Flat-Knit Hall — 22 Machines (Shima Seiki + Stoll)
In-House QC Team
Merino · Cashmere · Alpaca Yarns
Linking & Finishing
Export-Ready Packing
Flat-knit knitwear for South African brands and Southern-Africa distributors — 100,000 pieces a month from Turkey on Shima Seiki WHOLEGARMENT + Stoll CMS. A premium China+1 quality play, ~26–40 day shipping to Durban, founder-direct, no agency markup.
MOQ · 250 250 pieces for each color and size — e.g. 1 model × 3 colors × 5 sizes = 3,750 pieces. We do not produce below this.
Founded in 2010 by Mehmet Özbakır in Gaziantep, Kiwi Giyim runs 22 dedicated flat-knit machines — 15 Shima Seiki (incl. WHOLEGARMENT) and 7 Stoll CMS. Every number below is committed, repeatable output from a specialist team of 50+.
~700,000 pieces per year across all flat-knit lines
Knit technicians, sample makers & QC specialists
15 Shima Seiki (incl. WHOLEGARMENT) + 7 Stoll CMS
Founder Shima Seiki & Stoll-trained — flat-knit from day one
Send your tech pack, reference sample or concept. Our in-house knit technicians review gauge, construction and yarn spec within 48 hours.
First sample in 10–14 days incl. shipping (R1,500–3,400). Shima Seiki WHOLEGARMENT or Stoll CMS, 3–14gg. Intarsia, jacquard, cable, fully-fashioned.
You review and approve the sample. Fit corrections or yarn changes handled in counter-sample round before bulk is confirmed.
Full production run on Shima Seiki & Stoll machines. Near zero-waste knit-to-shape. GOTS organic cotton or GRS recycled yarns on request.
100% visual inspection by in-house QC. Measurements logged per size/colourway. Linking, washing, labelling per buyer spec.
Buyer-spec packing: folded/hanging, polybag, inner box, master carton. Barcode & label application. Produced to meet REACH/CPSIA/GPSR market requirements using compliant, certified materials.
Export worldwide by sea, land & air via Mersin/İskenderun ports — transit times on request. Full customs documentation; production uses compliant, certified materials for EU, US and other target-market requirements.
From a tech pack or a reference sample, our in-house knit technicians and sample makers handle the full development cycle. Merino, cashmere, alpaca, mohair, cotton, TENCEL, recycled polyester and organic cotton — we source and knit them all.
From our own flat-knit factory floor to a vetted partner network — one point of contact covering the full knit spectrum.
Knitted in our own factory on Shima Seiki & Stoll machines. Full gauge range, full-fashioned or WHOLEGARMENT construction — all under one roof.
Produced through our vetted knit partner network — one point of contact, one quality standard. We coordinate sampling, QC and logistics so you don't have to manage multiple suppliers.
We focus exclusively on knit — no woven, no shirts, trousers or denim. That single focus means deeper machine investment, finer technical knowledge, and better output quality in the category that matters to you.
Founded in 2010 by Mehmet Özbakır — Shima Seiki and Stoll-trained, hands-on in flat-knit ever since. For South African brands, Turkey is a standout China+1 partner. South Africa applies a high MFN import duty on knitwear (HS 61, roughly 40–45% — confirm at import) and both origins pay it, so this is a quality play, not a low-cost one: WHOLEGARMENT seamless, founder-direct, stronger IP. Ocean freight reaches Durban in ~26–40 days — the gateway to re-distribute across the SACU customs union and the wider SADC region.
Kiwi Giyim does not hold facility-level certifications — we source certified yarns from accredited suppliers and produce to your target market's requirements, passing the supplier's certificates and traceability to you.
You work directly with Mehmet Özbakır — no agencies, no middlemen, no markup. Faster decisions, transparent pricing, and a single accountable contact from sample to shipment.
Knit-to-shape technology (WHOLEGARMENT & fully-fashioned) means minimal fabric waste per garment. GOTS organic cotton, GRS recycled yarns and OEKO-TEX-certified yarns sourced from accredited suppliers — available on all orders.
Ocean to Durban (the busiest port in sub-Saharan Africa) or Cape Town in ~26–40 days — FOB or DDP, priced in ZAR or USD. Clear at Durban and re-distribute across the SACU customs union (Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini) and the wider SADC region. South Africa's high MFN duty applies to all origins — plan landed cost, confirm the rate at import.
First sample delivered and shipped in 10–14 days, R1,500–3,400 incl. shipping. Bulk production follows in 45–60 days from approved sample — planned scheduling protects your season.
Searching for a clothing manufacturer or garment manufacturer in South Africa for your knit range — jerseys, jumpers, cardigans and knit tops? Here's where we fit, honestly. We're a flat-knit specialist that supplies South African brands from our own factory in Gaziantep, Turkey — not a local Cape Town or Durban cut-and-sew house, and we don't claim to be. For the knitwear part of your collection we're a dedicated manufacturer: 250-piece MOQ, WHOLEGARMENT and fully-fashioned knitting, export quality. One honest caveat — South Africa charges significant import duty on knitwear (SACU tariffs can reach ~45%), so budget for duty and VAT; we compete on knit specialism, small runs and quality, not on duty.
FAQ
We're a knitwear manufacturer, not a cut-and-sew sewing workshop. We knit each garment to shape (fully-fashioned) on Shima Seiki WHOLEGARMENT and Stoll flat-knitting machines, rather than cutting and stitching panels from woven fabric. That's how we make sweaters, cardigans, pullovers, vests and knit dresses — engineered as knitwear from the yarn up.
We supply finished garments only, not knit fabric or yarn by the metre. Every piece leaves our factory complete, finished and quality-checked, ready for your label. If you're looking for fabric rolls or yarn cones, we're honestly not your supplier; if you want ready-to-sell knitwear, we are.
Yes. Our minimum is 250 pieces per colour and style. That makes us a practical partner for South African brands launching new lines, testing ranges or ordering in modest quantities on a real production run.
To be straight with you, there is no free-trade agreement between Turkey and South Africa, so we can't offer duty-free entry. Standard SACU import duties apply to knitwear and can run as high as around 45%, and SA VAT is charged on import too, so please budget for both. We'd recommend confirming the exact tariff line and any applicable rebate with a customs broker — we compete on knit specialism, export quality and lead time, not on duty.
Yes — we work on an OEM and private-label basis, producing entirely under your own brand and label. We never put our own competing brand on the goods, so everything we make carries your identity, not ours. Your designs, specifications and labelling remain yours throughout.
We're based in Gaziantep, Turkey — a major knitwear manufacturing hub — and we've been knitting since 2010. We're upfront about this: we're not a South African factory, so if you specifically need local domestic production, we're not the right fit. If you want a specialist knitwear manufacturer with a 250-piece MOQ and export quality, we supply South African buyers regularly.
Send us your tech pack, reference sample or brief. We respond within 1 business day with a capacity check, indicative pricing and sample timeline. You deal directly with the founder — Mehmet Özbakır.
Send us your tech pack or brief — Mehmet responds within 1 business day with a capacity check and indicative pricing.
You'll be speaking directly with the founder — no agencies, no middlemen.