Private label activewear means workout clothes, gym wear and athletic apparel made by a manufacturer to your design or from its base styles, sold under your brand. Published minimums from Los Angeles makers start as low as 10 to 50 pieces per style, while full-package production runs to several hundred. Every piece you sell in the US also needs a label that meets the FTC’s textile rules: fiber content, country of origin, your company identity, and care instructions.
I’ll compare a few manufacturers, then cover what to check in samples, the labeling rules, Made in USA claims, and listing activewear on Amazon.
US activewear manufacturers compared
From each company’s own website, checked in October 2026:
| Manufacturer | Location | Published minimum | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Evans Group (TEG) | Los Angeles, CA | 10 to 50 pieces per style | Small-batch production |
| ARGYLE Haus of Apparel | San Fernando, CA | From 300 pieces per style | Activewear specialist |
| BOMME Studio | Los Angeles, CA | 150 units per style with your fabric; 600 per style full package | Sewing in Los Angeles or an audited Tijuana facility; no domestic full-package program |
My take: start small. Test two or three core styles (a legging, a sports bra, a top) in a couple of colors with a small-batch maker, learn your size curve and returns, then scale the winners with a larger factory.
What to check in samples
Activewear lives or dies on fabric and fit.
- Squat test. Stretch the leggings over a bent knee in bright light. Sheerness is the most common complaint in this category.
- Recovery. Does the fabric spring back after stretching and washing?
- Seams and waistband. Flatlock seams and a waistband that stays up under movement.
- Sweat and wash. Wash samples several times. Pilling, fading and shrinkage show up fast.
- Size grading. Check fit across your whole size range, not just the sample size.
When you can, have five people of different sizes wear-test for two weeks. Their feedback is cheaper than a wave of returns.
The labeling rules every piece must follow
The FTC’s Textile Act guidance requires three core items on the label:
- Fiber content: generic fiber names (such as “polyester” and “spandex”) with percentages by weight, in descending order.
- Country of origin: a product made entirely abroad must be labeled with the country where it was processed or manufactured. Customs rules also require imported goods to be marked with their English-language country of origin.
- Company identity: the name of the manufacturer, importer or another business marketing or handling the product, or its registered identification (RN) number.
Care labels. The FTC’s Care Labeling Rule requires manufacturers and importers of textile apparel to attach permanent, legible care instructions with a reasonable basis for them. In practice, your factory’s care testing supports what you print.
Can you say “Made in USA”?
Only if the product is “all or virtually all” made in the US, the FTC’s standard. For textiles, a product made in the US from US-made fabric is labeled Made in USA; one made partly abroad must show both the foreign and the domestic processing. If your fabric is imported but sewing happens in Los Angeles, the label must say so. Honestly, getting this wrong is an easy way to attract a complaint, so I’d confirm every claim with your factory’s paperwork.
Selling activewear on Amazon
- Size data is required. Amazon’s apparel size guide marks target gender, age range, size system, size class and size value as required attributes when listing.
- Size charts. Brand Registry sellers can add size charts with Amazon’s self-service tool. Use one; fit questions drive returns.
- Category approval. Amazon says some categories require approval, and its current list sits behind the Seller Central login. Check your category before you produce inventory.
Returns are the big cost in apparel. Accurate size charts, clear fabric descriptions and honest photos reduce them more than anything else. Our guide to private label clothing manufacturers covers sourcing other apparel, and our guide to Amazon A+ content guidelines shows how to present fabric and fit within the rules. For simpler apparel, see private label t-shirts, and for accessories, private label handbags manufacturers.
If you’d like a team to source and manage manufacturers, that’s our complete sourcing management service.
FAQ
What is the minimum order for private label activewear?
Published minimums from US makers range from 10 to 50 pieces per style at small-batch studios to 300 or 600 pieces per style for full-package production.
What must be on an activewear label in the US?
Fiber content by percentage, country of origin, the company name or RN number, and permanent care instructions.
Can I label my activewear Made in USA?
Only if it is all or virtually all made in the US. If the fabric or any processing is foreign, the label must show both the foreign and domestic parts.
Do I need approval to sell activewear on Amazon?
Some Amazon categories require approval, and the current list is in Seller Central. Check before you produce inventory.
Does Amazon require size charts for clothing?
Amazon requires size attributes such as size system and size value when you list apparel. Brand Registry sellers can add size charts, which help reduce returns.
Where should I start with private label workout clothes?
With two or three core styles from a low-minimum maker, so you can learn fit, fabric and demand before scaling.
Last updated: October 5, 2026. Minimums change; confirm current terms with each manufacturer. Sources: FTC, threading your way through the labeling requirements; FTC, clothes captioning: complying with the Care Labeling Rule; FTC, complying with the Made in USA standard; CBP, country of origin marking; Amazon, apparel size standardization guide (PDF); The Evans Group; ARGYLE Haus of Apparel; BOMME Studio.
