Sourcing guide · Updated October 2026 · José Olarte, Founder
Tulum Fashions is a full-package clothing manufacturer in Medellín, Colombia, producing swimwear, resort wear, activewear, casual wear, uniforms and medical scrubs from 150 units per style. Development happens at our Los Angeles showroom and in Medellín; finished garments ship to your warehouse in 6–8 weeks from approved sample.
Full-package manufacturing means one supplier handles the entire production chain, from the first pattern block to the exported carton. The brand brings the design idea, a reference sample, sketches or a tech pack. The manufacturer handles everything else: pattern development and grading, fabric and trim sourcing, sampling, cutting, sewing, finishing, quality control at every stage, packing to your spec and export documentation.
The opposite is CMT (cut, make, trim), where the brand buys and ships its own fabric to the factory, which only cuts and sews. CMT gives the brand more fabric control but requires a buying team, supplier relationships and logistics infrastructure that most early-stage or mid-size brands do not have. Full-package concentrates risk and accountability in one place.
At Tulum Fashions, “full-package” also means one contact for the whole process: José Olarte responds to technical questions, fabric options, timeline concerns and export documents. You do not manage a separate pattern maker, a separate sample maker and a separate production floor. You manage one relationship.
The process below is what happens on a standard new-style development and production run. Reorders of existing approved styles skip straight to Step 4.
Total elapsed time from brief to delivery: approximately 12–14 weeks for a new style if the first sample is approved, plus about two weeks per fit correction round, plus transit. For reorders of approved styles with fabric in stock: 6–8 weeks production.
| Category | What we make | Typical fabrics |
|---|---|---|
| Swimwear | One-pieces, bikinis, trunks, board shorts, rash guards, cover-ups | Nylon-spandex, polyester-spandex, chlorine-resistant blends |
| Resort wear | Dresses, blouses, pants, shorts, kimonos, co-ords, coverups | Linen, cotton, poplin, viscose, blends |
| Activewear & athleisure | Leggings, sports bras, shorts, tank tops, hoodies, joggers | Supplex, polyester-spandex, cotton-spandex, French terry |
| Casual wear | T-shirts, polos, button-downs, shorts, chinos, casual trousers | Cotton jersey, pima, twill, denim blends |
| Urban streetwear | Oversized tees, hoodies, cargo pants, bomber jackets, tracksuits | Heavy jersey, fleece, ripstop, canvas |
| Tailoring | Blazers, suit separates, structured jackets, trousers | Wool blends, suiting fabrics, structured linings |
| Uniforms & workwear | Corporate shirts, staff uniforms, workwear sets, safety vests | Cotton-polyester blends, technical fabrics, ripstop |
| Medical scrubs | Scrub tops and bottoms, lab coats, clinical workwear | 4-way stretch polyester-spandex, cotton-polyester |
Our strongest categories are swimwear, resort wear and activewear — these three represent the core of Medellín’s manufacturing tradition and account for most of our production volume. Tailoring and uniforms are active capabilities, not aspirational. If your product category is not in the table, ask — we will tell you honestly whether it fits our plant.
These numbers are published so you have a real baseline to compare against. A factory that will not share equivalent numbers has not properly costed your product. See our full development page for the complete breakdown, or the swimwear manufacturer guide for swimwear-specific detail.
Full-package is a production model, not an e-commerce or inventory model. Tulum Fashions does not hold inventory for brands, does not ship direct-to-consumer (DTC) and does not manage returns. We ship finished production orders to your warehouse, 3PL or freight agent.
We also do not publish unit prices on the website. The cost per garment depends on the style complexity, fabric selection, quantity, season and production calendar. We quote per project after reviewing your tech pack or brief. Brands looking for a price list to shop around will not find one here — they will find a quote that matches their actual specifications.
What you always own: the patterns, tech packs and grade rules developed for your styles. These belong to your brand. If you move to a different supplier, you take your IP with you. The development fee buys the work; it does not lock you in.
Colombia has an apparel industry concentrated in Medellín that spans over a century, with a particular depth in swimwear, intimate apparel and sportswear that reflects the country’s export history. The infrastructure is local: fabric mills (Lafayette, Protela, Rivalsa), trim suppliers, elastic manufacturers, zipper distributors and button makers are all within the metropolitan area. That local supply chain means fabric can be sourced, vetted and approved in days, not weeks.
The tariff situation into the US (12.5% under Section 301 as of July 2026) is real, and we do not pretend it isn’t. Against China’s 36–52%, the Colombia premium is meaningful but not prohibitive at the unit values typical of swimwear, resort wear and activewear. For the EU, Colombian apparel enters at 0% under the trade agreement (subject to rules of origin), making Colombia the best manufacturing base for brands with significant European distribution. See our alternatives to China guide for the full comparison, and our nearshore apparel guide for the decision framework.
The factory handles the entire chain: pattern making, fabric and trim sourcing, sampling, cutting, sewing, finishing, QC, packing and export. You provide the design; you receive finished, export-ready garments. CMT is the partial version where the brand supplies its own fabric.
Full-package means we source the fabric. You can supply your own fabric (CMT-style) if you have a strong mill relationship and want that control, but we do not require it and most of our clients prefer not to manage the fabric supply chain themselves.
There is no fixed limit. We manage development capacity per calendar period, so the practical answer is: as many as the timeline allows. A brand developing eight new styles would typically stagger them across two to three development rounds rather than starting all eight simultaneously.
Yes, by appointment. We also have a showroom at California Market Center, Suite C600, Los Angeles, where you can meet with José Olarte for development meetings, sample reviews and fit sessions without traveling to Colombia.
Yes. Both women’s and men’s across all eight categories. See the women’s swimwear section for examples of our work.
Private label means you buy from an existing design catalog and put your brand’s label on it. Full-package means you develop your own designs and we manufacture them to your spec. Tulum Fashions does full-package (your designs, your IP) and OEM (we manufacture to your exact spec). We do not sell from a ready-made collection.
Also read: Activewear manufacturer in Colombia (low MOQ) · Nearshore apparel manufacturer for US brands · Alternatives to China for swimwear production · How to choose a swimwear manufacturer in Colombia · Product development in Los Angeles
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Full-package manufacturing from Medellín, Colombia. Nine categories. Minimum 150 units per style. We answer within 24 hours.