An honest comparison for New Zealand brands deciding where to make their knitwear. Where Turkey wins as a China+1 partner — quality, WHOLEGARMENT, MOQ, lead time, IP, communication — and where China still makes sense.
For most brands, China is the default — and for very large commodity runs it still competes on price. But for the mid-sized, design-led knitwear programmes we make, Turkey is a strong China+1 partner: lower minimums, stronger IP protection, in-house WHOLEGARMENT and the same Japanese/German machines, with a founder you talk to directly. New Zealand has no FTA with Turkey, so there is no Turkey-specific duty advantage — NZ clothing duty is low MFN and broadly similar for both origins, so the decision rests on quality, trust and lead time. Here is the honest breakdown.
| Factor | Turkey (Kiwi) | China |
|---|---|---|
| Sample lead time | 10–14 days | 2–3 weeks |
| Bulk lead time | 45–60 days | 6–8 weeks |
| Transit to NZ (Auckland) | ~30–45 days (sea, via Singapore/Australia) | 2–4 weeks |
| NZ import duty | Low MFN (both origins similar) | Low MFN (both origins similar) |
| IP / design protection | Strong (enforceable NDAs) | Moderate–weak |
| Machines | Shima Seiki + Stoll | Variable |
| Communication | English, founder-direct | Variable, agents common |
| Best for | Mid-sized, design-led runs | Very large commodity runs |
Figures are indicative and vary by style, yarn and season.
New Zealand has no FTA with Turkey, so duty is low MFN for both origins — there is no tariff edge either way. What you gain is a second, independent supply base: in-house WHOLEGARMENT, founder-direct service and a 250 MOQ built for a small market, de-risking sole reliance on China.
Every size is knitted as its own fully-fashioned programme on Shima Seiki and Stoll machines — not cut from shared fabric — so the fit is true and the garment holds its shape wash after wash.
We run the same Shima Seiki (Japan) and Stoll (Germany) flat-knit machines as top workshops — with tighter, more consistent QC and a founder you talk to directly.
Enforceable NDAs and lower copy-risk protect your designs — a real concern brands raise about some Chinese sourcing.
We will tell you straight: for very large single-SKU commodity runs (well over 10,000 units of one basic style), China's scale can still win on unit cost. If that is your programme, China may be the better call. For mid-sized, design-led, compliance-sensitive knitwear with fast season turns — that's where we're built to win.
Send a tech pack or a brief. We respond within one business day with a capacity check, indicative pricing and a sample timeline — compare it directly against your China quote.