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How to start a boxing glove brand: minimums, samples and steps
To start a boxing glove brand, pick your glove types and weights, and choose the shell and the padding. Then approve one physical sample before the bulk order. With Sharknits, a first run starts at 12 pairs per design, after one sample at $150 to $500 depending on the design, plus shipping.
- 10 steps
- From 12 pairs per design
- One sample first
Ten steps to your first gloves
- Pick your buyer and your glove types. Gyms want training and bag gloves. Fighters want sparring and lace-up gloves.
- Choose the weights and sizes. We make boxing gloves from 8 to 18 oz (ounces) and MMA (mixed martial arts) gloves from 4 to 8 oz.
- Choose the shell, and name it plainly. Cowhide leather, goatskin leather, or PU (synthetic, not leather). PU is polyurethane.
- Choose the padding. Ours is multi-density foam, in layers, layered for the weight.
- Design the glove and the logo. Your colors, your closure, and your logo printed or embossed.
- Check one sample. Check the fit, the weight of each glove, the left and right pair, the stitching and the logo.
- Order bulk. From 12 pairs per design, about 3 to 5 weeks after you approve the sample.
- Plan labels and packaging. Your woven labels. We confirm the packaging and barcodes with your quote.
- Ship it. FOB (free on board) Karachi, or DDP (delivered duty paid) to your door.
- Watch your words. Say what the glove is, and leave out claims you cannot back.
Leather or PU, named plainly
Name the shell plainly on your page and on your label.
- Leather: write cowhide leather or goatskin leather.
- PU: write PU (synthetic, not leather).
- Your sample: you check the shell before bulk.
- US rules: the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) leather guides ask sellers to say so when a material looks like leather but is not.
Layered foam
Our gloves use multi-density foam in layers, layered for the weight of the glove.
- Layers: foam of different densities, stacked in layers.
- The weight: the layers are set for the glove's weight in ounces.
- Your sample: you feel the padding on your sample before bulk.
Your logo on the glove
Your logo goes on printed or embossed, with woven labels.
- Embossed: pressed into the shell, with no ink.
- Printed: printed on, in your colors.
- Woven labels: your name woven in and sewn on.
- Big prints: keep them off the striking surface. A big print can stiffen it.
How a glove is made
One glove maker's published steps, in short. We confirm our own steps with your quote.
- Cutting: the shell and lining pieces are cut with templates.
- Printing: the logo goes on the flat pieces.
- Padding: the foam is joined to the shell.
- Sewing: the palm, the back, the thumb, the cuff and the lining are sewn together.
- Turning and shaping: the glove is turned right side out and shaped.
- The final check: each pair is checked, then packed only when fully dry.
What certification for bout gloves involves
This is information only. Our gloves are not on USA Boxing's certified list.
- USA Boxing: sanctioned events use gloves from its certified list. A certified glove maker gives USA Boxing a certificate of insurance and an indemnity.
- World Boxing: it licenses gloves and headgear after lab tests, for four years.
- The IBA (International Boxing Association): it approves gear in two levels, after lab tests and field trials.
Words to avoid when you sell
Say what the glove is, and leave out claims you cannot back.
- Approval words: approved, certified, licensed, official or sanctioned, unless that exact glove holds that approval.
- Safety words: promises of protection or fewer injuries. The FTC asks for scientific proof first.
- Other brands: their names, their glove names and their looks.
- The shell: name it plainly. Write PU (synthetic, not leather) for a shell that is not leather.
Shipping and US duty
Work out the landed cost before you price your gloves. These lines are as of November 2026.
- FOB Karachi: you take over the goods at the port in Karachi.
- DDP: we deliver to your door with US customs cleared and the duty paid.
- Duty on leather gloves: 4.9% under HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) code 4203.21.8060, in a 2013 ruling of CBP (US Customs and Border Protection).
- Plus Section 301: 10% on goods from Pakistan since July 24, 2026.
- Your broker: codes differ by item and material, so your customs broker confirms each one.
How long your first run takes
Plan about 12 weeks from the start to gloves in hand.
- The design and one sample: about 3 weeks.
- Bulk: about 3 to 5 weeks after you approve the sample.
- Shipping by air: about 1 to 2 weeks.
- Big orders by sea: start about 4 months ahead.
Where these facts come from
All were read on November 1, 2026.
- Leather words. The FTC's guides for select leather and imitation leather products. FTC: Guides for Select Leather and Imitation Leather Products
- Safety claims. The FTC's note to marketers of sports gear, August 16, 2012. FTC: what marketers need to know, August 16, 2012
- USA Boxing. The National Rule Book, in force since January 1, 2026 (Rule 36). USA Boxing: National Rule Book, January 1, 2026
- World Boxing. World Boxing's equipment license program, October 18, 2024. World Boxing: equipment license program
- The IBA. The IBA's guidelines for the approval of boxing equipment. IBA: Guidelines for the Approval of Boxing Equipment
- Section 301. The US Trade Representative's notice of July 23, 2026. US Trade Representative: Section 301 notice, July 23, 2026
- The duty on leather gloves. CBP ruling N246251 of September 25, 2013, on a cowhide leather boxing glove.
- How a glove is made. One glove maker's published development steps.
Questions buyers ask
What is the minimum to start a boxing glove brand with Sharknits?
12 pairs per design. One design's 12 pairs can mix weights and sizes.
How much does a sample cost?
One physical sample costs $150 to $500, depending on the design, plus shipping.
Which weights do you make?
Boxing gloves from 8 to 18 oz (ounces), and MMA gloves from 4 to 8 oz.
Leather or PU?
Both work for training gloves. We make shells in cowhide leather, goatskin leather, or PU (synthetic, not leather). PU is polyurethane. Name the shell plainly on your page and label.
Can I sell my gloves for USA Boxing bouts?
Not as training gloves. Sanctioned USA Boxing events use gloves from USA Boxing's certified list, and the organizer supplies them. A certified glove maker gives USA Boxing insurance and an indemnity.
How long does a first run take?
About 12 weeks from the start. The design and one sample take about 3 weeks, bulk 3 to 5 weeks and shipping by air 1 to 2 weeks.
Can you add my labels and packaging?
Yes, your woven labels. We confirm the packaging and the barcode stickers with your quote.
Your request is ready
Send it to us on WhatsApp, or copy it into an email to contact@sharknits.com.
Want to talk sooner? Book a 15-minute call on Google Meet.
Attach your files when you send it.
What happens next
- We reply with questions and a quote.
- We make one sample for you to check.
- You approve it, and we make your order.
contact@sharknits.com · +1 647 501 5424
Sharknits is a custom clothing manufacturer for brands in the US, with factories in Lahore and Sialkot and a US corporate office near Chicago.