Jordan has emerged as a major hub in the global garment manufacturing landscape, thanks in large part to strategic freetrade agreements, industrial investment zones, and exportoriented policies. Today, the kingdom hosts a diverse list of garment factories from large integrated exporters to small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) producing everything from sportswear to modest fashion. This topic explores the industry’s structure, key factory names, locations, capabilities, and the broader context behind Jordan’s rise as an apparel manufacturing powerhouse.
Historical and Economic Context
Jordan’s garment sector surged following the 1994 Qualifying Industrial Zone (QIZ) agreement with the United States. Under QIZ, goods produced jointly with Israel gained tarifffree access to the U.S. market, which, paired with the U.S.Jordan Free Trade Agreement in 2001, turned Jordan into ‘a magnet for apparel manufacturing’:contentReference. By the mid2000s, apparel exports to the U.S. skyrocketed twentyfold, creating tens of thousands of jobs and economic growth driven by textile and garment production:contentReference.
Industry Scale and Workforce
Jordan now operates around 176 garment factories and satellite units, employing approximately 76,000 workers, of whom nearly 30% are Jordanian and the rest mostly migrant laborers from South Asia:contentReference. About 75 large factories dominate, producing 95% of Jordan’s apparel exports, contributing roughly 8% of GDP and almost 28% of total exports by value:contentReference.
Major Jordanian Garment Factories
- Classic Fashion Apparel Industry Ltd. Co.Based in AlHassan Industrial Estate, Irbid. Established in 2003 with 300 workers, it now employs ~15,000 workers with ~7,500 machines, producing up to 200,000 garments per day. Annual turnover exceeds $250 million, accounting for about 1319% of Jordan’s garment exports, supplying brands like Nike, Under Armour, Hanes, Walmart and more:contentReference.
- Jerash HoldingsOperates six production facilities and four warehouses in Amman, employing 6,000 people. It manufactures over 20 million garments annually mostly sports and outerwear for global brands such as Adidas, Timberland, Calvin Klein and American Eagle:contentReference.
- MAS Kreeda Al Safi MadabaPart of MAS Holdings (Sri Lanka), founded in 2007 in Madaba. Focused on performance sportswear, the factory uses advanced automation, emphasizing social and environmental responsibility. Its clients include international sportswear brands exported to Europe and North America:contentReference.
- Haifa ApparelLocated in AlHassan Industrial City, Irbid. With 350 employees and annual revenue around $8 million, Haifa manufactures highquality readymade garments and bedding sheets. It emphasizes ethical labor and quality control and works with major subcontractors like Classic Fashion and NRG Fashion:contentReference.
- El-Zay Ready-Wear Manufacturing CompanyBased in Amman, with annual sales around $41 million, manufacturing mid to highmarket readywear for export:contentReference.
- Galaxy Apparel Industry Ltd. Co.Located in Irbid; sales roughly $12.8 million annually. Produces export garments and works within QIZ zones:contentReference.
- Jerash and FriendsAlso includes Apparel Concepts LLC, GIA Apparels, Specialized Knitting & Sewing Work, Ark Clothing, Rainbow, Atlanta Garments, Third Dimension, Tusker, Double U & D, Sidney Apparels and others ranging $112 million in revenue, located across Amman, Zarqa, Aqaba and Irbid:contentReference.
Geographic Distribution and Industrial Zones
Most major export factories operate within Jordan’s designated QIZs and industrial estates, such as AlHassan (Irbid), AlHussein bin Abdullah II (Karak), AlTajamouat (Amman), AdDulayl (Zarqa) and Aqaba Industrial Estate:contentReference. These zones offer infrastructure, services, and preferential regulatory treatment. In rural or satellite factory clusters, companies like Classic Fashion also operate smaller units to employ local women and support regional livelihoods:contentReference.
Product Range and Capabilities
Jordanian garment factories produce a wide variety of products including:
- T-shirts, fleece, underwear and towels (mass production factories)
- Activewear, sportswear, outerwear
- Workwear, corporate wear, modest wear (including Islamic fashion)
- Home textiles like bedding sheets (e.g. Haifa Apparel)
High-capacity factories like Classic Fashion are fully vertically integrated cut, sew, print, embroider, launder and finish in-house. Many hold accreditation from brands like adidas, Walmart, GAP and Under Armour, with in-house labs that meet ISO, Bureau Veritas and Xrite standards:contentReference.
SMEs and Export-Oriented Support
Beyond the giants, Jordan promotes SMEs through initiatives like the Apparel Jordan program (20192023), helping local firms comply with EU standards, CSR practices and digital sales. About 16 SMEs participated, including companies such as Algharzal, Alsamah, Dina Fashion, and Tawileh Trico Co. These SMEs produce modest wear, sportswear and corporate lines, some securing orders via trade fairs like London Muslim Shopping Festival:contentReference.
Challenges and Ethical Concerns
Jordan’s garment success has not been without scrutiny. Reports documented exploitative labor conditions, wage theft, passport confiscation, and worker abuse especially among migrant labor in large factories. Investigations linked to global brands prompted reforms, yet ongoing monitoring remains essential:contentReference. Better Work Jordan and ILO programs now work with leading factories to improve compliance and labor standards:contentReference.
Future Outlook
Jordan aims to grow apparel export value to over $5 billion by 2033, creating up to 150,000 new jobs. The strategy includes vertical integration, upskilling, ESG compliance, and expanding domestic brands. It seeks to move beyond manufacturing for foreign labels toward building Jordanian fashion labels of high value-added capacity:contentReference. Sustainability initiatives and digital transformation support this trajectory.
The Jordan garment factory list reflects a structured, dynamic ecosystem combining exportoriented giants like Classic Fashion, Jerash Holdings and MAS Kreeda with growing SME clusters supported by EU and U.S. trade frameworks. While ethical and labor challenges persist, Jordan remains one of the Middle East’s strongest apparel manufacturing hubs anchored by industrial zones, sizable workforce, and steadily rising global market integration. With strategic upgrades and responsible practices, Jordan is poised to continue its upward trajectory in global apparel supply chains.