UK clothing manufacturer · Leicester, England
From first sketch to finished stock, made in the UK.
Eleven Threads makes clothing for start-up labels and established brands. We handle pattern cutting, sampling, fabric sourcing and bulk production under one roof, with low minimums and a team you can visit.
Services
Everything between your idea and a delivered order
Use us for one stage or all of them. Most first-time brands take the full package; experienced teams often send a finished tech pack and fabric for CMT.
Design support
Consultation & tech packs
We turn sketches, reference garments or mood boards into a tech pack: flat drawings, measurements, materials, trims and construction notes that a factory can price and make from.
Pattern room
Pattern cutting & grading
Our pattern cutters draft your block, adjust it after fittings, then grade it across your size range so every size keeps the same fit and proportions.
Development
Sampling
Fit samples, pre-production samples and salesman samples, made by the same machinists who will sew your bulk order.
Materials
Fabric & trim sourcing
Jerseys, fleeces, wovens, technical stretch and recycled options from UK and European mills, plus zips, buttons, drawcords and elastics.
Production
Bulk manufacturing
Cut, make and trim on our own floor, with in-line checks and a final inspection before anything is packed.
Finishing
Labels, print & packaging
Woven neck labels, care labels, swing tags, embroidery, screen print, and individual polybagging ready for your warehouse or customers.
Option A
Full package
You bring the idea. We design the tech pack, source fabric and trims, develop samples and run production. One quote, one point of contact.
- Best for new brands and first collections
- We buy and manage all materials
- Price per unit includes fabric
Option B
CMT (cut, make & trim)
You supply approved patterns or a full tech pack, plus fabric and trims. We cut, sew, finish and pack.
- Best for brands with an existing supply chain
- You keep control of fabric buying
- Price per unit covers labour and finishing
How it works
Seven steps from enquiry to delivery
You will know what happens next at every stage, and you sign off before we move on.
- Day 1–3
Enquiry & consultation
Tell us about your garments, quantities and target price. We arrange a call or a visit to the factory and talk through fabrics, construction and timings.
- 1 week
Tech pack & quote
We review your tech pack, or build one with you, and send a written quote for development and an indicative unit price for bulk.
- 3–5 days
Pattern cutting
Our pattern cutter drafts the first pattern in your base size from the tech pack measurements.
- 2–3 weeks
First sample & fitting
We make a fit sample for you to try on a model or fit dummy. We take your comments and adjust the pattern. Most styles need one or two rounds.
- 1 week
Approval & grading
Once the fit is right you approve a pre-production sample. We grade the pattern across your sizes and confirm fabric and trims for bulk.
- 4–6 weeks
Bulk production
We cut and sew your order, with quality checks on the line. You get progress updates and photos as it moves through the factory.
- 2–4 days
Final inspection & dispatch
Every piece is checked, pressed, labelled and bagged, then packed by style and size and delivered or collected.
What we make
Cut-and-sew garments in knits and wovens
If your product is not on the list, ask. We will tell you straight away whether it suits our machines.
Menswear, womenswear and childrenswear.
MOQs & lead times
Low minimums, clear timings
Our minimums are set so new brands can test a style without a warehouse full of stock.
| Item | Minimum / timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk order | 100 units per style | Split across up to 2 colourways, minimum 50 per colour |
| Size split | Up to 6 sizes | Any ratio you choose, e.g. XS–XXL |
| Fit sample | 2–3 weeks | From an approved tech pack and available fabric |
| Bulk production | 4–6 weeks | From sample approval and fabric in house |
| Repeat orders | 2–4 weeks | Patterns and grading are kept on file |
| Custom-dyed fabric | Available | Mill minimums apply; stock colours have no minimum |
Unit price depends on fabric, construction, trims and quantity. Larger runs lower the price per piece. We quote in writing before you commit to anything.
Ethics & sustainability
Made by people who are paid and treated fairly
Manufacturing in the UK means you can see where and how your clothes are made. Come and visit the floor before you place an order.
- All staff paid at or above the National Minimum Wage, with written contracts.
- Independent audit: Sedex SMETA.
- Organic, recycled and deadstock fabric options, with certificates (GOTS, GRS) on request.
- Fabric offcuts sorted for recycling. Small batches mean less overproduction.
- Short delivery distances for UK brands.
Jargon buster
Manufacturing terms, explained
You will hear these words throughout the process. Here is what they mean.
- Tech pack
- The instruction document for a garment: drawings, measurements, materials, trims, labels and construction details.
- MOQ
- Minimum order quantity. The smallest number of units we can produce per style or colour.
- CMT
- Cut, make and trim. You supply the fabric and trims; we make the garments.
- Full package
- We source materials and manage every stage, and the unit price includes fabric.
- Grading
- Scaling the base-size pattern up and down to create every size in your range.
- Size spec
- The table of finished garment measurements for each size, with allowed tolerances.
- PP sample
- Pre-production sample. The final sample, in bulk fabric, that you approve before production starts.
- GSM
- Grams per square metre. The weight of a fabric. A light T-shirt is about 160 GSM; a heavy hoodie 350 GSM or more.
FAQs
Questions brands ask us
Can't find your answer? Send us a message and we will reply within one working day.
No questions match that search. Try another word, or ask us directly.
Getting started
I'm starting a clothing brand from scratch. Can you help?
Yes. Many of our clients come to us with a sketch or a reference garment. We help you choose fabrics, write the tech pack, set a realistic budget and plan quantities for your first drop.
What do I need to send for a quote?
A tech pack is ideal. If you don't have one, send sketches or photos, the fabric you have in mind, your size range, rough quantities per style and any print or embroidery. A target retail price helps us suggest the right options.
Do I need a tech pack?
For bulk production, yes. It is the document we price and sew from, and it protects you if anything is questioned later. If you don't have one, we can create it as part of development.
Can I visit the factory?
Yes, and we encourage it. Book a visit through the contact form and we will show you the pattern room and production floor.
Will you keep my designs confidential?
Yes. We never share your designs, patterns or tech packs. We are happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement before you send anything.
Samples & patterns
How much does a sample cost?
It depends on the garment and how complex it is. We quote each style in writing, including pattern cutting, before we start.
How many sample rounds will I need?
Most styles are right after one or two fit samples. Complex pieces, or garments where you are still deciding the fit, can take three.
Do I own the patterns?
Yes. Once development is paid for, the patterns are yours. We keep a copy on file so repeat orders are quick, and we can send you the files if you move production.
Can you copy a garment I already own?
We can use a garment as a fit or construction reference for your own design. We won't reproduce another brand's protected designs or branding.
MOQs & pricing
What is your minimum order quantity?
100 units per style, which can be split across two colourways (minimum 50 per colour) and up to six sizes in any ratio.
Why do manufacturers have minimums?
Every style has fixed set-up work: laying and cutting fabric, setting machines, training the line. Below a certain quantity those costs make each garment too expensive. Fabric mills also have their own minimums.
How is the unit price worked out?
Fabric usage and cost, trims, the number of operations to sew the garment, any print or embroidery, labels and packaging, and the quantity. We show you the main cost drivers so you can see where to save if you need to.
Is UK manufacturing more expensive than overseas?
Unit prices are usually higher. In return you get low minimums, faster lead times, no import duty or long freight, and you can check your order in person. For small runs the total cost is often closer than people expect.
Production & quality
How long does production take?
Typically 4–6 weeks from pre-production sample approval with fabric in house. Busy periods before spring/summer and autumn/winter launches can add time, so contact us early.
How do you check quality?
We check the first garments off the line against the approved sample, run in-line checks during sewing, and inspect every piece before packing for measurements, stitching, marks and loose threads.
What if something is wrong with my order?
Tell us within 14 days of delivery with photos. If the fault is ours, we repair or remake the affected pieces at no cost.
Can I get updates while my order is being made?
Yes. You get a named contact and photo updates at cutting, sewing and packing.
Fabrics & finishing
Can I supply my own fabric?
Yes, under our CMT service. Send us the fabric details first so we can check it suits the garment and confirm how many metres you need, including a cutting allowance.
Do you offer organic or recycled fabrics?
Yes. We source organic cotton, recycled polyester and recycled cotton blends, and can provide supplier certificates on request.
Can you add my branding?
Yes. Woven or printed neck labels, care and composition labels, swing tags, screen printing, embroidery and custom packaging.
Do you make care labels that meet UK rules?
Yes. We include the fibre composition required by law and recommend care symbols based on the fabric.
Payment & delivery
What are your payment terms?
Development is paid upfront. Bulk orders need a 50% deposit to book production and buy materials, with the balance due before dispatch.
Do you deliver?
Yes. We deliver anywhere in the UK by courier or pallet. We don't currently ship outside the UK. You are also welcome to collect.
Can you send orders straight to my customers?
We pack in bulk for your warehouse or fulfilment partner. We don't offer single-order fulfilment.
Get a quote
Tell us what you want to make
The more detail you send, the faster we can give you an accurate price. We reply within one working day.