## Why a kidswear brief is not an adult brief with smaller sizes

A founder moving from adult basics into a kids' line often treats it as a simple scaling exercise: same factory, same fabric, smaller pattern. That assumption causes real problems, because children's clothing sits under a different, stricter compliance regime than adult apparel across the EU, and not every factory producing excellent adult jersey is set up to meet it.

The two areas that matter most: cord and drawstring safety, and chemical restrictions. EU regulation (EN 14682) restricts drawstrings and cords around the head, neck, and waist of children's clothing, specific rules on length, fixing points, and whether a cord is permitted at all vary by garment type and the age range the garment is sized for. A hoodie drawstring design that is standard for an adult version can be a compliance failure at children's sizing. Chemical restrictions under REACH are also tighter in practice for childrenswear, because certification bodies and buyers alike apply more conservative thresholds to a product that sits directly against a child's skin for extended periods. A factory that has never produced for a kids' brand may not have these checks built into their standard process, not because they are careless, but because it has simply never come up.

## Real MOQ data across the category

Across NovaSupplier's tracked Portuguese network, 13 confirmed manufacturers report minimum order quantities for childrenswear specifically, a smaller, more specialised group than the adult basics cluster.

| Product                | Manufacturers tracked | Lowest confirmed MOQ | Average minimum | Average maximum |
| ---------------------- | --------------------- | -------------------- | --------------- | --------------- |
| Kids T-shirt           | 18                    | 35 units             | 139 units       | 221 units       |
| Kids sweatshirt        | 12                    | 35 units             | 134 units       | 200 units       |
| Kids hoodie            | 12                    | 35 units             | 146 units       | 200 units       |
| Kids trouser / jogger  | 9                     | 35 units             | 145 units       | 194 units       |
| Kids pyjama set        | 10                    | 100 units            | 157 units       | 189 units       |
| Kids dress             | 8                     | 50 units             | 153 units       | 200 units       |
| Baby bodysuit / romper | 7                     | 100 units            | 160 units       | 200 units       |
| Kids jacket            | 6                     | 35 units             | 151 units       | 200 units       |

Two things stand out against the adult basics data. First, the absolute floor on several categories, 35 units, is lower than the 50-unit floor typical of adult T-shirts and hoodies, because kids' garments use less fabric per unit and factories can absorb smaller yardage against a given fabric lot. Second, pyjama sets and baby bodysuits carry a meaningfully higher floor, 100 units, than every other kidswear category. This most likely reflects fabric sourcing: sleepwear in many markets requires flame-retardant-treated or specifically certified fabric, which typically comes with its own supplier-side minimum layered on top of the factory's own, the same upstream-fabric-minimum dynamic that sets adult MOQs, compounded by a more restricted fabric supply chain.

## Which factories produce childrenswear

Childrenswear is a smaller, more specialised segment of the Portuguese network than jersey basics. Confirmed manufacturers include:

[Kapuz](https://novasupplier.com/kapuz), based in Esposende, confirmed at a 50-unit floor across kids' dresses, hoodies, sweatshirts, and T-shirts, the lowest MOQ entry point in the tracked kidswear network.

[Faria Macedo & Ca](https://novasupplier.com/faria-macedo), based in Guimarães, confirmed at 100 units, covering baby bodysuits and rompers, pyjama sets, trousers and joggers, and T-shirts, one of the few factories with confirmed baby-specific (0-24 month) capability.

[Miguel Sousa Confecções](https://novasupplier.com/miguel-sousa-confeccoes), based in Barcelos, confirmed at 120 units across the widest range in the network, dresses, hoodies, jackets, pyjama sets, sweatshirts, trousers, T-shirts, and baby bodysuits, all from one factory.

[SMSenra](https://novasupplier.com/smsenra), based in Maia, and [Atilano](https://novasupplier.com/atilano), both confirmed at 150 units with a similarly broad range spanning dresses through outerwear.

[YoungStar](https://novasupplier.com/youngstar), based in Figueiró, and [L&M Têxteis](https://novasupplier.com/lm-texteis), confirmed at 100 and 150 units respectively, both focused on the core hoodie, sweatshirt, and T-shirt range.

## What a childrenswear brief needs that an adult brief does not

**Age range or size range, stated explicitly.** EU cord and drawstring rules differ by age bracket. A factory needs to know whether you are sizing for 0-24 months, 2-8 years, or 9-14 years to confirm which construction details are compliant before sampling, not after.

**Cord and drawstring specification, or confirmation there are none.** If a hoodie or jacket design includes a drawstring at the hood or waist, state it explicitly and expect the factory to advise on EN 14682 compliance for your stated age range. Many childrenswear factories default to toggle or elastic alternatives at younger age brackets specifically because cords are restricted or prohibited there.

**Small-parts and choking-hazard awareness for younger age brackets.** Snap buttons, appliqués, and decorative trims that are unremarkable on adult or older-kids' garments carry stricter scrutiny at baby and toddler sizing. Flag any embellishment at the brief stage so the factory can confirm the trim source meets the relevant safety standard.

**Flame-retardancy requirements for sleepwear.** If you are producing pyjamas or nightwear for markets with specific flame-retardancy requirements, state this at the brief stage. It is a fabric sourcing decision, not a finishing step that can be added after the fact, and it is very likely why pyjama-set MOQs run higher than other kidswear categories in the data above.

**OEKO-TEX or GOTS certification, if the brand markets on it.** Certification requirements for childrenswear are treated more conservatively by buyers and marketplaces than the equivalent adult claim. If your brand story includes a certified-safe or organic claim for kidswear specifically, confirm the factory's certification covers the children's product line, not just their adult range. The [sustainability certifications guide](/hub/blog/sustainable-clothing-manufacturers-in-europe-what-the-certifications-actually-mean) covers what GOTS, OEKO-TEX, and SA8000 actually verify.

:::faq

### Is childrenswear manufacturing different from adult clothing manufacturing in Portugal?

Yes, in two specific ways. Cord and drawstring rules under EU regulation EN 14682 restrict or prohibit cords around the head, neck, and waist depending on the child's age range, which a standard adult garment design does not need to account for. Chemical restriction thresholds under REACH are also applied more conservatively to childrenswear in practice, since the product sits against a child's skin. Not every adult apparel factory has these checks built into its standard process.

### What is the MOQ for childrenswear manufacturing in Portugal?

Across 13 confirmed Portuguese childrenswear manufacturers, most core categories, T-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, joggers, jackets, confirm a floor of 35 units, lower than the 50-unit floor typical of adult basics because kids' garments use less fabric per unit. Pyjama sets and baby bodysuits carry a higher floor, around 100 units, most likely because sleepwear-grade fabric sourcing (flame-retardant treatment) comes with its own supplier-side minimum.

### Which Portuguese factories produce baby clothing (0-24 months)?

Faria Macedo & Ca in Guimarães and Miguel Sousa Confecções in Barcelos both confirm baby bodysuit and romper production in the tracked network, at 100 and 120 unit minimums respectively. Baby-specific capability is a smaller segment of the Portuguese kidswear cluster than general kids' basics, and worth confirming directly given the added scrutiny on small parts and fabric safety at this age range.

### Do children's clothing hoodies need different drawstrings than adult hoodies?

Often yes. EU regulation EN 14682 restricts cords and drawstrings around the hood and waist depending on the garment's stated age range, and many childrenswear factories default to toggle or elastic alternatives at younger age brackets specifically because a standard drawstring is restricted or prohibited there. State the design intent and target age range at the brief stage so the factory can confirm compliance before sampling.

### What certification matters most for childrenswear brands?

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and GOTS are the most relevant, and both are held to a more conservative standard by buyers and marketplaces for childrenswear than for the equivalent adult claim. If certification is part of your brand story, confirm the factory's certification specifically covers their children's product line, since a factory's adult-range certification does not automatically extend to kidswear production.

:::

***

If you are briefing a childrenswear project, NovaSupplier matches your brief against factories with confirmed kidswear capability and the certifications your product actually needs, not a general apparel listing.

[Start your project on NovaSupplier →](http://novasupplier.com)

*Not familiar with NovaSupplier? **[Here's what it is and how it works →](/hub/blog/what-is-novasupplier)*

:::suppliers kapuz faria-macedo miguel-sousa-confeccoes smsenra atilano youngstar lm-texteis :::