Structure the brief
Write down product, materials, quantities, market, timing and your decision criteria.
Buyer guide
Apparel sourcing in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s apparel sector supplies international markets across a range of product categories. Successful sourcing comes from matching a detailed brief with a suitable manufacturer, then validating every commercial and compliance requirement.
A practical process
- Define product, material, quality, market and timing.
- Build a shortlist using reliable public sources and direct references.
- Send a structured RFQ and technical pack.
- Evaluate product fit, sample capability and documentation.
- Agree commercial terms, approvals and quality controls.
- Monitor bulk production and final delivery against the agreed plan.
Use source-linked starting points
Start with the manufacturer directory, then contact companies directly. The EDB’s apparel overview is a useful first-party industry source, but it does not replace programme-specific due diligence.
Browse manufacturersUse this in a real sourcing process
A sourcing process that reduces avoidable back-and-forth
Start with the commercial objective, but send the manufacturer a technical brief. A useful RFQ tells the factory what the product is, who it is for, where it will be sold, how it must perform and when it is needed.
Record the answer
Keep the factory’s response, documents, assumptions and open questions in one approval record.
Confirm in writing
Commercial terms, sample approvals, test scope and delivery milestones must be programme-specific.
Use the free buyer tools
Build a structured RFQ before contacting suppliers, then use the verification checklist before you approve a factory for a specific programme.