Private label vs OEM
What the two terms usually mean in textiles, and which fits your brief.
4 min read
The terms are used loosely across the industry, so always confirm what a supplier means. In general use:
- Private label: an existing or lightly adapted product sold under your brand, with your labels and packaging
- OEM: a product made to your own specification — construction, size, weight, colour — and branded for you
Private label is usually faster to start. OEM gives you more control and a more distinctive product, but needs a fuller specification and sampling round.
Either way, the specification should be written down and the approved sample kept as the reference.