Sämi Thoma

Portugal is one of Europe’s leading hubs for garment manufacturing. From premium cotton to elevated knitwear, the ecosystem is strong. But let’s be clear: it’s not a one-stop shop. Portugal sits on the premium side of the price spectrum. If you play to its strengths, you’ll get a bang for your buck like nowhere else. If you don’t, you’ll pay premium prices without a real uptick in quality. So if you’re new to working with a custom clothing manufacturer, this is for you. Here’s our no-BS list...

BoF just dropped their annual deep dive on where fashion is headed. 170 pages packed with valuable data, forecasts, and macro insights on how the industry is supposed to move next. Most of it is written for large corporations with big budgets, and less connection to the people actually pushing culture forward. This is The State of Fashion 2026  translated for brands that are actually trying to establish themselves in the industry. What it means for your ecommerce, marketing, product, and...

Luxury and streetwear brands like Balenciaga, Acne Studios, Represent, and Cole Buxton have all quietly moved their production to a small but mighty hub in Northern Portugal. From the outside, it looks easy: a few emails, a visit, and you’re “in.” But on the ground, Portuguese manufacturing is an ecosystem built on craft, trust, and tradition—and unless you understand how it works, it can eat your brand alive. At Labwear, we’ve visited over 100 factories and managed production for 300+ brands...