Why source knitwear & sweaters from Turkey
Turkish knitwear sits in a sweet spot between Italian fully-fashioned craft and Chinese scale. With Shima Seiki and Stoll flat machines installed across Istanbul and Çorlu, factories deliver fully-fashioned, link-and-link finished pieces at prices European boutiques can build a margin on.
Production process
Programs start from a hand-knit swatch or a tech pack. Yarn is reserved per shade, then sampling runs through whole-garment or link-linked finishing. Most export-grade knitwear ships hand-washed, steamed, blocked and individually polybagged with hangers and care labels.
Sub-categories & styles
Fully-fashioned crew neck and V-neck sweatersOversized chunky knits and cardigansCashmere and cashmere-blend programsMerino wool fine-gauge knitwearCotton and cotton-cashmere summer knitsMohair, alpaca and brushed knitsJacquard, intarsia and bird-eye patternsKnitted dresses, skirts and co-ord sets
Fabrics & materials
Pure cashmere from inner Mongolia topsMerino wool 19 to 21 micronCashmere-silk and cashmere-cotton blendsRecycled wool and recycled cashmereCotton-silk-modal summer yarnsMohair-wool boucle yarns
Who buys knitwear & sweaters from Turkey
- ●Premium European multi-brand stores
- ●Scandinavian minimalist labels
- ●UK department store private labels
- ●Sustainable knitwear startups
- ●Japan and Korea select shops
Frequently asked questions
- Where are Turkish knitwear manufacturers concentrated?
- Bursa and Istanbul host the largest fine-gauge and chunky knit clusters, with Inegol specialising in cashmere blends.
- What MOQ for wholesale cashmere sweaters from Turkey?
- Cashmere knitwear runs at MOQ 150-400 pcs per color, with 7-12 gauge production and full-fashion finishing.
- Can Turkish knitwear factories produce intarsia and jacquard?
- Yes, computerized Stoll and Shima Seiki machines handle intarsia, jacquard, cable and fully-fashioned knitwear at scale.
- What yarns are used in premium Turkish knitwear?
- Mongolian cashmere, merino wool, Egyptian cotton, mohair and recycled cashmere blends are the most common premium yarns.
- How is shrinkage controlled on wool sweaters?
- Pre-shrunk yarn, controlled steam pressing and final washing per BS 6330 protocols keep shrinkage under 3% on Turkish merino knits.