Billion Rise has opened the first phase of a $100 million fabric factory in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam, adding up to 100 million meters of annual production capacity aimed squarely at apparel brands diversifying sourcing beyond China.

The Hong Kong-based vertically integrated textile and apparel company said the move responds to "increasing interest among apparel brands seeking greater geographic diversification with their sourcing needs." The timing also aligns with the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement, which the company said expands trade "by eliminating 99 percent of tariffs, reducing regulatory barriers and opening services and public procurement markets."

What capacity is coming online?

The facility spans approximately 320,000 square meters and will be built in three phases:

• Phase one is complete and covers roughly 110,000 square meters
• Phase two adds knitting, dyeing and printing capacity, targeted for the third quarter of next year
• Phase three is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2029

Full annual production capacity is expected to reach 100 million meters once all phases are operational.

Steven Moore, global sales director, said the EU trade deal creates openings for European and U.K. brands to source apparel from Vietnam using locally made fabrics. "With our new factory, we can now better support brands looking to build more integrated value chains in Vietnam while expanding our business across these important markets," Moore said.

How does it compare with the China base?

The new site joins Billion Rise's established manufacturing base in Qing Yuan, China. CEO and owner Charles Chen said the Vietnam plant was built to matching standards.

"We're pleased to give our customers greater sourcing flexibility with the addition of our Vietnam operation to our established manufacturing base in Qing Yuan China," Chen said. "After a decade of investment in developing the facility and building it to the same high standards our customers expect from us, we're confident Vietnam will deliver the quality, technical expertise and consistency our brand partners require."

The company said the factory will offer capabilities comparable to its Chinese operation, including:

• Warp and weft knitting
• Dyeing
• Digital, flat-bed and heat-transfer printing
• Stentering and finishing
• A wastewater treatment system and rooftop solar to reduce environmental impact

Chen framed the project as a decade-long investment, positioning Vietnam as a quality-equivalent alternative rather than a lower-tier satellite plant.

Why US brands are part of the calculus

U.S. managing director of sales and marketing JP Brogan said major U.S. activewear and intimates brands are actively looking to shift volume to Vietnam. Billion Rise has built its reputation on high-volume, technically complex performance fabrics, which Brogan said has made the company an attractive destination for U.S. activewear, swimwear and intimates brands.

"Our investment in Vietnam goes beyond the physical facility," Brogan said. "We've also dedicated resources in materials strategy expertise across our global team along with AI and 3D visualization tools that help brands identify white space, build key material franchises, and quickly visualize new opportunities."

What happens next?

Buyers can inspect the fabric range in person this autumn. Billion Rise will show at Performance Days Munich (Oct. 13–15), Interfilière Shanghai (Oct. 13–14), Texfuture Tokyo/Performance Days Tokyo (Oct. 21–22) and the Vietnam Hanoi Textile & Garment Industry Expo (Oct. 21–22).

With phase one live and capacity expanding through 2029, sourcing teams weighing China-plus-one strategies now have a vertically integrated Vietnamese option with EU tariff advantages built in.