NEWS & CSR

Differences Between Textile, Garment, and Convection You Need to Know

30 Nov 2025 | News Category: -

Have you ever felt confused when trying to distinguish the terms textile, garment, and convection while reading fashion-industry updates or searching for a supplier? You’re not alone. These three terms often sound similar, yet they refer to very different processes and production scales. Understanding the differences is essential—especially if you work in apparel production, run a fashion business, or are looking for the right manufacturing partner.

In this article, we’ll walk you through each term in a clearer, simpler way, supported with the most recent insights from the textile industry.

What Is Textile?

Definition of Textile

Textile refers to any fiber-based material that can be processed into yarn, fabric, or other fiber-derived products. This definition aligns with Textile Exchange (2024), which categorizes textiles as all fiber-based materials—woven, knitted, or non-woven.

Examples of Textile Products

Textile products vary widely, ranging from fibers and yarns to finished fabrics. At the early stage, textiles include materials such as cotton yarn, polyester yarn, rayon, viscose, and various types of technical yarn used for performance or industrial applications.

After undergoing spinning or further processing, these yarns are transformed into multiple types of fabrics: cotton, polyester, rayon, linen, as well as advanced materials like smart textiles, performance fabrics, and non-woven textiles used in medical and engineering industries.

The McKinsey State of Fashion 2024 report highlights that demand for functional and sustainable materials—such as recycled polyester, organic cotton, and sustainable yarn—has risen by more than 30% over the past two years, driven by global sustainability requirements.

The Role of the Textile Industry

The textile industry forms the foundation of the supply chain. Without high-quality materials, final garments cannot achieve optimal results. According to the OEKO-TEX Annual Report 2024, there has been a significant rise in demand for safe and environmentally responsible certified textiles.

What Is Garment?

Definition of Garment

A garment factory refers to the industry that transforms fabric into finished clothing on a large scale. The process includes cutting, sewing, assembling, finishing, and packaging.

Key Characteristics of Garment Manufacturing

Large-scale production, reaching thousands to hundreds of thousands of pieces
Strict quality-control standards, especially for export and global brands
Complete end-to-end machinery to maintain speed and consistency

Common Garment Products

Typical output includes mass-produced apparel, corporate uniforms, sportswear, and export-grade products.

What Is Convection (Konveksi)?

Definition of Convection

Convection refers to small- to medium-scale production units that manufacture clothing, ideal for custom orders or quantities that are not too large. This model is widely used by SMEs, local brands, and companies requiring uniforms.

Characteristics of Convection

Smaller quantities (tens to a few thousand pieces)
More flexibility in design
Competitive pricing due to simpler production structure
Ideal for event T-shirts, merchandise, hoodies, polos, and office uniforms

While the term “convection” is not always explicitly referenced in global market reports, the rising trend of on-demand manufacturing strongly supports this production model.

Common Convection Products

Screen-printed T-shirts, community hoodies, custom merchandise, corporate uniforms, and small-batch limited-edition fashion items are typically produced by convection units.

Key Differences Between Textile, Garment, and Convection

Textile

Produces raw materials such as yarn and fabric. Focused on material creation.

Garment

Processes fabric into finished clothing on a large, mass-production scale.

Convection

Produces small- to medium-scale clothing with more flexibility. Focused on custom orders.

All three are interconnected, forming the apparel production chain: raw materials → mass production → custom production.

Which One Should You Choose?

If you are sourcing or comparing fabrics, working with a textile manufacturer is the right choice.
If you are a large brand requiring high-volume production with consistent standards, a garment factory is the most efficient option.
If you are building a new clothing line, need small- to medium-scale production, or require more flexibility in your designs, a convection unit is the ideal partner.

Understanding the differences between textile, garment, and convection will help you choose the right production partner for your business or fashion project. We hope this guide helps you make more informed and efficient decisions.