An honest comparison for Singapore brands deciding where to make their knitwear. As a free port, Singapore lets goods of any origin in duty-free — so this is a China+1 case about quality, IP, lead time and communication, not import duty.
For most brands, China is the default — and for very large commodity runs it still competes on price. Singapore is a free port, so goods of any origin clear duty-free; the choice is not about import tariffs. But for the mid-sized, design-led knitwear programmes we make, Turkey usually wins as your China+1 on the things that matter: faster delivery, stronger IP protection, founder-direct communication and the same Japanese/German machines (and Turkey additionally has the Turkey–Singapore FTA behind it). 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 Singapore (sea) | ~16–22 days (ocean) | 2–3 weeks |
| Air freight option | Yes, for urgent loads | Yes |
| Singapore import duty | Free port (both duty-free) | Free port (both duty-free) |
| 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.
Singapore is a free port, so both Turkish and Chinese knitwear enter duty-free — the gain is diversification, not tariff. Adding Turkey as your China+1 cuts single-country risk, and Turkey also holds the Turkey–Singapore FTA (TRSFTA, in force since 1 Oct 2017). Only Singapore's 9% GST applies on import.
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.