Best Wholesale Cardigan Sweaters for Women, Men, and Plus Sizes

When stocking your boutique or online store, offering a well-rounded selection of cardigan sweaters across women’s, men’s, and plus sizes can help you capture more customers. But finding quality wholesale cardigans isn’t always easy. In this guide, I’ll break down what to look for in each category and share reliable wholesale sources so you can build a versatile, profitable cardigan line.

What Makes a Great Wholesale Cardigan?

Before diving into categories, here are general criteria to judge a wholesale cardigan:

1. Fabric & Yarn Quality Look for soft, durable yarns (cotton blends, merino wool, acrylic blends, viscose mixes) that resist pilling and stretching after washes.

2. Construction & Finishing Check seams, button closures, ribbing at cuffs and hems, even knit tension. Poor finishing means high return rates.

3. Fit & Grading Good size grading ensures consistency across XS to XXL or more. The fit should flatter broadly.

4. Cost & Margins Wholesale cost should leave you room for decent margins. Also factor in freight, import duty, packaging.

5. Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) Many suppliers require minimums. Look for wholesalers with low MOQs if you're a small business.

6. Lead Time & Reliability A reliable supplier with predictable lead times is more valuable than one cheap, but erratic.

Women’s Wholesale Cardigans

Women’s cardigans form the backbone of many boutique assortments. They offer versatility: layering pieces, lightweight knits, chunky sweaters, cropped styles, longline cardis, etc.

What to Look For

• Silhouettes & Lengths — Standard lengths (waist, hip), longcardis (mid-thigh), cropped versions.

• Neck Styles & Openings — V-neck, crew neck, shawl collar, open front (no buttons), button fronts.

• Detailing — Pockets, contrast trim, decorative buttons, cable knit, ribbing, textured patterns.

• Weight / Gauge — Lightweight for spring/fall, heavier knits for winter.

• Color & Trend Flexibility — Neutrals (black, grey, beige) + seasonal accent colors.

Examples of Wholesale Women’s Cardigans

• Katydid Wholesale offers a bohemian-inspired women’s cardigan line (open front, plaid, bow styles) with no minimum orders.

• Lonca Wholesale supplies trendy wholesale women’s cardigan styles with flexibility for boutique buyers.

Men’s Wholesale Cardigans

Men’s cardigans are typically less varied than women’s but still offer profitable opportunity if done right.

What to Look For

• Classic Cuts — V-neck, shawl collar, zip-up or button-up.

• Neutral Colors & Minimal Design — Men often prefer simpler styles; keep embellishments minimal.

• Layering Weight — Mid-weight knits work well; too heavy and they bulk under jackets.

• Durability — Men’s garments tend to get more wear; strong seams, sturdy buttons, stable knit are crucial.

• Inclusive Sizing — Offer S to 3XL or higher.

Where to Find Men’s Cardigans in Wholesale

• Blank apparel wholesalers (e.g. BlankApparel) often carry unbranded cardigans in men’s cuts ready for customization or resale.

• ShirtSpace, which carries wholesale sweaters and cardigans for both men and women.

Plus Size Wholesale Cardigans

Plus-size cardigans are an underserved niche. Offering good plus-size coverage (1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X) can set your store apart.

What to Look For

• True Grading — Ensure designs are not just scaled-up; they must account for body shape differences.

• Stretch / Recovery — Fabrics should have enough stretch (e.g. spandex blend) to maintain shape.

• Balance & Lengths — Longer lengths can help balance proportions.

• Trend Inclusivity — Don’t limit plus sizes to basic styles; offer trendy cuts, patterns, color variety.

• Comfort & Fit — Wider arm holes, more ease through the bust and waist, better draping.

Wholesale Plus Size Suppliers

• Tasha Apparel carries a collection of plus-size sweaters & cardigans for boutiques, with no order minimums.

• Dear-Lover has a plus-size wholesale sweater & cardigan line popular with resellers; they offer styles from basic to “holiday theme.”

• Faire has many plus-size cardigan options through its marketplace of independent brands.

Comparing Across Categories: What’s Different, What’s Similar

Feature	Women’s	Men’s	Plus Size
Style variety	Very high	Moderate	Moderate-to-high
Fit complexity	Moderate	Simpler	High (shape sensitivity)
Demand / ROI	High volume	Niche but stable	Growing niche, less competition
Fabric needs	Trend + drape	Durability, comfort	Stretch & recovery, stability
Sizing range	XS–XL, sometimes more	S–3XL	1X–5X+

Even though the categories differ in style and fit, your sourcing criteria should always be centered on fabric quality, construction, reliability, and margin potential.

Best Wholesale Sources & Strategies

Here are some of the best ways and sources to buy wholesale cardigan sweaters:

1. Specialized Wholesalers / Apparel Wholesalers

• BlankApparel — Offers sweaters & cardigans, many sizes, no minimum order requirement. blankapparel.com

• ShirtSpace — Broad collection of wholesale sweaters & cardigans for men & women. shirtspace.com

• Katydid Wholesale — Boutique-style women’s cardigans, low minimums. KatydidWholesale.com

• Lonca Wholesale — Trendy women’s cardigans. lonca.co

• Tasha Apparel — Focuses on plus-size and inclusive lines. Tasha Apparel Wholesale

• Dear-Lover — Plus-size wholesale sweaters & cardigans. dear-lover.com

2. Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms

• Faire — A wholesale marketplace with many independent apparel brands including plus-size cardigans.

• Alibaba / AliExpress wholesale division — you can source affordable cardigans in bulk; exercise care in vetting suppliers and samples.

• YH Knits — A trusted wholesale cardigan sweater offering a wide range of cardigan sweaters for women, men, and plus sizes. Known for quality yarns, modern designs, and flexible MOQs, YH Knits specializes in custom and bulk cardigan production for boutiques and brands.

3. Domestic / Regional Knitting Manufacturers

• In markets like Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Turkey, look for knitwear factories and negotiate private label or bulk pricing.

• For premium lines, look at Italian knitwear producers. Italian knitwear suppliers offer ready-to-ship and private label knitwear options.

4. White Label / Private Label Contracts

• Once your volumes increase, lock in deals with manufacturers to produce your own branded cardigan line.

• Negotiate fabric, custom colors, labels, packaging, and MOQs.

5. Dropship / Print-On-Demand Wholesalers

• For small inventories or testing, some platforms allow you to order one unit at a time and ship directly to your customer, though margins may be lower.

Tips for Vetting & Negotiating with Wholesalers

1. Order samples first — Check quality, fit, color fastness, and shrinkage.

2. Ask for line sheets / tech packs — Ensure you have details on sizing, materials, and costs.

3. Negotiate MOQs & pricing tiers — Many wholesalers allow volume discounts.

4. Check lead times & reliability — Ask about past delivery performance.

5. Calculate landed cost — Include shipping, duties, customs, packaging.

6. Establish return policies — Ensure you have some recourse for quality defects.

7. Build relationships — Over time, good suppliers may give you better terms or priority.

Stocking the right cardigan assortment helps your boutique or online store cater to a broader audience, from women seeking trendy layering pieces, to men who prefer classic knits, and plus-size customers who crave stylish fits. In this guide, we explore the best wholesale cardigan options across these three categories and reveal trusted wholesale sources to help you build a high-quality, profitable cardigan line. Want help selecting your first wholesale cardigan order? Contact me for curated supplier introductions.