Here’s a practical, compact guide to private‑label garment sourcing from India — where to look, how to engage suppliers, costs/timelines to expect, quality/compliance checks, and a ready-to-send RFQ template.

1. Quick summary — why India

• Large, competitive garment clusters (cheap & diverse fabric supply, dyeing/printing, finishing and trim ecosystem). Good for cotton/knits, hosiery, and synthetic/MMF work. (tirupurhub.in)

2. Best hubs by product (short)

• Tirupur (Tamil Nadu) — India’s knitwear/tee & basics hub (big exporters, integrated factories). Good for 100% cotton and cotton blends, printing, embroidery and private‑label tees/sweatshirts. (tirupurhub.in)
• Ludhiana (Punjab) — hosiery, wool/knit winterwear, sweaters and mass knit production. (knit-vision.com)
• Surat / Ahmedabad / Gujarat — man‑made fibers (MMF), large power‑loom/printing/dyeing capacity, cheap synthetic fabrics and saree/dress‑material supply. (fibre2fashion.com)
• Delhi‑NCR, Noida, Gurgaon, Chennai, Jaipur — production + finishing + traditional crafts (block print, handwork). Use these for specialty work or trim sourcing. (Use AEPC for export facilitation/contacts). (aepcindia.com)

3. Where to find suppliers

• B2B marketplaces: IndiaMART and TradeIndia (wide listing of manufacturers & traders). Use them to shortlist, then validate. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Trade associations / export council: Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) — helpful for vetted exporters, trade fairs and export guidance. (aepcindia.com)
• Trade shows & sourcing trips: Long‑run buyers attend regional fairs and Yarn/Textile expos in Tirupur, Surat, New Delhi, Mumbai. (AEPC and local chambers list events.) (aepcindia.com)
• Agents/third‑party sourcers: good if you can’t travel — insist on references and audited reports.

4. Typical MOQs, lead times & pricing factors

• MOQs: many export factories expect 500–1,000 pcs per style for custom private‑label work; some integrated Tirupur factories list 1,000/style, while ready‑stock blank suppliers may allow much lower (10 pcs/size) for off‑the‑shelf items. Always confirm per style. (tirupurhub.in)
• Lead times: sampling 1–3 weeks (depending on complexity); bulk production often 4–10+ weeks (factory & capacity dependent). Factors: fabric lead time, prints/embellishments, pack/labeling and peak season. (tirupurhub.in)
• Price drivers: fabric (cotton vs MMF), GSM/finish, trims (zips/labels), print/embro, compliance testing, order size and seasonality.

5. Quality, testing & certifications to request

• Key certifications to ask for (if relevant): OEKO‑TEX Standard 100 (harmful‑substances testing), GOTS (organic cotton), plus social‑audit schemes (Sedex/WRAP/BSCI) if social compliance matters. Use accredited labs/inspectors for tests. (oeko-tex.com)
• Third‑party testing/inspection: Intertek, SGS and similar firms operate in India for lab testing, pre‑shipment and in‑line inspection — highly recommended for first orders and ongoing QA. (intertek.com)

6. Due diligence checklist (must do before placing bulk order)

• Verify company details: GST, IEC (Import‑Export code), company registration, factory address and photos.
• Ask for client references and recent export POs (preferably to your market).
• Request factory audit or third‑party social audit report (if brand risk matters).
• Approve a pre‑production sample (PP sample) and a lab‑tested sample if you require substance testing.
• Confirm payment terms (common: 30% T/T deposit, balance on B/L or LC; smaller suppliers may accept different terms) and Incoterm (FOB is common).
• Contract: include tech pack, tolerances, AQL for defects, penalties for late delivery and IP/label use clause.

7. Logistics, shipping & IP

• Typical route: sea‑freight (cheaper, longer) or air (faster, expensive). Choose Incoterm and factor customs, duties and labeling requirements for your country (US). Use a freight forwarder who handles DDP/FOB as needed.
• Protect IP: register trademarks in India if you plan long term; for design/IP protection, include non‑use/non‑disclosure in the contract.

8. Typical risks & mitigation

• Quality variance: mitigate with tech pack, approved sample, inline checks and final inspection. (intertek.com)
• Delays/communication: use clear calendars, milestone POs and penal clauses.
• Compliance surprises: insist on lab tests/certificates before shipping (OEKO‑TEX/GOTS where required). (oeko-tex.com)

9. Quick RFQ / email template (paste & send to suppliers) Include these items in your RFQ to get meaningful quotes:

• Short intro + target market (e.g., “private‑label tees for US DTC brand”)
• Tech pack or attach sample photos + measurements/specs + grade rules/size chart
• Fabric spec: fiber %, GSM, knit type, color & Pantone numbers
• Trim list: labels, hangtags, packaging, polybags, carton dimensions
• Quantity: total + per style + color breakdown (e.g., 2,500 pcs total; 5 colors × 500 pcs)
• Target FOB price (if you have one) or ask supplier to quote FOB (IN‑port) + lead time for sample & bulk + MOQ + payment terms + valid time for quote
• Required certifications/tests (OEKO‑TEX/GOTS/others) + destination (port or DDP)
• Contact + deadline for quote

Short sample text: Hello [Supplier name], I’m [name] from [brand]. We’re sourcing a private‑label 100% cotton crew T‑shirt (tech pack attached). Qty: 2,500 pcs (5 colors × 500). Please quote FOB [nearest Indian port], MOQ, lead times for PP sample and bulk, sample cost/shipping, payment terms, and confirm if you can provide OEKO‑TEX/GOTS. Thanks — [contact details].

10. Next practical steps (fast start)

• Option A: shortlist 5 suppliers (use IndiaMART/TradeIndia + AEPC lists), send the RFQ above. (en.wikipedia.org)
• Option B: hire a sourcing agent or quality‑assurance partner in India to do factory visits and manage inspections (costs but much lower risk). (intertek.com)

If you want, I can:

• draft a tailored RFQ from your tech pack (paste the tech pack), or
• shortlist 5 pre‑vetted suppliers for a specific garment type and MOQ (I’ll include contact details and what to ask).

Which would you prefer?