Garment Manufacturing in Sri Lanka
Vortexmaarij produces high volume runs of wovens, knits and basics for brands in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on large sewing floors we quality-check ourselves. Orders start at 30,000 pieces: production takes 32 to 45 days, then 5 to 30 days of sea or air freight to Europe. Delivery is DAP, door to door: transport and customs clearance are arranged by our partner forwarders, and import duties and VAT are paid by you as importer. Customs clearance: we arrange it on behalf of the client, who remains the importer.
Key facts
| Minimum order | 30,000 pieces |
|---|---|
| Production | 32 to 45 days |
| Transport to Europe | 5 to 30 days, by sea or air |
| Total, door to door | 37 to 75 days |
| Final inspection | AQL 2.5 |
| Delivery | DAP door to door: freight arranged; customs clearance arranged on behalf of the client, who remains the importer; duties and import VAT paid by the client (importer); DDP on request |
What we make in Sri Lanka
High volume runs on large sewing floors, from the first prototype to the bulk run.
Woven garments
Shirts and other woven pieces, in high volume.
Knitted garments
Knitwear and jersey pieces, in high volume.
Basics
Core basics produced in large runs.
Prototypes and samples
Pattern, first sample and up to three fit rounds against your tech pack.
How production works
Tech pack and costing
Send a tech pack, a sample or a photo. Your files are covered by a mutual NDA before anything reaches a factory, and a sourcing lead replies within one business day with a costed breakdown.
Prototype and fit
Pattern, first sample and up to three fit rounds against your tech pack.
Bulk production
32 to 45 days of production on large sewing floors, with quality checks during production, on the line.
Final inspection
Every order goes through a final AQL 2.5 inspection before it ships.
Door-to-door delivery
Sea or air freight, depending on your deadline: 5 to 30 days to Europe, customs clearance arranged on behalf of the client, who remains the importer.
Quality control
We quality-check the factories we work with ourselves. During the run, quality checks on the line catch defects early. At the end, a final inspection is carried out to AQL 2.5.
AQL 2.5 is a common acceptance level for major defects in ISO 2859-1 sampling: a random sample of the lot is checked, and the lot passes only if the defects found stay within the limit.
Transport to Europe: DAP, door to door
Goods leave Colombo by sea or by air, depending on your deadline. Transit takes 5 to 30 days, from factory pickup to delivery.
Freight, customs clearance and final delivery are arranged in a single booking, through our partner forwarders: one booking, one price for transport and organisation. Import duties and VAT are paid by you as importer, and re-invoiced at cost if we advance them. Customs clearance: we arrange it on behalf of the client, who remains the importer. DDP is available on request, with a specific quote. Our estimates assume one delivery address in the EU.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order for garments made in Sri Lanka?
30,000 pieces per order. For smaller runs, our Morocco hub starts at 300 pieces.
How long does production in Sri Lanka take?
32 to 45 days of production, then 5 to 30 days of transport to Europe: 37 to 75 days in total, door to door. Air freight is the fastest option, sea freight the slowest.
Who pays import duties and VAT?
You do, as the importer. Delivery is DAP, door to door: our partner forwarders arrange transport and customs clearance in a single booking, and duties and import VAT are invoiced to you, at cost if we advance them. Customs clearance: we arrange it on behalf of the client, who remains the importer. DDP is available on request, with a specific quote. The simulator shows a DAP unit price for one EU delivery address, excluding duties and import VAT.
Can I get a sample before bulk production?
Yes. Prototyping covers the pattern, a first sample and up to three fit rounds against your tech pack. The quote simulator has a prototyping option with its own pricing.
How is my design protected?
A mutual NDA is in place before anything reaches a factory. Send your files through the site and a sourcing lead replies within one business day.
Other hubs
Morocco · Tangier–Tetouan
Clothing in premium fabrics, confection and upcycling. Minimum 300 pieces, 20 to 29 days in total.
Portugal · Porto
Hand stitched leather sneakers and dress shoes. Minimum 100 pairs, 26 to 38 days in total.
Not sure which hub fits your product? Compare the hubs
Get a price for your Sri Lanka run
Pick a service and a volume in the simulator: you get an indicative DAP unit price and a delivery window, then a sourcing lead replies within one business day.