If you’re sourcing activewear from China, you’ll see OEM and ODM used interchangeably. They’re not the same — and picking the wrong one can cost you time and money.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing)
You design it. We make it. You provide the tech pack, reference sample, or detailed sketch. We manufacture exactly to your specifications — your fabric choice, your colors, your labels, your packaging.
- You own the design and intellectual property
- Full control over every specification
- Requires more upfront work (tech pack, measurements, fabric selection)
- Best for brands with a clear design vision
ODM (Original Design Manufacturing)
We design it. You brand it. You pick from our existing styles, choose your colors and labels, and we produce it with your branding. Faster to market, less design work required.
- Lower barrier to entry — no design skills needed
- Faster turnaround (design phase is skipped)
- Less unique — other brands may use similar base styles
- Best for brands that want to launch quickly with proven designs
Side-by-Side Comparison
| OEM | ODM | |
|---|---|---|
| Design ownership | You own it | Factory owns it |
| Customization | Full (fabric, cut, details) | Colors, labels, minor tweaks |
| Time to first sample | 10–14 days | 5–7 days |
| Minimum order | 100 pcs/style | 100 pcs/style |
| Best for | Unique products, brand building | Quick launch, testing market |
Our Approach
We do both. Most of our clients start with ODM (picking a reference style and customizing it), then transition to full OEM as their brand grows. Browse our reference styles to see what’s possible.