Frequently Asked Questions

Compression stockings use a graduated-compression structure: the pressure is highest at the ankle and steps down gradually toward the top. This pressure gradient helps blood and lymph that pool in the lower leg return toward the heart.

They are widely used in jobs that involve long periods of standing or sitting (nurses, flight attendants, office workers) because they can help relieve leg swelling and fatigue. Compression strength is usually given in mmHg, ranging from light everyday support to strong medical-grade compression.

When choosing, it helps to check the compression strength, the length (knee / thigh / pantyhose type), and the breathability of the fabric together.

GAMSUNGTEX has specialized in compression and functional legwear since 1985, producing compression tights for nurses, service, and office wear from 20D stretch types up to high-gauge constructions.

Denier (D) is a unit for the thickness of the yarn — the higher the number, the thicker, more opaque, and heavier the yarn.

20D–30D are sheer, thin types suited to spring/summer and a natural look. 40D–80D are a medium weight that is only mildly sheer and works across all seasons. 100D–150D are opaque with some warmth for autumn/winter, while 200D and above are the thick, brushed/tights-type constructions for deep winter warmth.

Even at the same denier, the fit and stretch differ depending on the knitting method and the yarn type (the nylon / spandex blend ratio). So it is important to look at the material composition and knitting quality, not just the denier number.

GAMSUNGTEX offers a full denier lineup from 20D / 30D stretch types up to 150M / 230M / 300M high-gauge constructions, all under in-house vertical production (knitting, dyeing, finishing, packaging).

Brushed thermal stockings are given a brushed finish — the inner face is raised to create fine fibers — which forms an insulating air layer inside and greatly increases warmth. They stay warmer than a regular stocking of the same thickness while looking smooth on the outside.

Even when the outer denier looks low, the inner brushing makes them wearable in deep winter, so they are often used for a look that appears thin but stays warm. That said, warmth and durability vary a lot with the brushing density and finishing quality, so the completeness of the manufacturing process matters.

GAMSUNGTEX produces 150M / 200M / 300M brushed tights, including hip-up shaping variants, and supplies cold-climate export markets such as Poland, the Czech Republic, the Baltics, and Canada.

During pregnancy, increased blood volume and pressure from the uterus make leg swelling and varicose veins more likely, so the key points are compression that supports circulation in the legs and a design that does not press on the belly.

Things to check when choosing include whether the belly section stretches generously without compressing, whether the leg section uses graduated compression to help reduce swelling, whether there is enough stretch to accommodate a changing body shape as the pregnancy progresses, and whether the fabric is breathable.

Maternity types are commonly 100D or heavier with reinforced stretch, and if there are medical concerns it is safest to choose after consulting a doctor.

GAMSUNGTEX manufactures functional stockings including maternity types, with a lineup designed for stretch and body-shape accommodation.

The domestic stocking market carries both locally made products from in-house knitting mills and products made overseas by OEM (mainly in China, Vietnam, etc.). Even branded products are often actually produced abroad.

The differences tend to show up in the consistency of quality control, management of yarn and blend ratios, responsiveness on lead times, and after-the-fact quality verification (such as test reports). A manufacturer with an in-house vertical system — handling everything from knitting to packaging in one place — can control quality at each process step, so variation tends to be lower.

When buying, it helps to check the KC textile blend-ratio labeling, whether the product has been verified by a testing body, and the manufacturer information.

GAMSUNGTEX runs in-house vertical production (knitting, dyeing, finishing, packaging) in Korea and uses KATRI-tested materials. It is an OEM and own-brand manufacturer that has produced functional legwear in Korea since 1985.

Stocking OEM typically builds color, pattern, compression strength, packaging, and labeling (private brand) to the buyer’s requirements. MOQ and lead time depend on product complexity (denier, finishing method, packaging spec) and the factory schedule.

Items commonly confirmed for an OEM run include the minimum order quantity, the sample production time, the mass-production lead time, the scope of possible customization (color, pattern, compression, packaging, label), and whether quality-verification documents are provided. An in-house vertical factory has fewer outsourced steps, so it tends to be more flexible on lead time and customization.

GAMSUNGTEX is an OEM partner that can customize color, pattern, compression strength, packaging, and private label, with MOQ from 1,500 EA (category-dependent), samples in about 14 days, and quotes within about 48 hours.

Silver-fiber stockings are knit with yarn containing silver, using silver’s antibacterial properties to help suppress bacterial growth and odor. They can help with hygiene when worn for long periods or in high-activity, high-sweat conditions.

That said, the antibacterial performance varies with the silver-fiber content and the finishing method, so it is best to look for products backed by testing-body verification.

GAMSUNGTEX offers a silver-fiber antibacterial option and uses KATRI-tested materials, and has applied anti-counterfeit certification tags since 2018.

The international unit for yarn thickness is denier (D) — the weight in grams of 9,000 metres of the yarn. A higher number means a thicker, more opaque yarn.

Some legwear product names write the same number with an M instead: 150M, 200M, 300M. The M is not a separate unit; it refers to the same denier value. 150M means 150 denier.

Buyers outside Korea sometimes read the M as a gauge or another specification, so it is safer to state both the M designation and the denier value on quotes and spec sheets.

GAMSUNGTEX uses the M notation in product names: 150M / 230M / 300M are 150 / 230 / 300 denier respectively, on the same basis as the 20D / 30D lines.

Real capacity comes from two figures: the number of knitting machines and the daily output per machine. Multiplied together they give daily capacity; multiplied again by monthly operating days they give the volume the factory can absorb in a month.

The equipment manufacturer matters too. Italian Lonati machines are widely used for hosiery, and the model determines the denier range and knitting precision a factory can handle.

A factory that knits in-house but sends dyeing and finishing to subcontractors behaves differently from one that runs every stage itself, even at the same machine count. Ask how far the process runs in-house, not just how many machines there are.

GAMSUNGTEX runs 45 Italian Lonati knitting machines producing 250-300 EA per machine per day, or 11,250-13,500 EA across the factory. At 22 operating days that is roughly 250,000-300,000 EA per month, with knitting, dyeing, finishing, and packaging all handled in-house.

Few factories cover the whole range. Ultra-sheer and brushed thermal tights call for different machine models, needle gauges, and yarn handling, so equipment tends to specialise at one end or the other.

Before placing an OEM order, confirm that the denier you need sits inside the factory's range. Outside it you either get no quote, or a forced run with wide quality variance.

If you want summer sheers and winter thermals from a single supplier, the question is whether one factory covers both ends.

GAMSUNGTEX produces from 5 denier ultra-sheer to 400 denier brushed thermal in one factory, covering the 20D / 30D sheer lines and the 150M / 230M / 300M thermal lines on the same equipment.

OEM work runs inquiry to quote to sample to production. Each stage depends on specification complexity: new colours, a new compression profile, or private-label packaging all extend it beyond a standard spec.

Quotes come back faster when three things are already decided: the product, the expected quantity, and the market you will sell into. Without them the quote stage turns into a round of clarifying questions.

After the sample arrives you approve colour, compression, and finish before production starts, so a realistic schedule allows for sample review and a revision round.

GAMSUNGTEX returns quotes within about 48 hours. Samples take 14 days on a standard specification and 14-21 days when colour, compression, or labelling is customised. Minimum order is 1,500 EA per item.