Brexit changed the maths on where UK brands make their knit. Here's how Turkey fits between the EU and the Far East — honestly.
Brexit ended frictionless EU sourcing for UK brands — customs declarations, rules-of-origin checks and VAT changes now sit on EU shipments that used to flow freely. At the same time, the UK–Türkiye FTA quietly preserved duty-free access to a major knitwear producer. For a lot of UK brands, that combination reshuffled the options.
Short transit and strong quality, but post-Brexit friction, higher cost, and you're now an importer either way. Excellent for premium short runs.
Lowest unit price at scale, but ~8–12% UK duty, 4–6 week freight, high MOQs and harder supply-chain visibility.
Duty-free under the FTA (if origin qualifies), ~10–14 day freight, 250 MOQ, deep flat-knit capability. The middle that often wins on landed cost.
"China+1" — keeping China where it makes sense while building a second base elsewhere — is now standard risk planning. For UK brands, Turkey is a strong +1 specifically because of the duty advantage the FTA locks in: you're not just diversifying, you're moving volume to a 0%-duty origin with European-grade flat-knit and a short lane. That's a structural reason, not a fashion.
Straight talk: for ultra-low-cost commodity basics at huge volume, the Far East can still win on unit cost even after duty; and for a tightly local "made in UK/EU" story, Turkey isn't that. Its lane is mid-sized, design-led, compliance-sensitive knit with duty-free entry and fast turns. We'll tell you when another route serves you better.
Send your product and priorities. We'll give you a straight read on whether Turkey fits — and the numbers to compare against your current supplier.