The model CW-03 golf shirt from India's Centwin is in 170gsm double-mercerized cotton. It is available in sizes S to XL and priced at $8.10.

Men's golf wear makers in China and India are concentrating product development on enhancing comfort features.

Suppliers generally offer golf apparel as a minor line and focus on the production of other types of garments. This is because there is less demand for the product compared with other apparel lines.

For this reason, most companies that manufacture golf apparel generally do so for OEM clients and only when there are orders. Since many of these buyers require the designs to be made of comfortable fabric, companies are allocating R&D resources to material sourcing and development.

Cotton, with its inherent breathable properties, is the main material, especially for golf shirts. To make apparel more comfortable, suppliers are blending cotton with different types of fiber such as Coolmax and Lycra. Fabric blended with Coolmax dries three times faster than pure cotton and costs twice as much.

Fabric is also coated with treatments to resist water, stain and odor, or to lend anti-bacterial and moisture-wicking properties. Some companies are using soybean-fiber and UV-resistant fabric as well.

Most suppliers source textiles locally but purchase special types, such as Coolmax blends or coated versions, from Taiwan. Because of improved features and use of imported fiber, the majority of golf apparel models are midrange and high-end.

In China, Riversuny Waterproof Garments & Bag Mfg Ltd uses Coolmax to enhance breathability, but employs other types of functional fabric as well. This includes 50+ UPF UV-resistant versions, and water- and stain-resistant models with 3M Scotchgard coating.

About 20 percent of the fabric is sourced directly from Taiwan while 80 percent is purchased in Fujian province.

Golf shirts at Tianjin Textile Group Import & Export Inc. come mainly in 100 percent polyester while pants are in pure nylon. The company uses 30:70 Coolmax-cotton blended fabric on request.

Sixty percent of fabric is bought from mills in Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces. The rest is purchased directly in Taiwan.

Wenzhou Success Group Gift & Premium Co. Ltd offers midrange golf shirts made mostly from 100 percent cotton.

Golf apparel at 3S Textile & Apparel Co. Ltd is in 100 percent cotton, 50:50 cotton- or polyester-Coolmax, 97:3 or 95:5 cotton-Lycra, and 85:15 cotton- or polyester-soybean fiber.

Fabric is sourced from Taiwan-invested mills in Zhejiang and Jiangsu.

High-end models make up the bulk of golf apparel output.

Shenzhen Lemeiter Co. Ltd uses cotton pure or blended with Lycra or Coolmax in its range of high-end golf apparel. Pullovers are in 100 percent wool. Fabric is sourced in the provinces of Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu.

New designs include golf shirts in mercerized cotton, and models with checkered patterns and jacquard collars.

Shenzhen Global Weiye Clothing Co. Ltd supplies midrange golf shirts in pure cotton or polyester, or blended fabric such as T/C and CVC. New models feature embroidery and printed patterns.

In India, Poppys Knitwear Pvt Ltd manufactures only golf shirts. Designs come mainly in double-mercerized 100 percent cotton, of which some types have moisture-wicking properties. Lower-priced shirts have a single-mercerized finish.

Cotton is sourced in India while specialized types of fabric are from Taiwan.

Centwin Hosiery Mill (P) Ltd uses 100 percent cotton and 80:20 or 60:40 cotton-polyester in its golf apparel. The company has its own spinning mill for cotton yarn. A special type of polyester yarn that is engineered for moisture management is imported from Taiwan.

Midrange and high-end golf shirts with electronic jacquards and stripes make up the majority of exports.

Eastman Exports Global Clothing (P) Ltd uses fabric with anti-bacterial, odor-resistant or moisture-wicking properties to enhance the apparel's comfort features. These types of fabric are imported from Taiwan and South Korea.

Sports and active wear manufacturer Ammen Mills offers golf shirts and pullovers in locally sourced French terry and fleece. Current designs include zippered pullovers and high-neck polo shirts.
Prices generally stable

	Centwin of India offers the model CW-02 golf shirt in 170gsm pure cotton. The jacquard-knit shirt has a two-button placket. Price is $7.90.

Even with higher fabric costs, most golf apparel makers in China and India will be keeping prices stable for the next six to 12 months. Of companies featured in this report, only China's Riversuny and Tianjin Textile have expressed that they might raise prices minimally.

Increased material costs and a possible lowering of the tax reimbursement rate are reasons Riversuny might raise prices 5 percent. The reimbursement rate is likely to be reduced from 13 percent to 11 percent by year-end.

Currently, the company's golf pants are from $6 to $10 per pair while shorts are $4.50 to $10. Golf shirts are priced between $4 and $8 per piece.

For similar reasons, Tianjin Textile might raise prices as well in coming months. Its golf pants are $11 to $22 per pair.

All of the other companies interviewed have no plans of adjusting quotes for the next six to 12 months.

Golf shirts at Wenzhou Success are priced from $2.50 to $3 per piece.

3S's golf shirts are $4 to $7 each, shorts are $3.50 to $7 per pair, and pants are $4 to $8.

At Shenzhen Lemeiter, tops are priced from $3.50 to $22.50 each for golf shirts, $12.50 to $62.50 for pullovers and $10 to $43.50 for ribbed vests. Golf bottoms are $3.10 to $10 per pair for shorts and $5.60 to $22.50 for pants.

Golf shirts at Shenzhen Global are between $3 and $8.

In India, Poppys offers golf shirts for $6 to $10 each.

Midrange golf shirts at Centwin are $10 each, while high-end models are $15. Midrange golf pants go for $12 per pair and high-end versions are $16 to $18.

Prices of golf shirts at Eastman are between $12 and $16. Golf pants are $15 to $20.

Ammen offers golf shirts for $4 to $12.