This article is published in English.
2026-03-18 · Arrown Trading · Buying guides
OEM vs ODM Workwear
For medium and large workwear distributors supplying the USA and Europe.
Buyers mix these words. On this site they mean two different starts, and the same finish: a sample you approve, then bulk at an EX-WORKS price.
OEM
OEM means we manufacture from your tech pack or your approved sample. The style is yours. We are not selling that pattern to the next buyer. Send the pack, the size spec, and the artwork if a label is part of the program.
ODM
ODM means we develop from a catalog style or a reference photo when you do not have a finished pack. AT-301, the canvas jacket, is a typical start. We change cloth, pockets, or a collar, sew a sample, and wait. You are not buying a sealed retail design off a shelf.
Private label sits on top of either
A woven label, embroidery, or print is branding. It is quoted on its own line. It does not change whether the path was OEM or ODM. We do not list other customers’ brands as proof.
Questions on this guide
Is private label the same as OEM?
No. OEM is who owns the pattern. Private label is whose brand is sewn on the garment. You can do both.
What is the minimum?
50 pieces per style and color on either path. A second color is a second minimum.
Can you develop a style if I only have photos?
Yes. That is the ODM path. You still approve the sample in writing before bulk.