Wholesale Boutique Clothing: 11 Best Wholesale Suppliers + Sourcing Tips

Whether you already have a boutique or are thinking of starting one, buying wholesale clothing can bring a wide range of benefits. You can negotiate the best prices if you build a good relationship with the wholesaler. Plus, you can request exclusive rights to sell a certain clothing line, giving you a competitive edge in the market. The question is, where to buy wholesale clothing for a boutique?

There’s no shortage of clothing vendors for boutique businesses, but finding the best ones requires some work. You need to familiarize yourself with the factors used to evaluate wholesale clothing distributors. Another thing you should learn is who are the top suppliers of unique, one-of-a-kind apparel that your audience knows and loves. Learning is fun, sure, but you need to dedicate the hours you have toward building your business. 

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 11 top wholesale boutique clothing vendors who ship across the world. If you’ve been wondering where do boutiques get their clothes, the vendors covered represent the sources they use to keep their shelves stocked.

Where to Buy Wholesale Clothing for a Boutique: 11 Best Sources in 2022

1. Handshake

Handshake is home to hundreds of US-based wholesale clothing brands. These vendors offer a wide range of apparel suitable for boutique customers, from gorgeous drape dresses to long stylish coats that make the perfect fall outfits. Each supplier has been handpicked and carefully vetted for quality products and customer service. 

The best part is, Handshake doesn’t require you to contact suppliers to ask for pricing information. Instead, it curates supplier info and pricing so you can enjoy a smoother product sourcing experience. Plus, unlike most of the wholesale vendors on this list, Handshake lets you check out on its website—you don’t need to jump through hoops to order products for your boutique. 

Handshake also has other collections spanning jewelry, candles, soap, and more. Suppliers on Handshake have different policies for shipping, order minimums, and how many units go in a pack — but there are lots of clothing suppliers with no minimum order.  Additionally, Handshake is home to many USA wholesale dropshipping suppliers that make it easy to run a business.

2. Wholesale7

Wholesale7 is another wholesale supplier of boutique clothing. It offers various products based on the wardrobe styles in different countries, like ripped jeans (Korean fashion staple) and kimono dresses (fashionable Japanese garments). Trendy designs and vibrant palettes are some of the details present in the apparel by Wholesale7.

This supplier also offers high-quality boutique clothing with custom logo designs. You can use your own logo/brand on the label and packaging, meaning you can launch your own private label clothing line with Wholesale7 powering your supply chain.

Don’t have space to hold inventory? Wholesale7 also provides the option of dropshipping. In this case, they will ship the clothes directly to your customer, meaning you can save on storage costs.

3. Chinabrands

Chinabrands is one of the biggest clothing wholesalers in the world. There are hundreds of catalogs here featuring boutique clothes, jewelry, bags, shoes, and more. New and trendy arrivals are added every day. 

Also, this Chinese clothing supplier offers very generous prices for boutique apparel. You can buy tops for as low as less than $0.50, whereas high-end fashion apparel may cost just about $50. The quality of both low-end and high-end products is quite good. 

Chinabrands charges for shipping based on the size and weight of the products. It also has a dropshipping program for online boutiques, where the manufacturer will ship the items directly to your customer. You won’t have to manage any inventory.

4. Sugarlips

Sugarlips is the vendor of clothing brands like Urban Outfitters, Macy’s, and many more. This supplier is located in the US, and it holds a versatile inventory of fashion apparel for women. From dresses and jumpsuits to rompers and tops, Sugarlips offers a good range of boutique categories to pick and buy from.

Sugarlips has a team of creatives who’ve created lookbooks for retailers to take inspiration from. Their designs are classy and timeless, and they update catalogs with trendy, fashion-forward clothes for boutiques every month.

The wholesale distributor offers free shipping for orders of more than $49 within the Continental US. International customers get the usual standard and express shipping options based on their destination. 

5. Parisian

Parisian is a UK wholesaler that sells a wide range of boutique dresses, jumpsuits, coordinated sets, tops, coats, and blazers. They take inspiration from the world’s most stylish tastemakers, making their collections a must-buy for retail businesses. Parisian’s weekly update of seasonal and trending styles will keep your range fresh and customers excited for new apparel.

Parisian offers great pricing, with high quality wholesale clothing available for as little as £10. However, you can only order products in packs of six or nine—not ideal when you’re just starting out in business. 

Plus, Parisian will charge a 20% tax if you are in the UK, which might cost you more and reduce your profit. The supplier doesn’t charge tax outside the United Kingdom (including the US). USA shipping is from $30 and dispatched the same day.

6. Bloom Wholesale 

Founded in Los Angeles, USA, Bloom Wholesale is a wholesale distributor of dresses, blouses, pants, and other boutique apparel. The vendor ships across the US and offers free shipping on orders over $400. There are no minimum orders required. 

Bloom Wholesale’s clothes are easy to dress up (or down) with the change of a few accessories. They feature fun style details like sexy cut-outs, statement sleeves, peplums, and more. Your customers will appreciate the fresh and playful vibe of their clothing, which is an updated twist on classic fashion.

You can return any item if you’re unsatisfied with the size, color, or quality. However, the supplier will charge a 5% restocking fee plus shipping fees.

7. Tasha Apparel

Another US-based boutique clothing supplier, Tasha Apparel sells clothing in bulk, mostly in packs of six items. It offers a huge range of sizes and a ton of different styles, so retailers of all kinds can shop trendy wholesale clothing at up to 60-80% below the standard wholesale price. 

 Tasha Apparel offers products to wholesale buyers without minimum order quantities. It also supports dropshipping and lets store owners use images from its website for their products. Additionally, its bulk shipping and bulk rates ensure dropshippers have access to the trendiest products every season. 

 Tasha offers free shipping for orders over $300. Flat rate shipping starts from $9.95.

8. Jelly Bean

Jelly Bean specializes mainly in women’s clothing but also has a diverse range of jewelry and accessories. Its innovative team constantly sources and adds the latest in popular trendy fashion, allowing boutique owners to satisfy the broad demand of their customers. 

With this wholesale boutique clothing vendor, you can buy in bulk and have your products shipped directly to you. Jelly Bean will carefully check and securely pack your products before handing them over to the carrier. It is a great option for those who have a physical store or those looking to build up their inventory.

 Jelly Bean offers returns for products in the form of store credit. Those who wish to return an item must notify the supplier of their plan within three days of receiving the package.

9. Kiyonna Clothing

Next on our list of wholesale boutique clothing suppliers is Kiyonna Clothing. This plus-size clothing supplier is known for offering a stylish line of apparel designs to delight the curvy customer. To shop wholesale at Kiyonna clothing, you need to sign up with your boutique name and place an order. 

Kiyonna has a $500 initial minimum opening order and a $250 minimum after that. The wholesaler lets customers mix colors, styles, and sizes as needed. It never does prepacks because what works for you is their number one priority.

The best part is, Kiyonna lets you view line sheets for the upcoming seasons. Whenever they have something new, you’ll be the first to know. Order forms accompany all sheets to make ordering a breeze.

10. Magnolia Fashion Wholesale 

If you’re interested in stocking your boutique with swimwear, dresses, and suits, Magnolia Fashion Wholesale is a distributor you should have on your list. The vendor takes inspiration from the rich history of Miami’s Fashion and Arts District. You’ll find the latest styles and celebrity-inspired looks on its website.

However, this vendor only sells in packs, so you cannot buy single pieces. Also, you cannot use Magnolia for dropshipping—the company only accepts retailers who can get the items shipped to their physical location. 

When it comes to shipping, Magnolia offers fast 2-3 day US deliveries, as well as international shipping to over 80 countries. It doesn’t have a fixed shipping fee, as freight depends on the location.

11. Catwalk Wholesale

If you’re in need of fashion-forward pieces, Catwalk Wholesale is worth checking out. This UK-based wholesale boutique distributor has trendy jumpsuits, bottoms, tops, and dresses. And, unlike many other vendors, it allows you to buy individual items as opposed to packs with multiple pieces.

Catwalk Wholesale offers free delivery in the UK on orders above £250. Worldwide shipping is also available, though a £100 minimum order applies. Once you’ve paid the order, the wholesaler will prepare the items for shipment and email you the tracking number.

Find Wholesale Boutique Clothing Vendors Via Directories

Directories can help expand the wholesale clothing distributor and manufacturer options for your boutique. The vendors listed on directories are generally safe to work with as they undergo a strict verification and authentication process before they’re accepted into the search database.

We recommend checking out reputable online directories like Sqetch if you’re from Europe and Maker’s Row if you’re from the US. For overseas product sourcing, Kompass is an excellent option to consider. Steer clear of unknown directories because the vendors listed there might not be wholesalers but rather a middleman charging a fee to connect you with the actual producer.

Pro tip: While browsing directories, make sure to read customer reviews. They can help identify reputable clothing vendors and the ones to avoid. You can also request information on the whereabouts of their production facility or showroom (credible wholesalers won’t hesitate to share these details with you). 

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Attend Trade Shows to Connect with Young Boutique Apparel Wholesalers

Trade shows are a great place to find up-and-coming wholesale boutique vendors, so you can get your hands on the latest styles before your competitors. And talking face-to-face is a lot more effective than other types of communication. Plus, nothing beats being able to see and feel the product in-person.

Check out the apparel and clothing events happening in and around your locality and plan a visit. Use the Trade Show News Network to search for trade shows by date, city, state or country, and event name and/or industry. It’s the largest directory of trade events online and makes it easy to find relevant trade shows.

Pro tip: Before attending, make sure to have your business license on hand. This can literally be the difference between being welcomed and getting to buy items or being shown the exit. Wholesalers need to know that you’re legit.

Don’t Forget to Visit Nearby Clothing Markets

Nearby apparel markets are a great place to find cheap wholesale boutique clothing. Since a lot of vendors gather in these markets, you can negotiate to get the price down. More than just negotiating, visiting the market allows you to see which products are currently in fashion (vendors often promote the latest clothing through displays). 

Another option is to visit showrooms, which are shops managed directly by a wholesale distributor or vendor. The aim is to buy unique boutique clothing wholesale – pieces that haven’t made their way into retail shops (yet). Showrooms also stock items from foreign clothing brands with good discounts at reasonable prices – an easy way to stand out if you ask us. 

Online Communities Can Be a Goldmine for Wholesale Boutique Suppliers Information

Experienced fashion entrepreneurs often know a lot about wholesalers, but they don’t share their learnings with everyone and anyone. Your best bet when it comes to picking their brains is to engage in some networking. Search the online forums where veteran boutique owners hang out and strike up a conversation.

Some forums to join:

• The Wholesale Forums
• TopTenWholesale.com
• T-Shirt forums

Network and build relationships to find the best boutique wholesalers for your business.

You can also search within social media communities where fashion entrepreneurs give and seek advice. For example, Bag It Up Boutique is a Facebook group with 5,000+ members who’re mainly fashion enthusiasts. We also recommend checking out the Facebook Marketplace to find vendors in your local community. (It’s not exactly a community. But, well, you know, it’s a cool resource). 

Additionally, follow discussions around wholesale clothing on Quora to get ideas about vendors and even products. Besides learning from ongoing discussions, you may also post your own questions and get advice

What to Look for in a Wholesale Boutique Clothing Supplier

After you’ve  scoured the distributors above, you probably have a list of wholesalers in front of you. The next step is to refine that list in order to find the best vendor for your storefront. Below are some of the factors you’ll need to consider:

• Location: Knowing where the wholesaler is based is crucial because this affects cost. With overseas vendors, duties, shipping, and taxes can quickly add up and limit your margins. If you have profits in the back of your mind, go with a vendor operating in or around your region.
• Quality: If you’re going for fast fashion, quality might not be that much of a concern for your business. But if you’re planning to sell something high-end and unique, quality quickly becomes a priority. If you’re unsure about a vendor’s quality, you can always place a small order to evaluate quality before making a larger investment. 
• Adjacent items: If you want to expand beyond clothing, it would be best to choose a wholesaler who can support your growth. Vendors who sell wholesale boutique accessories, footwear, and other fashion items could offer valuable business opportunities.

How to To Identify Fake Boutique Wholesalers

You might not know this, but there are illegitimate wholesalers out there intending to make easy money off of new boutique owners. These wholesalers are actually middlemen who buy clothing from manufacturers and distributors and sell them at a higher price. Sourcing products from them means you will price yourself out of the market. You don’t want that. 

Fortunately, there are some telltale signs of fake clothing wholesalers:

• The vendor does not require your business registration or tax ID to do business with you. That’s because a fake wholesaler doesn’t care whether or not you meet government regulations.
• The company does not state where they are located or mention their name when communicating over email or phone, leaving you wondering about the shipping fee and who to contact. 
• They refuse to send you samples or behave strangely when you place a small order. This is often a sign that you’re dealing with an intermediary who’s looking to make a profit by selling in bulk at higher prices. 
• Fake suppliers selling counterfeit items will also deny sample requests, as samples give an idea of clothing quality.

Always Source From The Best

Choosing a wholesale boutique vendor is a big decision for your business, so take the time to research your options and filter out fake wholesalers. The extra time you spend now will help you avoid any unpleasant surprises down the road. Keep the above tips in mind, and you should be able to find the best wholesalers who always provide you with genuine, quality products at reasonable prices.