ODM Textile Product Development for Brands
DRU Textile helps brands develop textile products when they have an idea, a target customer and a price point, but not yet a finished design. Together we develop the product, pattern, fabric, print and colour, or adapt products from our existing range under your brand. This page explains how ODM development works at DRU, what the Brand Label (ODM) model involves, the development steps, and why it is a practical route for new brands.
What ODM Development Means at DRU Textile
In OEM production, you bring a finished design. In ODM development, the design is created or adapted together with us: you define the product, the customer and the target price, and we contribute our textile know-how on fabric, construction, sizing and finishing.
We call this model Brand Label (ODM). It is based on our know-how and existing product range: we start from products we already make, adapt them to your requirements and produce them under your brand.
The work draws on more than 60 years of textile manufacturing experience and over 10 years of export experience. Because our work includes knitted and woven fabric production, fabric development can be part of the same project rather than a separate search.
What We Develop Together
An ODM project can cover a single element or the whole product. The scope is agreed at the brief stage, depending on how much you have already defined.
Product and Pattern
We help define the product type, style and features, then develop the pattern and size range. In baby textiles, for example, this can mean choosing between short sleeve, long sleeve, sleeveless and envelope neck bodysuits, or a two-piece pyjama design suited to toilet training.
Fabric
We propose fibres and fabric structures to suit the product, from 100% cotton, organic cotton, modal and bamboo to jersey, French terry, interlock, rib, muslin, waffle, piqué and terry. Weight, width and construction are developed for the intended use, and blend ratios are agreed per project.
Print and Design
Prints, patterns and placements are developed with you. Fabrics can be plain dyed or printed with reactive, pigment or digital printing, and embroidery or jacquard can be used for logos and design details.
Colour
We help build a colour palette that works across the products in your range and suits the chosen fabrics. Colours are confirmed on samples before bulk production.
Labels and Packaging
Brand labels, care labels, hangtags and packaging are developed alongside the product. This way, the collection is ready for sale under your brand when it arrives.
The Brand Label (ODM) Model: Our Range, Your Brand
Brand Label (ODM) can shorten the development stage. Instead of starting from a blank page, you choose from products we already develop and produce, and we adapt them under your brand.
Adaptation usually covers fabric, colour, print, size range, embroidery or logo, labels, hangtags and packaging. The base product, such as a sleeping bag with a YKK® zip or a hooded bathrobe, has already been developed, so you can focus on what makes it yours. The extent of adaptation and any exclusivity of designs are agreed per project.
- Baby and children's textiles: bodysuits, sleeping bags, 1.0 and 1.5 TOG pyjama sets, children's bathrobes, hooded towels, beach ponchos, blankets and muslin swaddles
- Hotel textiles: towels, bathrobes, bath mats, bed sheets, duvet cover sets, slippers and pillows
- Home textiles: bathrobes, duvet cover sets and bath mats
Development Steps
ODM development follows our eight-step production process. More time is spent on the brief, sourcing and sample stages, where the product takes shape.
- 1Product brief
You share your brand, target customer, target price and the products you have in mind, with any mood boards or reference images.
- 2Sourcing and development
We propose fabrics, constructions, trims and design options, and develop the pattern and size range.
- 3Sample
We produce samples so you can evaluate fit, feel, colour and print. A development project may need more than one sample round.
- 4Approval
You approve the final sample, which becomes the reference for production and quality control.
- 5Production
The approved product is produced with your labels and branding applied.
- 6Quality control
Bulk goods are checked against the approved sample for fabric, colour, measurements, workmanship and branding.
- 7Packaging
Products are packed in your branded packaging as agreed.
- 8Export
Delivery can be arranged on common Incoterms such as EXW, FOB or DAP; the right option is agreed for each order.
Why ODM Suits New Brands
New brands often know their customer and price point well but do not yet have a technical team or supplier network. ODM gives them access to fabric and production know-how from the first sample.
- No full tech pack is needed to start; a clear brief and reference images are a good starting point
- Brand Label (ODM) products start from designs we already make, which can reduce trial and error
- Fabric, print, colour and branding decisions are made with a manufacturer that also produces its own fabrics
- Flexible MOQ Options Depending on Product and Material help keep a first order manageable
- Competitive Project-Based Pricing aims for the highest quality achievable at your target price
Established Brands Entering a New Category
ODM is also useful for established brands extending into a new product category. A baby brand adding bathrobes or blankets, or a home textile brand adding bath mats, can build on our existing products instead of developing each item from scratch.
ODM or OEM: Choosing the Right Route
The table below summarises how the two routes typically differ. Many projects combine them, for example a product from our range alongside your own design, and we can help you decide which route fits each product.
| Question | OEM (Private Label) | ODM (Brand Label) |
|---|---|---|
| Who creates the design? | You, through a tech pack or reference sample | Developed together, or adapted from our existing range |
| What do you need to start? | A tech pack, reference sample or detailed specification | A product brief, target price and reference images |
| Where does most of the work go? | Typically matching your specification and approving the sample | Typically developing fabric, pattern, print and colour through samples |
| Typically suited to | Brands with established designs and technical know-how | New brands, or brands entering a new product category |
| Branding | Your labels, hangtags and packaging | Your labels, hangtags and packaging |
Frequently Asked Questions
Develop Your Product with Us
Tell us about your brand, your target customer and the products you have in mind. We will suggest a development route, a sample plan and a project-based quotation.