Where does Canada get its clothes from? Mostly from Asia. Canada imported about $11.6 billion of apparel in 2025, and China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, and India supply the bulk of it, while a small domestic industry in Montreal, Toronto, and other cities makes the rest. The mix is shifting quickly: China is losing share, Vietnam and Bangladesh are gaining, and Canadian brands are asking what that means for duty and sourcing. This guide sets out the latest data, the duty picture, and how Canadian brands choose between local and overseas production.
Where Does Canada Get Its Clothes From? The Top 5 Suppliers
| Country | Latest Position | Duty Into Canada |
|---|---|---|
| 1. China | Still first, with about 25.5% share in January to February 2026, down over 4 points; shipments fell 16% in January to May 2026 | Standard rate, up to 18% |
| 2. Bangladesh | Second-largest supplier, gaining share; strong in woven jackets, suits, and shirts | Duty free as a least developed country |
| 3. Vietnam | Fastest-rising major supplier, nearly level with Bangladesh by May 2026 | Reduced or zero under the CPTPP |
| 4. Cambodia | Gaining share as brands diversify away from China | Duty free as a least developed country |
| 5. India | Small but rising share, with a marginal increase in early 2026 | Standard rate, up to 18%; no trade agreement in force |
Italy and France also supply premium garments. Shares move month to month and depend on how apparel is measured, so check current Statistics Canada data for your product code. For the sourcing choices behind these numbers, our guide to the best country to import clothes compares the main producing countries.
What the Latest Data Shows
Canada’s apparel imports rose 6.8% to about $11.64 billion in 2025, driven by higher volumes even as unit prices fell, a sign of intense pricing pressure among suppliers. In the first five months of 2026, imports fell about 6.9% year on year, led by a steep drop from China, while Vietnam gained share. The pattern is the same one seen across Western markets: buyers spreading risk away from a single country, with South Asian and South-East Asian suppliers picking up the volume. Cotton knitwear is where India competes best for Canadian brands, and the size of the Indian share leaves room to grow.
Canada’s Domestic Clothing Industry
Canada still has a domestic industry, led by clothing manufacturing companies in Montreal, which is the country’s main apparel hub, with further production in Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver. A typical clothing factory in Canada makes smaller runs for Canadian brands, uniforms, outerwear, and made-in-Canada ranges, and garment manufacturers in Canada work to shorter lead times than overseas, and the best clothing manufacturers in Canada are typically small and mid-size factories that have kept pace with rising wages by focusing on quality and speed. Women’s clothing manufacturers in Canada are strongest in Montreal, where design, patternmaking, and sewing sit close together. Apparel manufacturers in Canada rarely compete with Asia on price, so brands use them for sampling, quick response, and local-content ranges. Our guide to finding a clothing manufacturer in Canada compares local and overseas production in detail.
Clothing Suppliers in Canada: Local or Overseas?
| Factor | Canadian Clothing Factory | Overseas Manufacturer |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per garment | High | Lower, with duty varying by country |
| Lead time | Short | Production plus about five to seven weeks by sea |
| Order size | Small runs possible | Minimums per colour, such as 300 pieces |
| Best for | Samples, uniforms, made-in-Canada ranges | Core collections, knitwear, kidswear at volume |
Canadian importers need a business number with an import account and usually a customs broker, and garments must carry bilingual English and French labels with fibre content. Our guide to importing clothes from India covers the documents and the Canadian steps. Many Canadian buyers also read clothing manufacturers Canada threads on Reddit for peer experiences, which is useful as long as you verify every supplier yourself, and our comparison of domestic vs offshore production explains how to weigh the two.
If you are looking overseas
The Synerg, Tirupur, India
For Canadian brands that need volume cotton knitwear, we make t-shirts for Canadian brands, hoodies for Canadian labels, kidswear for Canadian retailers, and sleepwear for Canadian brands. We run our own factory in Tirupur with 100 sewing machines, start knit orders at 300 pieces per colour per style, take 75 to 90 days from purchase order to shipment, and inspect every order to AQL 2.5.
Our recommendation
Use a clothing factory in Canada for samples, quick response, and made-in-Canada ranges; even the top clothing manufacturers in Canada rarely match Asian prices at volume, so add overseas partners for core collections. When comparing clothing suppliers in Canada and abroad, judge Bangladesh, Vietnam, and India on landed cost, including duty, rather than factory price alone, and confirm current rates with a customs broker. Clothing manufacturing companies in Canada, like other apparel manufacturers in Canada, are best kept for testing and top-ups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Canada get its clothes from?
Mainly from China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, and India, with smaller volumes from Italy and France. Canada imported about $11.6 billion of apparel in 2025.
Are there clothing manufacturing companies in Canada?
Yes. Garment manufacturers in Canada, including the top clothing manufacturers in Canada, are mostly small and mid-size factories concentrated in Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Vancouver, making smaller runs for Canadian brands.
Where are women’s clothing manufacturers in Canada?
Mainly in Montreal, which has the country’s strongest cluster of women’s clothing factories, from design and patternmaking through to sewing. The best clothing manufacturers in Canada for women’s wear are usually found there.
What is the import duty on clothing into Canada?
Up to 18% on most apparel from countries without a trade agreement, including China and India. Bangladesh and Cambodia ship duty free as least developed countries, and Vietnam benefits from the CPTPP.
Are China’s imports into Canada falling?
Yes. China’s share fell to about 25.5% in January to February 2026, and its shipments dropped about 16% in January to May 2026, while Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Cambodia gained.
About the Author: Karthik Shan
Karthik Shan is the founder and CEO of The Synerg, with 20+ years in the Tirupur textile hub. He publishes practical playbooks for brands on fabric GSM, costing (CM/CMT), AQL quality standards, and export-ready production.