Does anyone have any experience with purchasing gi's directly from a manufacturer in China or Pakistan?
The owner of my school is interested in this and tasked me with fact finding.
I have emailed a representative of a factory in Pakistan. While I will not name the School/Academy, there is a major one that the factory referenced that they provide gi's directly to. They make them to order and embroider the logo right on the gi.
There are many such factories. I'm wondering if anyone can give recommendations based on their experience. Dealing with overseas manufacturing, customs issues, any other pitfalls that I'm sure that I have not considered...
Thank you all,
Chango
I have had conversations/emails with no fewer than a dozen manufacturers in Pakistan and have yet to be able to convince any of them to provide me with references Stateside.
They seem to all want money up front via western union which is sketchy.
I have some friends that have gone this route with varying degrees of success. Some received their orders, some waited almost a year for arrival and some where screwed.
This makes me hesitant to deal overseas. If you find a reliable company PM me if possible. 
Probably better for a small school to just find a good US wholesaler.
I've recently started a small company to sell gis, patches, and rash guards to gyms. Send me an email to namebrandbjj@gmail.com or pm me. I can send you a price list, or I will help you out with the manufacturers I've dealt with and literally help you avoid using my business.
-Jeff
I know a guy who did this. I can tell you this:
The order took forever (literally like 4 months). I think they intitally quoted a 6 week turn time.
There was a bit of a hassle picking them up through customs, but it was more of a paperwork thing. It got worked out, but was a hassle.
There was a minimum order requirement to get them custom...I want to say 50 pieces, but I would have to check to be certain.
When the order came in, the gi's were suprisingly nice. I was very skeptical becuase where I work, we often import items from China and Pakistan. I know a LOT of the potential nightmares that can happen, and you have to put a lot of faith into the idea that strangers from half way around the world will treat you right. More often than not, they do -- but the times they don't, you have almost zero recourse.
I think you'd be better off talking to Ouano. Sure, you'll probably pay a bit more, but you'll have a US company to deal with, and even better, a US company with a great reputation.
James
Sir Taps - I think you'd be better off talking to Ouano. Sure, you'll probably pay a bit more, but you'll have a US company to deal with, and even better, a US company with a great reputation.
James
Bingo!
Sir Taps - I think you'd be better off talking to Ouano. Sure, you'll probably pay a bit more, but you'll have a US company to deal with, and even better, a US company with a great reputation.
James
The more that I look at this, the more it seems that for the quantity that I need, and the finesse required for getting a product from overseas, I am probably better off finding a good US wholesaler.
I'll gladly continue to hear ideas and experiences. Thanks guys.
Chango
Jdonw - I've recently started a small company to sell gis, patches, and rash guards to gyms. Send me an email to namebrandbjj@gmail.com or pm me. I can send you a price list, or I will help you out with the manufacturers I've dealt with and literally help you avoid using my business.
-Jeff
Jeff,
email sent.
Thanks,
Chango
Customs can be a nightmare. Aside from the paperwork, they will sometimes unpackage every gi looking for whatever and not put them back in properly. Sometimes they will put them back mixed (A1 pants with A4 top for example).
100 gis seems to be the min order for most places and the turn around time is several months. Usually they are just being made in a garage by 1-3 people.
Quite honestly, the gis can stink too when you get them.
It takes experimenting with 3-6 different manufacturers if you are really interested in quality.
Some manufactures will allow you to set up and escrow account.