Fashion Importers and Distributors in Germany - Market Entry Study 2026

Who this study is for

Export-oriented fashion manufacturers and brand owners from the EU, non-EU Europe and outside Europe: producers of private-label and no-name apparel as well as brands looking for retail partners, platforms, wholesalers or agencies in Germany.

What the market analysis covers

Clothing retail sales in Germany reached around EUR 57.1 billion in 2025; imports of clothing and footwear about EUR 55.9 billion, led by China, Bangladesh and Türkiye. The study describes the major players, explains supplier onboarding at Lidl, ALDI and Kaufland and names product groups with good prospects, such as outerwear, activewear, underwear and kidswear.

What the directory contains

63 companies in ten categories: 7 department stores and multi-brand retailers, 11 value and discount chains, 7 food retail and discounter buying organisations, 10 online platforms and catalogue sellers, 5 buying groups and sports/footwear specialists, 5 import houses and wholesalers, 7 brand houses sourcing abroad, 5 sourcing offices of German retailers, 3 wholesale centres and 3 fashion agencies.

By profile: 21 generalists with a broad portfolio, 14 specialists and 12 buyers focused on private-label and no-name products; the other 16 entries are brand houses, sourcing offices, wholesale centres and agencies.

Each entry contains type and profile, a short description, website, general e-mail and switchboard number where published, address, supplier channels where available, and whether decision-makers or personal e-mails are shown on the website.

Sample entries from the directory

The entries show the same information as in the study. On this page, parts of e-mail addresses and telephone numbers are replaced by [hidden] to protect the companies from spam robots and because the complete data are part of the paid study. In the study, all available contact data are shown in full.

Sample entry from value and discount fashion chains (private-label focus) Company: Takko Holding GmbH (Takko Fashion) Type: Value fashion chain Profile: Private-label focus Description: Value fashion chain with stores in Germany and across Europe; family fashion, kidswear, basics. Runs a dedicated supplier section (company.takko.com/de-de/lieferanten.html). Website: www.takko.com Address: Alfred-Krupp-Str. 21, 48291 Telgte General e-mail: supp[hidden]@takko.de Switchboard: +49 2504 [hidden] Supplier channel: Supplier section on the corporate website (company.takko.com/de-de/lieferanten.html) Decision-maker (public sources): Managing directors named in the imprint Personal e-mails: No personal buyer e-mails published Best first contact: Telephone enquiry via the switchboard to identify the responsible buyer, or the supplier section

Sample entry from online platforms, marketplaces and catalogue sellers (specialist) Company: Hess Natur-Textilien GmbH & Co. KG (hessnatur) Type: Sustainable/organic fashion (online, catalogue, stores) Profile: Specialist Description: Pioneer of organic and fair fashion in Germany (online, catalogue, stores); sources GOTS-certified natural-fibre products. Website: www.hessnatur.com Address: Marie-Curie-Straße 7, 35510 Butzbach General e-mail: kund[hidden]@hess-natur.de (only general address published) Switchboard: +49 6033 [hidden] Decision-maker (public sources): Managing directors named in the imprint Personal e-mails: No personal buyer e-mails published Best first contact: Telephone enquiry via the switchboard to identify the responsible buyer

Sample entry from import houses, fashion wholesalers and off-price traders (generalist) Company: Wünsche Group (Wünsche Services GmbH) Type: Import house for private label (fashion, non-food, food) Profile: Generalist Description: Family-owned Hamburg trading house with about 35 locations worldwide; sources and develops products for private-label retailers, incl. apparel and textiles, with more than 11 offices and 400+ staff in Asia (Wunsche Hong Kong Ltd.). Website: www.wuenschegroup.de Address: Bei den Mühren 5, 20457 Hamburg General e-mail: inf[hidden]@wuenschegroup.de; Hong Kong: inf[hidden]@whihk.com.hk Switchboard: +49 40 [hidden]; Hong Kong: +852 2274 [hidden] Decision-maker (public sources): Managing directors named in the imprint Personal e-mails: No personal buyer e-mails published Best first contact: Telephone enquiry via the switchboard (Hamburg or Hong Kong) to identify the responsible buyer

Sample entry from international sourcing offices of German retailers (private-label sourcing) Company: Lidl & Kaufland Asia Pte. Ltd. (Schwarz Group) Type: Sourcing office for textiles, hardgoods and food Profile: Private-label sourcing Description: Asian sourcing arm of Lidl and Kaufland, established 2006, 1,000+ employees; headquarters Singapore, branch Hong Kong, offices in China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam and Türkiye. Sources from 600+ factories in 13+ Asian countries. Website: www.lidl.asia General e-mail: inf[hidden]@lidl.com.hk (Hong Kong); inf[hidden]@lidl.sg (Singapore) Switchboard: +852 3840 [hidden] (Hong Kong); +65 6839 [hidden] (Singapore) Supplier channel: Online supplier registration ("Register as a Supplier") on lidl.asia and the Lidl VIP portal Decision-maker (public sources): Not named Personal e-mails: No personal buyer e-mails published Best first contact: Online supplier registration on lidl.asia

Use of the contact data

The contact data are publicly accessible company data for information and market research purposes. The directory is not an opt-in list; the companies have not agreed to receive advertising. Before any approach by e-mail, telephone or fax, the buyer must check and comply with the spam, competition and data protection rules of the target country, in the EU in particular the GDPR and national rules on unsolicited advertising (in Germany the UWG).

Market access requirements covered

Textile labelling, REACH, product safety (GPSR), packaging registration, textile EPR and supply chain due diligence, plus customs, origin rules and VAT separately for suppliers from the EU, from non-EU Europe and from outside Europe.

Table of contents

1. Executive Summary

2. Market Volume and Structure

2.1 Market size

2.2 Import structure - main supplier countries

2.3 Market dynamics and consumer behaviour

3. Major Players in the German Fashion Market

4. Market Opportunities for New Foreign Suppliers

4.1 Private-label and no-name suppliers

4.2 Branded suppliers

4.3 Own buying offices of vertical and value retailers - what this means for suppliers

4.4 Supplier onboarding at Lidl, ALDI and Kaufland

4.5 Products and product groups with good sales prospects

5. Market Access Requirements

5.1 Requirements for all suppliers

5.2 Suppliers from the European Union

5.3 Suppliers from non-EU European countries

5.4 Suppliers from outside Europe

6. Market Entry Strategy and Practical Recommendations

7. Directory of Importers and Potential Distribution Partners

A. Department Stores and Premium Multi-Brand Fashion Retailers B. Value and Discount Fashion Chains (Private-Label and Import-Driven) C. Central Buying Organisations of Food Retail and Discounters (Non-Food / Textiles) D. Online Platforms, Marketplaces and Catalogue/Distance Sellers E. Buying Groups (Verbundgruppen), Sports and Footwear Specialists F. Import Houses, Fashion Wholesalers and Off-Price Traders G. German Brand Houses Sourcing from Contract Manufacturers Abroad H. International Sourcing Offices of German Retailers (Contact Points for Manufacturers) I. Fashion Wholesale and Order Centres J. Fashion Agencies and Distributors for International Brands

8. Important Legal Notice on the Use of Contact Data

9. Contacting German Importers in Compliance with the Law

9.1 E-mail, fax and messaging

9.2 Telephone

9.3 Letters, trade fairs, supplier portals and networks

9.4 Data protection (GDPR)

9.5 Sender information and recommended procedure

10. Sources and Methodology

10.1 Methodology

10.2 Main sources

Frequently asked questions

Are contact details included? Yes: website, and general e-mail and switchboard number where published; otherwise the contact form or another route is named.

In which language is the study written? The study is written in English.

Can I use the contact data for e-mail marketing? It is not an opt-in list. Check the spam and data protection law of the target country first; in Germany, promotional e-mails need prior consent even between businesses. A telephone enquiry is usually the safer first step.

Is the study suitable for suppliers from outside the EU? Yes. Duties, origin rules and import VAT are explained separately for non-EU suppliers, and the directory includes the Asian sourcing offices of German retailers.