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Articles and notes

Long-form notes on sourcing, vetting factories, and running production with Portuguese clothing manufacturers.

How to Get More International Clients as a Manufacturer
Matias Santos, Founder
Struggling to find new buyers overseas? Most manufacturers rely on word of mouth and trade shows, both of which are slow and unpredictable. This guide covers the specific strategies factories are using in 2026 to get found online by international brands, build trust with founders they've never met in person, and turn a single sample order into a long-term, repeat relationship instead of a one-off transaction.
Apr 21, 2026
Why Smart Brands Are Moving Their Sourcing to Europe in 2026
Matias Santos, Founder
Tariffs are quietly reshaping global trade, and brands that rely solely on Chinese suppliers are feeling the squeeze. Here's why sourcing from Europe is becoming a strategic move in 2026, not a sentimental one. This guide covers the cost and reliability calculations behind the shift, what founders find when they compare landed cost and lead time side by side, and why quality control stops being a guessing game once production happens closer to home.
Apr 21, 2026

How to Find European Suppliers in 2026 (Without Getting Burned)

Matias Santos, Founder

Looking to source from Europe in 2026? Every year, independent brands lose thousands of euros and months of runway to suppliers who turn out to be trading companies, unresponsive after a deposit, or simply unable to produce what they promised. This guide walks through the red flags that show up before the money moves, the verification steps that actually confirm a company is a real manufacturer, and the most common mistakes founders make when they're in a hurry to lock in a factory.

Apr 21, 2026

How to Find a Clothing Manufacturer in Europe (Complete Guide for Brands)

Matias Santos, Founder

Finding the right clothing manufacturer is one of the most important steps when building a fashion brand. This guide explains exactly how startups can find reliable clothing manufacturers in Europe, understand minimum order quantities, and choose the right production partner for their product, without wasting months on factories that were never actually a fit to begin with in the first place.

Apr 17, 2026

Low MOQ Clothing Manufacturers in Europe (Guide for Brands)

Matias Santos, Founder

Launching a clothing brand often requires small production runs to test products and manage risk. This guide explains how low MOQ clothing manufacturers actually work, what minimum order quantities to realistically expect across Europe, and how early-stage brands can find production partners willing to work at a smaller scale without inflating the price per unit to compensate for the smaller run.

Apr 17, 2026

Made in Portugal: Why DTC Brands Are Choosing Portuguese Factories

Matias Santos, Founder

Something shifted in the sourcing world over the last five years. A growing number of independent clothing brands, particularly those selling direct-to-consumer in the UK, US, and Northern Europe, have moved production to Portugal. Not because they stumbled into it, but because they looked at the options and made a deliberate call. This guide covers what's actually driving that shift, quality, lead times, direct relationships, and the real numbers, and what to expect if a brand decides to make the same move.

Apr 15, 2026

How to Get More International Clients as a Manufacturer

Why Smart Brands Are Moving Their Sourcing to Europe in 2026

How to Find European Suppliers in 2026 (Without Getting Burned)

How to Find a Clothing Manufacturer in Europe (Complete Guide for Brands)

Low MOQ Clothing Manufacturers in Europe (Guide for Brands)

Made in Portugal: Why DTC Brands Are Choosing Portuguese Factories