Manufacturing workwear in Tunisia: how it works

The framework: an Association Agreement with the European Union

Tunisia and the European Union are bound by an Association Agreement signed in 1995, which entered into force in 1998. According to the European Commission, the agreement provides for industrial products to move between the two parties free of customs duties, in both directions.

Workwear falls within this framework on one condition: it must qualify as "originating" under the rules of origin. This depends mainly on where the fabrics come from. It is settled before the order is placed, not at customs clearance. We cover it in detail in our article on customs duties and rules of origin.

Who is involved in a garment production project

A manufacturing project brings together several parties, each with a clear role:

• The brand or buyer: defines the product, supplies the tech pack, approves the prototype and the production.
• The garment manufacturer: cuts, sews, inspects and packs the garments. Under full package, it also buys the materials.
• Fabric and trims suppliers: chosen by the client under CMT, by the manufacturer under full package.
• The freight forwarder: organises transport and handles customs formalities at export and import.
• Customs authorities: check the documents, including the proof of origin.

Knowing who does what avoids grey areas. For example, if the client supplies the fabrics, it is the client's responsibility to make sure their origin allows duty free entry.

The stages of an order

At Vestra, an order goes through five stages.

1. The tech pack. The client sends the full description of the garment: drawings, measurements, materials, trims, construction details, labelling, packing.
2. The quotation. The manufacturer costs the item by breaking it down into sewing operations. This list is called the operation breakdown. The more precise the tech pack, the more reliable the costing.
3. The prototype. A first sample is made and submitted to the client. Production only starts once it has been approved.
4. Production. This covers cutting, sewing and quality control, followed by packing.
5. Shipment. The garments leave under the terms agreed with the client.

For shipment, Vestra offers two options: FOB delivery, or delivery to the client's warehouse through a freight forwarder. Under FOB, as defined by the International Chamber of Commerce, the seller delivers the goods loaded on board the vessel nominated by the buyer at the port of shipment, and clears them for export. Risk then passes to the buyer. This Incoterms rule applies only to sea and inland waterway transport.

What to prepare before requesting a quotation

A manufacturer cannot cost a garment accurately from a two line description. Before the first contact, gather the following:

• The complete tech pack: flat sketches, size specification sheet, bill of materials and trims, seam details, position of branding.
• The patterns, if you work on a CMT basis: the manufacturer cuts from your patterns.
• The production model you want: CMT (you supply fabrics and trims) or full package (the manufacturer buys the materials).
• Quantities per style and per colour: they determine how production is organised. At Vestra, the minimum is 200 pieces per style, and small runs are reviewed case by case depending on the number of colours.
• The origin of the fabrics: it determines whether the garment can enter the EU free of customs duties.
• Labelling requirements: in the EU, Regulation (EU) No 1007/2011 requires the name and percentage by weight of all fibres to be shown, in the official language or languages of the country where the product is made available.
• Delivery terms: FOB or delivery to your warehouse.

Following production remotely

Producing outside your own country raises a simple question: how do you know where your order stands? Vestra provides an online client portal. The client follows each order stage by stage: materials, cutting, sewing, inspection, shipment. The portal also holds the client's documents.

Communication takes place in French, English, Dutch or German. The sales contact is based in Nice. The factory is 25 minutes from Enfidha airport and can be visited by appointment. A visit lets you see the production lines, the machinery and quality control before placing a first order.

At Vestra

Vestra Manufacturing SARL has produced workwear in Sidi Bou Ali, near Sousse, since 2023. The 2,400 m² site has 5 production lines and 1 prototype line, around 300 machines and 120 production staff. Coveralls, trousers, jackets and high visibility garments run on the large lines; smocks, medical tunics and aprons on the small lines. Every order follows the same stages, from tech pack to shipment, and remains visible on the client portal.

To request a quotation, send your tech pack to sales@vestratextile.com.

Frequently asked questions

Who supplies the fabrics?

It depends on the model chosen. Under CMT, the client supplies fabrics and trims. Under full package, the manufacturer buys them. At Vestra, full package is offered for certain product families.

What minimum quantity should I plan for?

At Vestra, production starts from 200 pieces per style. Small runs are reviewed case by case, depending on the number of colours.

What customs duties apply on arrival in the EU?

A garment that qualifies as originating in Tunisia enters the EU free of customs duties under the Association Agreement. Originating status depends on the rules of origin, in particular on where the fabrics come from, and should be checked before ordering.

Vestra Manufacturing, workwear manufacturer in Tunisia →

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