weight confirmed on the spec sheet.
- Finished size and tolerance, in centimeters.
- Edge finish by name, with the approved sample as reference.
- Color references and the approved lab dip or strike-off for each.
- Label content, position and type; hang tags and packaging.
- Quantity per color, minimums, sample timing and bulk lead time.
- Inspection points and what happens if bulk does not match the sample.
- Carton marks, packing method and shipping terms.
Common mistakes on a first order
Buying too many colors at minimum depth is the first. A range spread thin means every color is a small bet and none can be reordered quickly. Approving a sample photo instead of a physical sample is the second, because sheen, opacity and drape do not survive a phone camera. The third is leaving labels to the end, when changing them means re-packing finished goods. The fourth is a target date with no buffer, which matters most before Ramadan and Eid, when every workshop in the cluster is busy at once.
Next steps
If you have a range in mind, send the brief through the sample request form. The first reply names a fabric, a sampling plan and the questions still open. If you would rather start by reading, the wholesale buying checklist condenses this walkthrough into one page.