Four regions, four strengths.

If you sell textiles or pet products in Europe, there are in practice four regions to source from: India, Pakistan, China and Europe itself. Many buyers pick one, usually wherever they happen to know somebody. That works for a single product line. For a full collection it works less well, because each region is good at something different.

India is strong in baskets and artisanal finishing, and supplies home textiles and textiles for pets as well. Lead times are longer: count on three months of production plus roughly a month at sea.

Pakistan is the region for bed and bath textiles: towels, terry towelling and bed linen.

China is about volume: large runs in one go, at competitive prices. Fleece throws are a typical example.

Europe comes in when lead time matters most. Manufacturers in Portugal, Poland, Italy, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, among others, deliver four to six weeks after sample approval, so you can re-order mid-season instead of forecasting your collection months in advance. Certification such as Oeko-Tex or GOTS is possible in every region, not only in Europe. If a manufacturer doesn't hold it yet, they can apply for it on request, which may add to the cost.

In practice, a single supplier rarely covers every category. A collection that works might combine home and pet textiles from India, bed and bath textiles from Pakistan, fleece throws from China and European production for seasonal peaks. That only gets complicated if you try to learn every region yourself, and most retailers would rather not.

That's where an agency earns its place.