Apparel OEM and ODM, made in our own Seoul factory
What you can hand over
Three arrangements, and which one fits depends on what you already have. Drawings in hand means OEM; an idea without drawings means ODM; buying what is already made means brand purchase.
| Model | You bring | We do | Fits when |
|---|---|---|---|
| OEM | Design, patterns, spec | Produce to your spec | You have the design capability, not the plant |
| ODM | Idea, direction | Planning, development, production | You cannot take it as far as drawings |
| Brand purchase | — | Supply already-produced goods | You want to label and sell quickly |
If you are not sure which applies, send what you have as it is. Even a single flat sketch is enough for us to tell you whether OEM is workable.
It finishes inside one address
The sewing floor, print room, warehouse and research lab are in the same complex. Splitting those across separate vendors adds transit time and blurs who is responsible. Here that gap does not exist.
| Facility | Location | What happens there |
|---|---|---|
| +82 FACTORY | Building C, 2F | Automated cutting, overhead hanger line, sewing, packing |
| +82 DESIGN | Building C, 1F | DTF transfer printing, heat-press finishing |
| +82 HOUSE | Building C, 1F | Storage and domestic/international dispatch |
| +82 R&D | Building A, 1F | Corporate research institute, accredited by the Ministry of Science and ICT |
468 Seobusaet-gil, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea · Buildings A, B and C
RFID tags can be attached on the line
This is where we differ from an ordinary sewing factory. Korean Friends handles both garment production and apparel RFID sensors within the same company. Tags do not have to be applied to finished goods afterwards — attachment can sit inside the production process, so a garment's history exists from the moment it is made.
| Reg. no. | Subject | Registered |
|---|---|---|
| 10-2745325 | Automatic RFID tag attachment and RFID-based garment management system | 2024.12 |
| 10-2693675 | Automated hanger system for apparel manufacturing | 2024.08 |
| 10-2828191 | Operating method for an RFID-based hanger system with history tracking | 2025.06 |
How to decide on adoption, band and attachment method is covered in What should you decide first when adding RFID to garments? The technology itself is covered at RFID-X.
What can be verified
When choosing a supplier, a checkable record beats a claim. Everything below can be confirmed through a registration number or a published source.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Registered patents | 7, held by KOREANFRIENDS CO., LTD. at the Korean Intellectual Property Office |
| Export contract | Saudi Arabia, three-year USD 15 million exclusive supply (2024) |
| Export Tower | USD 1M (2020), USD 3M (2021), USD 7M (2022) — Korea International Trade Association |
| Supply | The Metropolitan Museum of Art Store, New York (2021) |
| Certification | ISO 9001 quality management, ISO 14001 environmental management |
| Research institute | Accredited by the Ministry of Science and ICT |
| Selection | Invest Seoul CORE 100 (2024), Seoul Future Growth Leading Company |
Worth having ready before you write
With these four, the first reply can already be a real answer. You can still get in touch without them.
- Item and material — t-shirt, hoodie, trousers, and the fabric you have in mind
- Expected quantity — broken down by colourway and size. That split drives cost more than the total does
- Delivery date — when you need it in hand; the sampling schedule is worked back from there
- What you already have — flat sketches, spec sheet, a reference sample. Any one of them settles whether OEM works
Frequently asked questions
What kind of factory is +82 Factory?
It is a sewing factory operated directly by KOREANFRIENDS CO., LTD. in Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. We are not a sourcing agent — the production equipment is our own. We specialise in circular-knit jersey, with automated cutting and an overhead hanger conveyor line. A printing facility (+82 DESIGN), fulfilment (+82 HOUSE) and an accredited research institute sit in the same complex.
Should we go with OEM or ODM?
If you already have the design and patterns, OEM is right: you hand over the spec and we produce to it, which keeps cost lower and control with you. If you have the idea but not the drawings, ODM is right: we take part from planning and development, which costs more and takes longer but starts faster. If you are unsure, send what you have and we will tell you which fits.
What is the minimum order quantity?
It varies with the item, the fabric and the number of colourways, because fabric minimums, trim minimums and line set-up time each set their own floor. The structure is explained in What is the minimum order quantity for apparel OEM?
Can we start with samples?
Yes, and we recommend it. A sample is less a cost than a way of removing risk from bulk production before it happens. What each stage locks in is covered in How is a garment sample made?
Can RFID tags be added during production?
Yes. Korean Friends handles both garment manufacturing and apparel RFID sensors within the same company. Tags do not have to be attached to finished goods afterwards — attachment can sit inside the production line, and the process is published as registered patents (10-2745325 automatic attachment, 10-2693675 automated hanger system). How to choose is covered in What should you decide first when adding RFID to garments?
We are an overseas buyer — do you have export experience?
Yes. In 2024 we signed a three-year, USD 15 million exclusive supply contract with Saudi Arabia, and we have received the Korea International Trade Association's Export Tower award three times — USD 1M (2020), USD 3M (2021) and USD 7M (2022). In 2021 we supplied the Metropolitan Museum of Art Store in New York. Export paperwork is covered in What documents and certifications does apparel export require?
How do we get in touch?
Email info@koreanfriends.co.kr or call +82-70-4452-5942. Telling us the item, expected quantity, delivery date and whatever material you already have (tech pack, spec sheet, reference sample) lets us give you a real answer in the first reply.