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Striped cabana towels hung over the railing on the St Kilda foreshore in Melbourne
Ship to: your business, Australiavia Terry House, Melbourne

Textile sourcing agency for Australian businessesThe right mill for every textile order.

We find, vet and manage textile factories in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and China for Australian retailers, hotels, wholesalers and brands. Sampling, costing, inspection and shipping, handled by one Melbourne team.

Request a sourcing quote See how it works
PakistanIndiaBangladeshChina
  • Since 2017Importing textiles into Australia as Terry House Pty Ltd
  • Our own millA sister terry towel mill in Karachi, so we know the factory floor
  • AQL 2.5Pre-shipment inspection on every order we manage
  • Quoted in AUDEx-factory, shipped, or delivered duty paid to your door

What we do

Your sourcing team, on the factory floor.

Offshore buying gets expensive when the wrong factory, a missed spec or a late container turns up after you have paid. We handle each step between you and the mill, so what lands in Australia matches the sample you approved.

Supplier search and vetting

We shortlist mills that already make your product at your volume, then audit capacity, certifications such as OEKO-TEX, BSCI and GOTS, and export record before you commit.

Sampling and development

We brief the factory on your spec, chase lab dips and strike-offs, and courier approved samples to you in Australia before bulk production starts.

Costing and negotiation

We compare quotes across countries, negotiate for you and show a clear per-unit cost on FOB, CIF or DDP terms, quoted in Australian dollars.

Production follow-up

We track yarn, weaving, dyeing, stitching and packing against the agreed plan, send photo updates, and warn you early if a date is at risk.

Quality inspection

Inline and final inspections check weight, size, colour, stitching and cartons against your approved sample. Goods that fail inspection do not ship.

Shipping and compliance

We book FCL or LCL freight, prepare certificates of origin and export documents, and check care and origin labelling meets Australian rules.

Garment workers at a row of industrial sewing machines
Cut and sew lines
A machinist stitching yellow fabric on an industrial sewing machine
Stitching and finishing
Multi-head embroidery machine loaded with thread cones
Embroidery and branding

Where we source

Four textile countries, each with its own strengths.

No one country does everything best. We place each order where the fibre, the skills and the price suit your product, and split a range across countries when that works out better for you.

Pakistan

Ships from Karachi and Port Qasim

--:-- 
Known for
Terry towels, bath linen, bed linen, hotel and hospital linen, denim, canvas, sportswear
Main hubs
Karachi, Faisalabad, Lahore, Sialkot
Why here
Home-grown cotton and vertically integrated mills that spin, weave, dye and stitch. Our sister mill, Al Rahim Towels, is in Karachi.
To Melbourne
About 25 to 35 days by sea*
Sourcing in Pakistan

India

Ships from Nhava Sheva, Chennai and Tuticorin

--:-- 
Known for
Home textiles, kitchen and table linen, rugs and throws, knitwear, organic cotton, block prints, jute
Main hubs
Tiruppur, Karur, Panipat, Solapur, Jaipur
Why here
Deep print and craft skills, strong GOTS organic supply, and tariff preference under AI-ECTA.
To Melbourne
About 20 to 30 days by sea*
Sourcing in India

Bangladesh

Ships from Chattogram

--:-- 
Known for
Knit and woven garments, T-shirts and polos, uniforms, workwear, denim, jute bags
Main hubs
Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Chattogram
Why here
Very competitive garment pricing at volume, and duty-free entry to Australia, which the Australian Government says will continue after Bangladesh graduates from least-developed-country status in November 2026.
To Melbourne
About 30 to 40 days by sea*
Sourcing in Bangladesh

China

Ships from Shanghai, Ningbo and Shenzhen

--:-- 
Known for
Microfibre and synthetics, performance fabrics, bedding, promotional bags, trims and packaging
Main hubs
Shaoxing (Keqiao), Nantong, Ningbo, Guangzhou
Why here
The widest material range, fast development and the shortest transit, with tariff preference under ChAFTA.
To Melbourne
About 14 to 20 days by sea*
Sourcing in China
Textile sourcing countries compared
CountryBest forMain export portsSea transit to Melbourne*
PakistanTerry towels, bath and bed linen, hospital linen, denimKarachi, Port Qasim25–35 days
IndiaHome textiles, kitchen linen, knitwear, organic cottonNhava Sheva, Chennai, Tuticorin20–30 days
BangladeshKnit and woven garments, uniforms, workwearChattogram30–40 days
ChinaMicrofibre, synthetics, bedding, promotional bagsShanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen14–20 days

How to choose a sourcing country

*Indicative port-to-port times; actual transit depends on carrier, route and transhipment. Clocks show local time against Melbourne.

Stack of navy and white striped terry towels
Towels
Stack of folded sheet sets in pink, coral and teal on a bed
Bed linen
Stacks of colourful cable-knit jumpers
Knitwear
Workers in orange high-visibility workwear seen from above
Workwear
Stacks of folded blue denim jeans
Denim
Folded T-shirts on wooden shelves beside hanging shirts
Apparel

What we source

From 500 GSM bath sheets to hi-vis workwear.

We started in towels and now source across home, hospitality and apparel textiles. If it is woven, knitted or sewn, send us the spec.

  • Towels and bath linen 400–700 GSM

    Bath, hand and face towels, bath sheets and mats, bathrobes, beach and pool towels in ring-spun, zero-twist, velour and jacquard.

  • Bed linen 200–1000 TC

    Sheet sets, quilt covers, pillowcases, flannelette, quilts and blankets in percale, sateen and flannel.

  • Hospitality and healthcare Commercial laundry rated

    Hotel linen, pool towels, table linen, hospital sheets and blankets, salon and spa towels with bleach-safe dyes.

  • Apparel and uniforms Knit and woven

    T-shirts, polos, hoodies, denim jeans and jackets, corporate and school uniforms and loungewear, from jersey to fleece.

  • Knitwear Cotton, wool and blends

    Jumpers, cardigans, cable knits, beanies and scarves, flat-knitted or fully fashioned, for retail and uniform programs.

  • Workwear AS/NZS 4602.1 hi-vis

    Drill shirts and pants, overalls, aprons, chef wear and high-visibility garments in cotton and poly-cotton.

  • Kitchen and home Yarn-dyed and printed

    Tea towels, aprons, tablecloths, cushion covers, throws and rugs in cotton and linen blends.

  • Bags and promotional Print and embroidery

    Canvas and jute totes, drawstring bags, and custom printed or embroidered towels for events and brands.

Stack of folded multi-coloured striped terry beach towels

Where we come from

We were importers first.

Terry House began by bringing our own towel ranges into Australia for hotels, salons, community organisations and online retailers. Order by order, we learned what goes wrong between a factory quote and a carton arriving in Melbourne.

Now we put that experience to work for other Australian businesses. You get people who have placed the orders, cleared the containers and handled the claims, backed by our own terry mill in Karachi and vetted partners across the region.

More about Terry House

You approve every sample and every price before any money moves.

How it works

From brief to your warehouse in six steps.

A new product usually takes 10 to 16 weeks from brief to delivery, including sampling. Repeat orders are faster because the spec and the factory are already set.

  1. Brief

    Send the product, quantity, target price and date. A photo or sample is enough to start.

    Day 1

  2. Shortlist and quote

    Comparable quotes from suitable mills, with MOQ, lead time and landed cost.

    About a week

  3. Samples

    We check factory samples first, then courier the best to you for sign-off.

    2–4 weeks

  4. Order

    You approve the sample and final price. We place the order and lock the plan.

    On your approval

  5. Make and inspect

    We follow production and send you the inspection report before goods ship.

    4–10 weeks

  6. Ship and deliver

    Freight, export papers and clearance, or delivered duty paid to your door.

    2–6 weeks at sea

Why Terry House

An Australian company with people at the source.

You get the protection of dealing with a local business and the insight of a team that makes textiles itself.

Local accountability

You contract with an Australian Pty Ltd, in Australian hours and in AUD. If something goes wrong, there is someone here to answer for it.

We make textiles too

Our group runs a terry towel mill in Karachi. We know yarn counts, GSM, dyeing and finishing, and we can tell when a quote does not add up.

Four countries, one partner

We compare options across Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and China, so you are not tied to one supplier's range or one country's prices.

Open pricing

You see the factory price, our fee, and the freight and duty estimate before you commit. No surprise charges when the container lands.

Import guides

Plain answers on duty, freight and labelling.

Short guides for Australian businesses importing textiles for the first time, with sources. All guides

Guide

Importing textiles into Australia: duties, GST and landed cost

The landed cost of imported textiles is the factory price plus freight, insurance, customs duty (usually 0% or 5%, or free under a trade agreement), 10% GST, and broker and port charges.

Read the guide

Guide

FOB, CIF and DDP explained for Australian importers

FOB means the supplier pays until goods are loaded at the origin port; CIF adds sea freight and insurance to your port; DDP means the seller delivers to your door with duty and GST paid.

Read the guide

Guide

How trade agreements cut textile duties into Australia

Qualifying textiles from China (ChAFTA) and India (AI-ECTA) enter Australia tariff-free, goods from Bangladesh currently enter duty-free, and goods from Pakistan pay the general rate, which is usually 0% or 5%.

Read the guide

Common questions

Before you ask.

What does a textile sourcing agency do?

A textile sourcing agency finds and manages overseas factories on a buyer's behalf. Terry House shortlists vetted mills, negotiates prices, manages samples, inspects production and arranges shipping, so Australian businesses can import towels, linen, apparel and workwear without dealing with each factory directly.

Which country is best for sourcing textiles?

It depends on the product. Pakistan is strongest for terry towels and bath linen, India for home textiles and organic cotton, Bangladesh for garments at volume, and China for synthetics, bedding and fast development. We compare quotes across all four countries and recommend the best fit for your order.

How long does it take to import textiles into Australia?

Plan on about 10 to 16 weeks from brief to delivery for a new product: roughly 2 to 4 weeks for samples, 4 to 10 weeks for production and 2 to 6 weeks at sea. Repeat orders are faster because the specification and the factory are already set.

What are the minimum order quantities?

They depend on the product and the mill. As a guide, towel and linen mills often start around 500 pieces per colour, and garment factories around 300 pieces per style. Where we can, we combine orders or use stock fabric to bring minimums down for smaller businesses.

How do you charge?

We agree our fee before any order is placed, either as a set percentage on the factory price or built into a landed price per unit. Either way, you see the breakdown.

Can you make products under our own brand?

Yes. We handle private label work including woven and printed labels, swing tags, custom packaging and barcodes, with care and country-of-origin labelling checked for the Australian market.

Do we need our own customs broker?

No. You can use your own broker on FOB or CIF terms, or we can deliver duty paid (DDP) to your warehouse and handle clearance for you.

Can we order samples before committing?

Yes, and we recommend it for every new product. Sample costs depend on the item and are usually credited against your first bulk order.

Start a sourcing request

Tell us what you need made.

Send a short brief. We reply within two business days with the countries that suit your product, a likely price range and next steps.

Office
Oak Park, Melbourne VIC
ABN
21 617 846 401
Preferred country (optional)
We reply within two business days.