Men's workwear wholesale Guide - HAIYUAN Manufacturer

The men’s workwear wholesale market is vast, ranging from durable everyday basics to specialized safety-compliant gear. Here is a breakdown of the top wholesale suppliers and how to choose the right one for your business.

Top Tier: The Major Workwear & Safety Specialists

These distributors are dedicated to workwear and often have extensive catalogs of compliant safety gear (FR, Hi-Vis).

1. Cintas (Wholesale Division)
  - Best For: Corporate uniform programs, branded workwear, facility services, and high-volume safety gear.
  - Key Brands: Their own high-quality brand, plus major safety brands.
  - Notes: They are a service company as much as a distributor, often offering rental and cleaning programs. Their wholesale division supplies businesses that then resell or imprint the gear.
    
    cintas
2. Red Kap
  - Best For: Industrial uniforms, corporate branding, and durable service apparel. A classic in the workwear industry.
  - Key Brands: Red Kap (their own flagship brand), and other major players.
  - Notes: Excellent for everything from mechanic’s shirts to executive uniforms. Strong e-commerce platform for wholesale.
3. RefrigiWear
  - Best For: Extreme cold weather and freezer workwear.
  - Key Brands: Their own industry-leading insulated clothing.
  - Notes: The go-to specialist for anyone working in cold storage, logistics, or outdoor winter conditions.
    
    refrigiwear
4. Ergodyne
  - Best For: Industrial safety gear, back supports, knee pads, cooling gear, and high-visibility accessories.
  - Key Brands: Their own innovative brand focused on worker comfort and safety.
  - Notes: Perfect for supplementing a workwear line with essential safety accessories.
    
    ergodyne
5. Haiyuan
  - Best For: Workwear, protective clothing and high-visibility uniforms.
  - Key Brands: Their own innovative brand focused on worker comfort and safety.
  - Notes: Perfect for supplementing a workwear line with essential safety accessories.
    
    haiyuan clothing factory

Mainstream Wholesalers with Strong Workwear Sections

These are the “big box” wholesalers that carry a significant selection of workwear brands alongside their general apparel.

SanMar
- Best For: A one-stop shop for corporate workwear, polos, and branded apparel. Excellent for businesses that need a professional, uniformed look.
- Key Brands: Dickies, Carhartt, Red Kap, Bulwark (FR), and their own durable house brands like Port & Company and District.
- Notes: Their website is top-tier, inventory is massive, and customer service is reliable. A primary source for many decorators and retailers.
  
  sanmar
S&S Activewear
- Best For: Volume orders on core workwear items like t-shirts, hoodies, and basic jackets.
- Key Brands: Carhartt, Dickies, Bulwark (FR), Harbor Lace, and many others.
- Notes: Fast shipping and a huge network of warehouses. If you’re already using them for blanks, they are a logical first stop for workwear.
  
  S&S Activewear
Alpha Broder
- Best For: Direct competitor to S&S with a similar (but not identical) brand lineup.
- Key Brands: Carhartt, Dickies, Erb Safety, and others.
- Notes: Always compare pricing and stock between Alpha and S&S.

Brand-Direct Wholesale Websites

For the strongest margins and direct relationship, you can buy directly from the leading workwear brands. This usually requires a formal wholesale application.

Carhartt Wholesale
- The iconic American workwear brand. Known for extreme durability.
- Process: You need to apply for a wholesale account through their website. Once approved, you can access their full B2B catalog and ordering system.
  
  carhartt
Dickies Wholesale
- A legacy brand known for affordable and durable workwear, from jeans to shirts and coveralls.
- Process: Similar to Carhartt, you must apply for a business account to see true wholesale pricing and place orders.
  
  dickies
5.11 Tactical Wholesale
- Best For: Tactical, law enforcement, and first responder gear. Also popular for its durable, functional pants and shirts.
- Process: Requires a wholesale application, often with proof of business (e.g., business license, resale certificate).

Niche: Flame-Resistant (FR) Apparel

This is a specialized and regulated category. You must ensure any FR gear you sell meets the specific safety standards (e.g., NFPA, ASTM) required by the end-user’s industry.

Aramark Uniform Services (Wholesale)
Bulwark Protection (often carried by the major distributors like SanMar and S&S)
Workrite FR

How to Choose & Get Started: A Checklist

Define Your Customer’s Need:
- General Durability: (Carhartt, Dickies, Haiyuan)
- Corporate/Uniform Look: (Red Kap, SanMar’s Port & Company, Haiyuan)
- Safety Compliance (Hi-Vis, FR): (Bulwark, RefrigiWear, Ergodyne, Haiyuan)
- Tactical/First Responder: (5.11 Tactical)
Have Your Business Paperwork Ready: You will need your Business License and Resale Certificate to open any wholesale account.
Order Samples: This is critical. The fit, feel, and durability of workwear can vary significantly between brands. You need to feel the fabric, test the stitching, and understand the sizing before you sell it.
Compare True Costs: Look at the “landed cost” – the item price plus shipping. A cheaper item from one supplier might end up costing more than a slightly pricier item from another with lower shipping fees.
Start with a Primary Supplier: For most retailers, starting with SanMar or S&S Activewear is the best move because of their vast selection and reliability. Then, add brand-direct accounts (like Carhartt or Dickies or Haiyuan) as your business grows and you need more specific products or better margins.

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Men’s workwear wholesale Guide

Table of Contents

Top Tier: The Major Workwear & Safety Specialists