Finding a real knitted fabric manufacturer in the USA, not a broker pretending to be one, is harder than it should be. This guide cuts through that: seven verified US knit fabric mills, checked against public business records, so you can start real conversations instead of dead-end emails.
Updated August 2026. A knitted fabric manufacturer is a mill that produces fabric by interlooping yarn on knitting machines, as opposed to weaving it on a loom, then typically dyes and finishes that fabric before selling it by the yard or pound. For apparel brand owners, the fabric mill and the garment factory are usually two different businesses, and knowing which one you need saves weeks of misdirected outreach.
This guide covers what to look for in a knitted fabric manufacturer, seven US mills verified against independent business records, and how to move from fabric to a finished garment. For fabric categories beyond knits, our overview of garment fabric manufacturers in the USA covers wovens and other constructions. Every entry below was checked against a source beyond its own website, such as Dun & Bradstreet or the Better Business Bureau, and any manufacturer we could not verify was left off rather than padded in to reach a round number. If you already know your fabric specifications, start your free project on Maker’s Row and verified US manufacturers can respond directly.
What Should You Look for in a Knitted Fabric Manufacturer?
A knitted fabric manufacturer should be evaluated on construction capability, minimum order size, and whether dyeing happens in-house. Most brand owners narrow the field on five points.
- Knit construction. Jersey, rib, interlock, French terry, and fleece each need different machine setups.
- MOQ, measured in yards or pounds, not units. A 500-yard minimum produces very different unit counts depending on your pattern. This is a different number than the per-unit MOQ a cut-and-sew factory quotes.
- Vertical integration. Mills that knit, dye, and finish under one roof offer tighter color consistency and shorter lead times.
- Certifications relevant to your market. ISO 9001 signals a documented quality system; Berry Amendment compliance matters only for government contracts.
- Sample policy. Ask for greige (undyed) sample yardage, and confirm sampling lead time separately from bulk production lead time.
7 Best Knitted Fabric Manufacturers in the USA
1. Beverly Knits (Gastonia, North Carolina)
Location: Gastonia, NC MOQ: Contact for quote (fabric minimums are set by yardage, not units) Speciality: Jersey, rib, interlock, fleece, mesh, pique, and French terry, plus performance finishes
Best for: Brands that want knitting, dyeing, and finishing handled by one vertically integrated mill
Founded in 1980, this knitted fabric manufacturer operates over 450,000 square feet across five buildings in Gastonia. Roughly half of production goes to apparel, with the rest split across bedding, automotive, medical, and industrial fabrics. Machine capabilities span 8 to 60 inch diameters and 7 to 42 gauge, covering most standard and fine-gauge apparel knits. For a brand that wants one mill to knit, dye, and finish a performance fabric instead of coordinating three vendors, Beverly Knits is a straightforward starting point.
2. Adele Knits (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
Location: Winston-Salem, NC MOQ: Contact for quote Speciality: Jersey, interlock, double knit, and high-stretch nylon and polyester circular knits
Best for: Activewear and swimwear brands that need ISO 9001-certified stretch fabric
Founded in 1970, this mill operates from a 200,000 square foot, ISO 9001-certified facility. ISO 9001 is an internationally recognized quality-management standard, meaning the company documents and audits its own production process rather than relying on informal quality checks. Adele Knits runs roughly 85 knitting machines with a stated capacity of over 300,000 pounds of fabric weekly, and has supplied major automotive manufacturers for more than two decades alongside its sports and activewear performance knits. That combination of scale and formal quality documentation suits a brand needing consistent stretch-fabric performance at volume.
3. Coville (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
Location: Winston-Salem, NC MOQ: Contact for quote Speciality: Circular knit fabric production combined with full-package cut-and-sew manufacturing
Best for: Brands that want fabric and finished-garment production from a single supplier relationship
Founded by Henry Jordan in 1976, this knitted fabric manufacturer has since folded in two subsidiaries: Alandale Knitting Company, a circular knitting operation opened in Troy, North Carolina in 1966, and Carolina Apparel Group, a cut-and-sew division started in 1975. Because it combines knit fabric production with garment manufacturing and logistics, a brand can move from fabric development to finished, packed product without switching vendors mid-way. Coville serves private label apparel, military, and personal protective equipment markets, with a focus on activewear and sportswear knits.
4. Draper Knitting Company (Canton, Massachusetts)
Location: Canton, MA MOQ: Contact for quote Speciality: High pile sliver knit, technical fleece, and specialty industrial knit constructions
Best for: Brands needing a knit texture outside standard jersey, such as sherpa-style pile or technical lining fabric
Incorporated in 1856, this knitted fabric manufacturer is the oldest company on this list, still run by the sixth generation of the founding family. The 120,000 square foot facility runs more than 40 knitting machines alongside an in-house dye house, and its specialty is high pile sliver knit and technical fleece rather than plain jersey. Draper’s fabrics also go into footwear linings, paint roller covers, and filtration media, worth a call if your design needs a heavy pile or technical texture a standard jersey mill does not produce.
5. Straus Knitting Mills (St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin)
Location: St. Croix Falls, WI MOQ: Contact for quote Speciality: Knit cuffs, tubular trims, and ribbed knit goods
Best for: Outerwear and jacket brands that need ribbed cuffs, waistbands, or collar trim, not yardage
Founded in 1917 by tailor Abraham Straus, this woman-owned, family-run mill is now in its second century. Straus is a 100% Berry Amendment compliant supplier, meaning its inputs meet the US government’s domestic-sourcing requirement for military textile contracts. Its product is narrower than the other mills here: instead of broad fabric yardage, Straus knits cuffs, tubular goods, and ribbed trim for jacket hems, sleeve cuffs, and medical gown closures. A brand designing outerwear that needs a ribbed knit cuff, not a full fabric roll, should call this knitted fabric manufacturer before a general jersey mill.
6. Texollini (Long Beach, California)
Location: Long Beach, CA MOQ: Contact for quote Speciality: Stretch circular knits, including Lycra and spandex blends, for activewear and swim
Best for: West Coast activewear and swimwear brands that need domestic stretch-fabric production
Founded in 1989, this knitted fabric manufacturer is one of the larger circular knitting mills in the country, with knitting, dyeing, printing, and finishing all handled at its Long Beach facility. Its core specialty is Lycra and spandex stretch fabric for activewear, athleisure, swimwear, and intimate apparel, categories where stretch recovery matters more than in a basic tee fabric. For a West Coast brand, a domestic mill in the same time zone shortens the back-and-forth on lab dips and stretch testing compared with sourcing overseas.
7. Eagle Fabrics (Carson, California)
Location: Carson, CA MOQ: Contact for quote Speciality: Eco-friendly knits, including organic cotton, bamboo, soy, and recycled fibers
Best for: Sustainability-focused sportswear and loungewear brands wanting smaller-batch domestic knits
Established in 1988, Eagle Fabrics knits, dyes, finishes, and prints its fabric locally in the Los Angeles area rather than outsourcing those steps. Its lines lean toward sportswear, loungewear, dance, yoga, maternity, and activewear, with a stated focus on organic cotton, bamboo, soy, and recycled fibers. For a brand whose positioning depends on sustainable sourcing, this knitted fabric manufacturer is a more targeted fit than a large industrial mill built around volume automotive or military contracts.
Knitted Fabric Manufacturer Comparison Table
Manufacturer | Location | MOQ | Speciality | Best For |
Beverly Knits | Gastonia, NC | Contact for quote | Jersey, rib, interlock, French terry | Vertically integrated apparel and performance knits |
Adele Knits | Winston-Salem, NC | Contact for quote | Jersey, interlock, double knit, stretch nylon/poly | ISO 9001-certified activewear and swim knits |
Coville | Winston-Salem, NC | Contact for quote | Circular knit + full-package cut and sew | Fabric and finished garment from one supplier |
Draper Knitting | Canton, MA | Contact for quote | High pile, fleece, technical constructions | Specialty knit textures beyond standard jersey |
Straus Knitting Mills | St. Croix Falls, WI | Contact for quote | Knit cuffs, tubular trims | Outerwear brands needing ribbed trim, not yardage |
Texollini | Long Beach, CA | Contact for quote | Lycra/spandex stretch circular knits | West Coast activewear and swim brands |
Eagle Fabrics | Carson, CA | Contact for quote | Organic cotton, bamboo, recycled knits | Sustainability-focused sportswear and loungewear |
Comparing seven mills by phone and email means seven separate conversations before a quote. The faster path is describing your fabric once and letting qualified mills respond to you.
Find Knitted Fabric Manufacturers on Maker’s Row
Maker’s Row is a marketplace connecting apparel brand owners with verified US manufacturers, including fabric mills and cut-and-sew factories, so you are not limited to the seven listed above. Describe your knit construction, weight, and fiber content in a free project brief, and manufacturers who actually work with that specification respond directly. You can also browse Maker’s Row’s directory of clothing manufacturers in the USA if you need a cut-and-sew partner once your fabric is sourced.
How Do You Choose the Right Knitted Fabric Manufacturer for Your Brand?
Choosing the right knitted fabric manufacturer comes down to matching construction capability and minimum order size to your production stage, not picking the biggest name on the list.
- Confirm the exact construction before requesting a quote. Specify jersey, interlock, rib, or fleece, along with gauge and weight in GSM.
- Ask for the MOQ in both yardage and estimated garment units. A 500-yard minimum means something different for a fitted t-shirt than an oversized hoodie.
- Request greige sample yardage before a dye lot. Undyed sample fabric lets you test hand feel and stretch recovery before paying for a custom dye run.
- Verify certifications match your market. ISO 9001 and Berry Amendment compliance add cost you may not need outside government-adjacent work.
- Ask who handles dyeing and finishing. If outsourced, your lead time and color consistency depend on two companies coordinating, not one. The Small Business Administration recommends confirming a supplier’s full production chain before committing budget to any purchasing decision.
Also Read: How to Find the Best Textile Fabric Manufacturers in the USA →
FAQs About Knitted Fabric Manufacturing in the USA
A knitted fabric manufacturer produces fabric by interlooping yarn on knitting machines rather than weaving it, then typically dyes and finishes it before selling by the yard or pound. This is separate from a cut-and-sew factory, which buys finished fabric and sews it into garments.
US knit fabric mills generally quote minimums in yardage rather than units, and the number varies by construction and dye lot. Stock-color jersey can ship in smaller quantities than a custom-dyed technical knit, which usually needs a full production-size dye lot to be cost-effective for the mill.
Greige sample yardage from an in-stock construction can often ship within a week or two, while a custom-dyed sample takes longer since it requires a dedicated dye batch. Ask any mill to quote sampling lead time and production lead time as two separate numbers.
Circular knit, which includes jersey, interlock, and rib, is produced on a circular machine and stretches in multiple directions, common in t-shirts and activewear. Warp knit, such as tricot, is produced on a flat machine, resists runs better, and is more common in lingerie and technical textiles.
Some US mills accommodate smaller first orders, particularly for stock-color, in-stock constructions rather than fully custom fabric. Ask directly about minimum order size for an existing colorway versus a new development, since the two can differ significantly at the same mill.
Check the company against a source beyond its own website, such as the Better Business Bureau, a state registry, or Dun & Bradstreet, and confirm a real physical US address and founding history. Membership in a group such as the American Apparel & Footwear Association is a further positive signal. A manufacturer with no independent record is worth extra scrutiny before you send a deposit.
Per-yard pricing is often lower overseas, but that comparison typically leaves out freight, import duties, longer lead times, and holding more inventory to cover a longer supply chain. According to BLS data, the US Textile Mills industry, which includes knit fabric production, employed roughly 89,630 workers as of May 2023, a domestic base that supports shorter lead times than an overseas-only supply chain.
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