Long before the Trump administration’s tariffs had companies scrambling for alternatives to production in China, upholstery maker Z-Wovens had its eye on Vietnam.
The company — which is owned by Zhongwang Holding Group, one of China’s largest manufacturers — produces woven residential performance textiles under the Z-Wovens brand, as well as solution-dyed acrylic and solution-dyed polyester indoor/outdoor performance fabrics under its Sunbelievable brand. Z-Wovens opened a new state-of-the-art, vertical facility in China two years ago, but some of its large-volume clients who do cut-and-sew in Vietnam asked for production a little closer to their operations.
“We started the process and opened our phase-one facility in Vietnam in August 2024,” said Chip Finneran, vice president of sales and general manager, Z-Wovens. “The phase-two facility is finished and new equipment is going in — the idea is to start initial production by the end of June and be ramped up with all the new equipment by the end of the year.”
While Z-Wovens’ facility in China is fully vertical — meaning they make the yarn, the fill yarn and do all the weaving and finishing — the Vietnam plants are focused more on weaving and finishing.
“We’re making the yarn in China, and Vietnam has the same looms and finishing equipment as our China facility,” Finneran said. “So we’ve had a seamless transition for customers using the phase-one facility.”
Finneran said that over the past few weeks, Z-Wovens has had clients and potential customers come to them in search of production alternatives outside China.
“If there’s a cost advantage or a timing advantage to getting it made in Vietnam versus China, we have the ability to offer that now,” he said.
Finneran said that Z-Wovens’ ownership has made a commitment to both China and Vietnam with new facilities in both countries, but should the tariff situation continue to disfavor China, the company may expand its presence in Vietnam.
“Going forward, if things play out with the tariffs where it’s more advantageous to be in Vietnam, I think we’ll continue to try to move production there if needed and requested by customers,” Finneran said. “We just opened a showroom in Ho Chi Minh City, which has been really helpful, as well.”
With the recent 90-day reprieve on tariffs on imports from China — down to 30% versus the 145% the Trump administration issued in early April — Finneran said customers are feeling a bit less panicked. But since this situation can change on a dime, he said that Z-Wovens has positioned itself to be an attractive option, regardless of tariffs.
“No matter how these tariffs play out with these two countries, we’re in a unique and advantageous position,” he said. “If you want to make it in China, we can do that. If you want to make it in Vietnam, we can do that, too. That’s a very positive place to be for a company like ours.”
