Sourcing guide · Updated October 2026 · José Olarte, Founder
Tulum Fashions is a swimwear, resort and activewear manufacturer in Medellín, Colombia, with a showroom at the California Market Center in Los Angeles. This guide is for US brands deciding now where their 2027 collections will be made.
Short answer
For a US brand planning 2027 collections, two things decide where to produce: duty and calendar. As of October 2026, apparel entering the US pays 12.5% from Colombia, about 29% from Vietnam, about 26.5% from India and Bangladesh, 36–52% from China, and nothing from Mexico or Central America when the goods qualify under USMCA or CAFTA-DR. On the calendar, Tulum Fashions develops a style in 4 weeks, produces in 6–8 weeks from approved sample and deposit, and flies goods to the US in 3–5 days, from 150 units per style.
Key takeaways
The factory behind this guide
Sourcing, fabric approval and sample.
From approved sample and deposit.
DDP delivery available.
Up to 3 colors inside that minimum.
Numbers, side by side
| Origin | US import duty | EU & UK duty | What to watch for 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia | 12.5% (Section 301; the certificate of origin removes the MFN base) | Duty-free with rules of origin | Not exempt from Section 301; rate set in the July 2026 action |
| Mexico, Canada (USMCA) | Duty-free when goods qualify; exempt from Section 301 | — | Rules of origin decide whether a garment qualifies |
| Central America (CAFTA-DR) | Duty-free when goods qualify; exempt from Section 301 | — | Same: the exemption depends on qualifying under CAFTA-DR |
| Vietnam | about 29% typical (MFN + 12.5% Section 301) | — | — |
| India / Bangladesh | about 26.5% typical (MFN + 10% Section 301) | Bangladesh: duty-free (EBA) | A Bangladesh tariff-rate quota was announced but not confirmed as implemented |
| China | 36–52% effective on apparel | 12% MFN | 7.5% legacy Section 301 plus 12.5% forced-labor duty, on top of MFN |
The rates that will apply in 2027 have not been published, and anyone quoting them is guessing. What is on the record: the Section 301 forced-labor action took effect on July 24, 2026 and set 12.5% for Colombia, 12.5% for Vietnam and 10% for India and Bangladesh, added on top of the normal MFN rate. Chinese apparel also keeps the 7.5% legacy Section 301 duty, which puts it at 36–52% depending on the HTS code.
Two older layers are gone. The IEEPA tariffs on China were struck down by the Supreme Court on February 20, 2026, and the 10% Section 122 tariff expired on its statutory limit in July 2026. Any 2027 plan built on the 2025 numbers is out of date.
What we check before every shipment: new Federal Register notices from USTR and CBP guidance. The two most recent notices, on October 7 and October 26, 2026, concern a China product exclusion and the maritime and shipbuilding action; neither changes apparel duty.
Start from the date the goods must be in your warehouse and walk back. These are the steps and times at Tulum Fashions; the totals depend on how many correction rounds your styles need.
| Step | Time | What it needs from you |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Development | 4 weeks | The idea, references or tech pack, a target cost, and fabric approval in the first week (swatches free, shipping US$35) |
| 2. Correction rounds | 2 weeks per round | Fit comments on the sample; 3 fit rounds are included in the sample fee |
| 3. Production | 6–8 weeks | Approved sample, a complete tech pack and the 50% deposit; production is frozen from here |
| 4. Freight to the US | 3–5 days by air | Balance paid before shipping; DDP to your door or your own forwarder |
Quality control is not a separate stage at the end: every garment is checked and packed in its shipping box as it leaves the line, so the production weeks already include it.
Technical swimwear, resort and activewear in short runs. Colombia fits: Medellín has a long swimwear tradition, the time zone matches the US, and Tulum Fashions produces from 150 units per style, with up to 3 colors and at least 50 units per color. A small run of 100 to 149 units is possible with a 35% surcharge.
Basics at volume where duty is the deciding cost. Mexico and Central America win on duty when the goods qualify under USMCA or CAFTA-DR. Colombia cannot beat 0%; it competes on development, short runs and speed.
Lowest unit cost at high minimums. Vietnam, India and Bangladesh, with longer ocean transit and a wider time-zone gap for sampling.
Selling into Europe as well. Colombian garments enter the EU and the UK duty-free when the fabric meets the rules of origin, which Colombian mills such as Lafayette and Protela can satisfy.
Development fees are published on our development pricing page.
Work backward from the date the goods must be in your warehouse. At Tulum Fashions, development takes 4 weeks, each correction round adds 2 weeks, production takes 6 to 8 weeks from approved sample and deposit, and air freight to the US takes 3 to 5 days. Add the rounds you expect and a margin for fabric approval before you commit a launch date.
Nobody can promise 2027 rates. As of October 26, 2026, Colombian apparel pays 12.5% under the Section 301 forced-labor action (in force since July 24, 2026), Vietnam about 29%, India and Bangladesh about 26.5%, China 36–52%, and goods that qualify under USMCA (Mexico, Canada) or CAFTA-DR enter duty-free. Plan with today’s rates and re-check before each shipment.
No. Only USMCA and CAFTA-DR goods that qualify are exempt. The US–Colombia trade agreement certificate of origin removes the MFN base rate, but the 12.5% Section 301 duty is paid anyway.
150 units per style, with up to 3 colors inside that minimum and at least 50 units per color. A small run of 100 to 149 units is possible with a 35% surcharge. Below 100 units there is development and sampling only.
Yes. Tulum Fashions has a showroom at the California Market Center, Suite C600, Los Angeles, open by appointment for development meetings and sample reviews. Production runs in Medellín, Colombia.
Also read: Activewear manufacturer in Colombia · Full-package clothing manufacturer in Colombia · Los Angeles showroom
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