Private label or OEM: which suits you?
Both routes put your brand on the product, but they differ in how much design work is involved and how quickly you can reach the market.
| Private label | OEM | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | An existing Nylex style | Your own design or tech pack |
| Design work | Colours, materials, branding | Patterns, construction, full development |
| Sampling | Usually shorter | Typically several rounds |
| Best for | Fast launch, testing a market | Distinctive products, established brands |
Many brands begin with private label to learn what sells and move to OEM designs as they grow. We are happy to support either path, and we will be candid if a design is likely to be difficult or costly to produce in small quantities, suggesting alternatives that keep the look you want.
What to prepare before you contact us
You do not need a complete tech pack to start, but the more you can share, the more accurate our first quote will be. Useful information includes:
- The categories you want: formal, casual, loafers, boots, sandals, heels, flats or juttis.
- Reference photos or physical samples, plus what you like and dislike about them.
- Your target retail price and the customer you are selling to.
- Size range and approximate quantities per style and colour.
- Logo files and your preferences for insole, box and label branding.
- Your launch date, so we can plan sampling and production realistically.
Quality and consistency
Every approved sample becomes the reference for production. During manufacturing we check materials, stitching, bonding, sizing and finishing against that sample, and we pack and label each pair by size and colour. Your specifications stay on file so reorders match earlier deliveries as closely as materials allow.
Because leather is a natural material, slight variations in grain and shade between batches are normal. We point these out when they occur and, where it matters to your brand, can reserve materials from one batch for a full production run.
If you want to understand what happens inside the factory, our article on how shoes are made walks through each stage from cutting to finishing.
Minimums, timing and design ownership
Minimum order quantities are typically set per style and colour, and are generally lower for private label on existing models than for new OEM developments. Sampling time depends on how many revision rounds are needed. Minimums, sample costs and production dates are all confirmed in your written quote.
We respect your designs and brand. Your logo, artwork and original designs remain yours, and we are happy to discuss confidentiality before you share your plans. We do not reproduce other companies' trademarks or protected designs.
To discuss your brand, contact our team or visit our Port Louis showroom.
