15 Best Shorts Manufacturers In The USA

Embracing the spirit of summer, shorts have become an essential wardrobe staple for men, women, and children alike. As a comfortable and stylish choice, they cater to various tastes, activities, and lifestyles.

With the rise of sustainable and ethical fashion, many consumers are now looking for high-quality pieces that are made domestically.

In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to the 15 best manufacturing partners in the USA who are committed to delivering premium quality shorts and supporting the local economy.

These manufacturers have earned a reputation for their craftsmanship, innovative designs, and dedication to sustainability. Whether you’re a fashion brand searching for a reliable supplier, or a consumer who values American-made products, this comprehensive guide will help you find the perfect partner for your needs.

Best Manufacturers Of Custom Shorts In The USA

Here’re the 15 best custom shorts manufacturers in the United States.

1. Bomme Studio

Bomme Studio is a leading made-in-USA shorts manufacturer offering full-package development, sourcing, and production.

Its services consist of personalized size labels, care labels, hang tags, patches, laces, plastic or metal aglets, heat-press stones, etc.

The company owns and operates manufacturing sites in California and Mexico, with an additional sourcing office in South Korea to ensure you get competitive costs at the highest quality available.

Pros

• Digital marketing agency services, including Shopify website building, product photography/video content, SEO, paid advertising, email marketing, brand coaching, etc.
• Payment can be made through Visa, MasterCard, Affinity Card, American Express, and PayPal.

Cons

• For custom production orders, the MOQ is 150 units per style.
• The MOQ for private-label blanks programs is 50 units per style.
• Sample development takes 4-6 weeks to complete.
• Production takes 10-12 weeks from the time your sample is approved.

2. Tailored Industry

Tailored Industry is an on-demand manufacturer specializing in knitwear shorts. Its catalog contains various production-ready styles that can be made with your labels. You can also request adjustments to create a custom style.

Tailored Industry is situated in New York, United States.

Pros

• No MOQs for on-demand services.
• Support Shopify print-on-demand dropshipping.
• Payment via Visa, Mastercard, Affinity cards, American Express, PayPal, etc.

Cons

• On-demand services cost $299-$699/month.
• No-subscription bulk production services require a MOQ of 300+ pieces.

3. Expert Brand

Expert Brand is one of the best manufacturers of sustainable US-made athletic & sports shorts.

It started in 1993 creating technical performance fabric for famous brands. Since then, the company has combined expert engineering and an eco-conscious approach to craft elevated basics that meet the rigorous demands of professional athletes and the armed forces.

Pros

• No minimum for in-stock items.
• Free shipping in the continental USA for catalog orders over $500.
• Accept all major credit cards (Discover, American Express, Visa, and Mastercard), PayPal, and Google Pay.

Cons

• A minimum of 144 units for custom neck or logo prints on stocked blanks, 1500-3000 units for custom colors, and 3000-5000 units for custom styles.
• If you’re an overseas customer, you will need to arrange your own shipping carrier.

4. Nikibiki

Founded in 2001, Nikibiki is a leader in custom American-made women’s/junior’s seamless wear manufacturing, including high-waist biker shorts, wide-ribbed biker shorts, boy shorts, and yoga leggings in sizes from standard to plus.

All of its items are crafted in Los Angeles, using super soft & lightweight fabric built on top of a refined production process and a meticulous quality check stage to ensure the highest standard of quality.

The customization services provided by Nikibiki are custom clothing labels, colors, styles, and price tags.

Pros

• International delivery.
• Free shipping for online domestic in-stock orders over $500.
• Accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.

Cons

• A minimum of $100 per order and 5 pieces per color for ready-made products.
• A minimum of 50 pieces per style per color for custom/private-label orders.
• The average lead time is about 4-6 weeks.

5. The Evans Group

Founded in 2005 in the US, The Evans Group is a reliable full-service fashion development and low-MOQ manufacturing house for over 3K emerging designers, small businesses, and high-end clothing brands, including Moncler, Banana Republic, Chantel Lauren, Kiln, Cosima, Over + Over, etc.

Its shorts production services include sourcing, grading, marking, cutting, hand sewing, trimming & packing, installation projects, and dedicated sewing modulars.

When working with The Evens Group, you will be paired with a dedicated team that walks you from start to finish, including a project manager, a design & sourcing expert, a master pattern maker, and a seasoned seamstress.

Pros

• In-house studio-level production with no minimum required (suitable for high-end brands that require special handling or quality, brands seeking rush orders, or brands seeking runs for publicity or up-front inventory for start-up sales).
• International shipping.
• Pay with major credit/debit cards.

Cons

• Factory-level production has a minimum of 50 pieces per style.
• 4-8-week turnaround times (rush deliveries within 1-4 weeks with additional charges).

6. Lefty Production Co

Lefty Production Co is a leading men’s & women’s shorts manufacturing company based in the heart of Los Angeles, California, USA.

It has collaborated with some famous fashion brands like Matthew Williamson, Rosetta Getty, Christian Siriano, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus.

When working with Lefty, you’re provided with one-stop OEM/ODM service, from sketching, designing, fabric & trim sourcing, pattern making, branding, virtual 3D sampling, marking & grading, cutting, size testing, to production, laser cutting, and packing.

Pros

• Deliver to the USA, UK, Canada, Denmark, Switzerland, and France.
• Consulting and website development services.
• Pay with credit/debit cards.

Cons

• A MOQ of 50 pieces.
• Not delivering globally.

7. ARGYLE Haus

ARGYLE Haus is a US-based design house and manufacturing firm of aesthetics shorts and pants.

Since its launch in 2010, it has been offering one-stop services to 100+ established designers, growth-stage companies, and national brands.

Pros

• Services include technical fashion design, research & concept development, fabric & material selection, pattern development, sampling & prototyping, cutting & sewing, private labeling, quality control & evaluation, marketing & promotion, etc.
• Support major credit card payment methods.

Cons

• High MOQ (starting from 300 pieces).

8. Avendors

Avendors is a shorts manufacturer in the USA that has worked with clients such as Pangaia, Fear Of God, Vuori, Vince, etc.

As for services, Avendors provides pattern making, sample making, fabric knitting, fabric dying, grading, marking, cutting, production sewing, private labeling, and trimming & packing.

Pros

• Global delivery.
• Pay via major credit/debit cards.

Cons

• 95-piece minimum.
• The production turnaround time is around 4-6 weeks.

9. LA Speedy

LA Speedy is a reliable custom/private-label apparel manufacturer of gym shorts in the United States.

Its products are available for services such as pattern-making, sampling, grading, fabric sourcing, marking, cutting, sewing, trimming, steam pressing,​ product photography, and printing/embroidery/sublimation.

Having over 20 years of production experience along with a vertically integrated manufacturing factory, LA Speedy is able to provide the newest styles quickly and ensure the quality of products.

Pros

• No minimums for stocked items.
• Payment via major credit cards, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Meta Pay, and Shop Pay.

Cons

• The MOQ for custom orders is 100-5,000 pieces. Any orders below 100 pieces per color & style are subject to a $50 cutting fee.
• The production phase requires at least 10-15 business days.
• Not shipping globally.

10. Royal Apparel

Royal Apparel is a reliable eco-friendly clothing manufacturer of custom unisex shorts located in New York, USA.

The company started in the early 90s offering private-label knitwear to luxury stores, national fashion brands, and big retailers. Nowadays, its products are picked by musicians, artists, wellness brands, entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 corporations, the tech industry, national parks, museums, breweries, wineries, and restaurants.

Regarding customization options & services, they include colors, patterns, fabrics, pigment dye, labels, screen printing, embroidery, and graphic designs.

Pros

• No minimum for in-stock blanks.
• International delivery via FedEx and UPS.
• Free freight shipping on stocked orders over $350 (within the continental US only).
• Approved wholesale accounts can order 7 blank product samples per calendar year at a 15% discount.
• Dropshipping services.
• You can pay with all major credit cards, certified checks, and money orders.

Cons

• Custom order minimums range from 1200-2400 units, per style and color.
• The lead time is 8-10 weeks from the date your samples are approved.

11. Bella+Canvas

Established in 1988, Bella+Canvas is a top sustainable clothing manufacturer based in Los Angeles, United States.

It offers premium men’s sponge fleece sweatshorts and women’s high-waist biker shorts that can be completely personalized to your needs or made ready for sewing on your branded labels.

The customization options range from patterns, color, stitching, to fabric. The development process includes custom lab dips, tech packs, and development sample approval.

Bella+Canvas owns massive production facilities that use 7x less water than the average garment producer and recycle pretty much everything that can’t be turned into garments.

In addition, Bella+Canvas’ supply chain partners are carefully evaluated based on quality, price, speed, and a shared vision around environmental and social responsibility as well as fair working conditions.

Pros

• No minimum for in-stock blank clothes.
• 50% off on up to 7 blank product samples per calendar year (only available to customers with a valid resale certificate).
• Accept credit cards, PayPal, and bank transfers.

Cons

• The minimum number of items for custom orders starts at 25,000 units per style/color.
• The development process takes 1-3 weeks and the production times start at 2 weeks.
• Do not ship to PO boxes or APO/FPO addresses.
• You have to contact the company to arrange shipments outside the USA.

12. Quality Blank

Quality Blank specializes in manufacturing streetwear shorts that are produced from custom-made 100% luxury quality cotton fabrics developed sustainably and free from harmful substances and chemicals.

This company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, United States.

Pros

• Worldwide shipping.
• Full-service production (DTG, screen printing, embroidery, sublimation, private labeling, and custom designs).
• Accept common credit cards and bank wire transfers.

Cons

• The MOQ for wholesale stocked orders is 30 units.
• An MOQ of 60-100 units for custom cut & sew orders.
• Production times are 2-3 weeks.

13. Cotton Heritage

Cotton Heritage features fleece/french terry shorts, joggers, sweatshirts, and tees that are available for private-label/custom programs.

It’s a mill-direct & WRAP-certified bulk clothing manufacturer in the USA with warehouses in Dallas TX, Los Angeles CA, and Ridgeway VA.

Pros

• No minimum for stocked orders.
• Free UPS ground shipping on catalog orders from $250.
• Generous pricing and freight discounts based on order quantity.
• Payment methods include major credit cards, company checks, and COD.

Cons

• The minimum for custom orders is 600-1200 pieces.
• Production turnaround times are 90-120 days.
• Need to contact the customer service team to arrange international shipments.

14. West Coast Blends

Based in Los Angeles, USA, West Coast Blends is an excellent full-package manufacturer of custom shorts made from 100% cotton and 0% synthetic fibers.

It provides custom style & color programs, personalized dyes & washes, printing & embroidery, private labeling, etc.

With a focus on quality and longevity in mind, the company uses the strongest stitch types along with strategically placed details and bar tacks.

Pros

• No MOQs for in-stock blanks.
• Ship timely throughout North America.
• Pay by common credit/debit cards.

Cons

• Minimum quantities for custom orders start at 500 pieces per style/color and a minimum of 1000 pieces per production run.
• Lead times start at 2 weeks.
• Doesn’t deliver globally.

15. Hyphen Apparel

Hyphen Apparel has been manufacturing and supplying quality custom shorts to licensing companies like Disney, NFL licensing, and Marvel as well as corporate retailers such as Old Navy, Gap, Hot Topic, Torrid, Buckle, and Forever21.

The company has US warehouses and offices in two locations in Los Angeles and Guatemala, offering start-to-finish services from sample making, monitor compliance, administration, production, to delivery.  

Pros

• Ship globally.
• No minimums for stocked blanks.
• Free domestic delivery on in-stock orders $150+.
• Accept PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, and Discover.

Cons

• A minimum quantity of 3,000 pieces per color per style for custom orders.

How To Start An Online Custom Shorts Store In The USA Without Buying In Bulk From Manufacturers

If you don’t want to invest a large amount of money upfront to buy inventory from manufacturers, you can still start an online custom shorts store in the USA by leveraging a fulfillment model called “print-on-demand.”

It’s a process in which a product is only printed with your own design and shipped to your customer after an order has been placed. This allows for greater flexibility and reduced costs, as there is no need to maintain inventory or pay for large runs in advance.

To start, check out the best print-on-demand partners to create and sell custom shorts online.