Amazon.com is tapping some of the biggest athletic-apparel suppliers to make a foray into private-label sportswear, according to people familiar with the matter, setting the stage for further upheaval in an already-tumultuous industry.
Makalot Industrial, a Taiwanese vendor that produces clothing for Gap, Uniqlo and Kohl’s, is making apparel for the Amazon line, a person with knowledge of the arrangement said. Eclat Textile, another Taiwanese supplier, is contributing to the effort as well — a relationship first noted by SinoPac Securities analyst Silvia Chiu.
The project is new and long-term contracts haven’t been signed yet, according to people involved. The manufacturers are