India Is The New Runway: Small Labels Source Here Now: Noname Global
Small and mid-sized fashion brands across the US, Europe, and the Middle East are increasingly shifting apparel sourcing from China and Bangladesh to India, marking what industry analysts are calling “The Great Sourcing Shift.” Faridabad-based private-label manufacturer NoName Global has reported a 60% rise in inquiries from international labels in the past year, reflecting India’s growing role in ethical and flexible garment production.
Industry data from 2025 indicates that 30–40% of sourcing by small and mid-sized fashion brands has moved from China to India over the past two years. “As the lines between fashion and corporate identity blur, uniform and branded merchandise demand is rising globally,” said Pankaj Agrawal, Founder of NoName Global. “We’re building bridges between two worlds that were once far apart.”
A key factor driving this transition is the difficulty smaller brands face in securing low minimum order quantities (MOQs), sustainable raw materials, and transparent labor compliance from large-scale manufacturers in China and Bangladesh. India, by contrast, has positioned itself as a destination for small-batch, high-quality, and value-aligned production, particularly suited to emerging labels and direct-to-consumer brands. “India is becoming the new Italy for boutique and young designers,” Agrawal added. “Brands are looking beyond cost, they want craftsmanship and shared values.”
Sustainability has also become central to sourcing decisions. India’s textile ecosystem now includes mills and manufacturers offering GOTS, OEKO-TEX, Fair Trade and FSC-certified fabrics, along with zero-liquid-discharge dyeing, recycled fiber processing and energy-efficient facilities. NoName Global confirmed that over 70% of its new customers in 2024 prioritized sustainability when selecting manufacturing partners, further boosting India’s position in the global supply chain.
Alongside fashion apparel, NoName Global has extended its capabilities to serve the corporate uniform and brand merchandise market across the US, UAE, GCC, EU and India. Its vertically integrated model from fabric sourcing to production and quality assurance, enables brands to develop both custom and white-label apparel with competitive turnaround times.
Post-pandemic expectations for supply chain transparency have also influenced sourcing decisions. Indian manufacturers have increasingly adopted digital tracking systems, product traceability platforms, and routine compliance audits. “When a brand in Los Angeles or Berlin can trace where its fabric came from and under what working conditions garments were made, trust becomes long-term,” Agrawal said.
Looking ahead, analysts estimate that India could capture another 30–40% of small-brand sourcing currently concentrated in East Asia over the next five years. With government incentives supporting sustainable textiles and global buyers prioritizing ethical manufacturing, India is poised to strengthen its leadership in the value-added apparel segment.
NoName Global plans to continue investing in digital manufacturing systems, sustainable innovation, and designer collaborations. The company is also exploring expanded partnerships with certification and testing bodies including Intertek and SGS to further assure quality and compliance for international buyers.
