Tvoi Agent
Prato, 20 kilometres from Florence, is one of the largest textile districts in Europe, with more than 7,000 companies ranging from spinning mills and weavers to garment workshops and wholesale showrooms. For a buyer, that means you can build a range and start production in one place. Without a plan, though, it is easy to spend a week driving between warehouses and leave with stock that does not suit your market. Below we walk through the process step by step, from brief to shipment.
What you can buy in Prato and where to find it
Prato is really two worlds. The first is fabric and yarn: the district has long been strong in wool, carded and regenerated fabrics, knitted jersey and fabric stocklots. The second is finished clothing: pronto moda wholesale showrooms, where collections change every week, and garment factories that produce under your own label. Most showrooms are clustered in the Macrolotto industrial zones, while factories are spread across the district and neighbouring towns. Many companies sell only to registered businesses, not to the public, and some showrooms receive buyers by appointment only. So the first question is what you actually need: ready stock from a warehouse, fabric for your own production or garments made to your patterns. That decides the route, the budget and the timeline.
Step 1. The brief: range, budget and quantities
A good brief saves days. List the categories (dresses, knitwear, outerwear, accessories), your target price segment, size range, season and required delivery dates. Add the total budget and an estimated quantity per item: wholesalers count minimums differently, sometimes as one full size run, sometimes as a set number of pieces per style. Attach examples such as photos, links and competitor styles that sell well for you. Flag your market requirements separately: labels in the right language, fibre content, marketplace-ready packaging. With a brief like this we shortlist suppliers from our network of more than 300 vetted manufacturers in advance and plan a route for one or several days.
Step 2. Ready stock or made to order
Ready stock from a showroom works when speed matters: you pick styles that are already sewn and can ship them within a few days. The downside is that other buyers can order the same styles, and fibre content and fabric origin have to be checked item by item. Made-to-order production takes longer, because it involves samples, fabric approval and a production run. In return you get your own design, your own label and control over quality. Many of our clients combine the two: they cover the season with ready stock and have key styles made in small batches. If you are testing a market, start with ready stock in modest volumes and move to production once you see which styles sell.
Step 3. Price, minimum order and payment
Wholesale prices in Prato are normally quoted excluding VAT, and the final cost depends on volume, fabric and lead time. At factories the unit price drops noticeably as the run grows, so ask for quotes on two or three quantities. Check what is included: labels, polybags, hangers, cartons. Typical terms for new clients are prepayment by bank transfer; for production, often a deposit with the balance due before shipment. Negotiating in Italian and knowing local price levels makes a real difference: in our experience, working directly with the factory instead of through a chain of middlemen usually saves 15-30%. Put every agreement in writing on a proforma or purchase order, with styles, colours, sizes and ready date.
Step 4. Quality control before shipment
The most expensive mistake in wholesale is finding defects once the goods reach your warehouse. That is why goods are inspected before the balance is paid and before they ship. On ready stock we check seams, finishing, measurements against the size chart, colour and the fibre content on the label. In production there are three checks: before the run starts (fabric and sample), during sewing and before shipment. After each inspection we send you a photo and video report with measurements, and we discuss any defects with the factory in Italian: rework, replacement or a discount. Agree acceptable tolerances in advance, otherwise you will have nothing to base a claim on after shipment.
Step 5. Packing, documents and shipping
Once the goods are accepted they are consolidated: orders from different suppliers are brought to one warehouse, counted, packed and the cartons labelled. Exports outside the EU need a commercial invoice, a packing list and an export declaration filed by a customs representative, plus a certificate of origin where required. You choose the mode by lead time and budget: air, sea, road or express courier. Duties and taxes in your country depend on the HS code and local rules, so check current rates with a customs broker beforehand. We prepare the documents, reconcile cartons and pieces with the invoice, photograph the packed cartons and send you tracking numbers for every shipment.
In person or remotely
You do not have to travel to Prato. Many clients buy over video: we go to the showroom or factory and show you the goods live on WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber or WeChat. You see the fabric close up, ask for measurements, discuss prices and reserve styles on the spot. Your first live shopping session is included in our service. If you prefer to come, we pick you up at the airport, plan a route through factories and showrooms and interpret during negotiations. Our agent commission is 10% on orders up to EUR 2,000, 9% above EUR 2,000 and 7% above EUR 5,000, with a minimum order of EUR 500.
Before your first buying trip to Prato
- Write a brief: categories, season, size range, budget
- Decide whether you need ready stock, fabric or made-to-order production
- Have your company details ready: many wholesalers sell only to businesses
- Ask for prices on two or three quantities and what they include
- Record styles, colours, sizes and dates on the proforma
- Schedule a quality inspection before paying the balance
- Check import duties in your country by HS code with a broker
Let us plan your Prato buying
Send us your brief and we will shortlist suppliers, show you the goods over video or organise your visit, inspect the order and ship it to your country.