Padded boxing gloves were first used in 1743, and since then, the boxing gloves-making process has evolved drastically. The wholesale manufacturing of boxing gear is a multi-step process that starts with sourcing the raw material, cutting the inside padding, designing, and reinforcing every stitch. Every little step is important in creating different sizes and types of boxing gloves. The process is finalized by passing every glove through the quality check.
Step-by-Step Process of Boxing Gloves Manufacturing
We see that the well-structured foam-padded gloves have to go through a complex making process, from material sourcing to quality assurance and finishing. The factory manufacturers follow the following steps to get the boxing gloves ready to supply retailers, gym owners, and clubs.
Material Sourcing and Selection
The crafting of high-quality boxing gloves requires careful selection of the leather material. It is an excellent choice for this protective gear due to its durability, flexibility, and elasticity. The most common choices of leather for boxing gear include:
- Buffalo leather
- Cowhide leather
- Goatskin leather
- Synthetic Leather (PU leather Vinyl)
The professional competition gloves are made from genuine leather, while the amateur gloves are made from Synthetic leather.
Designing the Pattern
Boxing gloves are cut, stitched, assembled, and finished by hand. Every manufacturer of wholesale leather boxing gloves has a unique pattern that follows the basic design of creating the gloves’ outer shell. Prevision is integral in the pattern design for different parts of the gloves for a unified look.
Cutting of the Raw Material
Once the leather for the gloves reaches the manufacturer in a large piece from the tannery, it is laid on a large cutting board. The pattern (which defines size) is placed on the leather, traced, and then manually cut from this one big piece with the help of a big scissor or cushion grip knife. A similar pattern is traced and cut from the lining material to form a thumb, the cuff, the palm, and the knuckle.
Assembly and Stitching
The leather pieces are sewn inside out to form the outer layer of a boxing glove. This is done with an industrial sewing machine, but finer details and smaller components are often hand-stitched.
In higher-quality gloves, the entire stitching process is done manually, using the double stitching technique for durability. The oversized knuckle section is attached to the palm section. Both parts are placed over a buck to achieve the correct shape, with the seam gathered to give the knuckle a slight bulge.
This helps create the glove’s signature clenched-fist appearance. Afterward, the liner pieces are sewn onto the assembled sections, filling the palm with padding. The liner remains open at the bottom, where the cuff will later be attached.
In many glove designs, the back half of the thumb piece is cut from the knuckle section, while the inner half is sewn to both the knuckle and palm sections. In some designs, the thumb is constructed separately, with its lining sewn and padding added before stitching onto the glove.
Stuffing and Padding
Once the entire glove assembly is turned inside out, stuffing the padding inside the gloves starts. Manufacturers typically buy padding materials in standard sheet form, which is cost-efficient. These sheets are layered and cut into the required shape for the knuckle padding.
This technique allows the wholesale manufacturer of boxing gloves to use a consistent padding thickness across the various glove weights and models. It eliminates the need to produce unique molded pieces for each design. The glove pattern is then traced onto the padding material and cut accordingly.
Some manufacturers may pre-cut these pattern pieces in large quantities and keep them in stock for future use during assembly. After cutting, the layers of padding are stacked to the specified thickness and inserted into the pocket between the knuckle area and its lining.
Adding Customizable Text & Logos
At this stage, the text or logos are added to the boxing gloves, an important branding step. These are customizable and are added by screen-printing or embroidery directly onto the outer shell of the boxing gloves. In some cases, heat transfer printing is used for more complex designs.
These elements can include brand names, logos, or customized text, such as a fighter’s name. Logos are often placed on the back of the glove, the wrist cuff, or near the thumb, ensuring visibility while maintaining the glove’s structural integrity and aesthetic appeal.
Finishing Touches and Quality Check
The final steps in manufacturing boxing gloves include adding finishing touches that enhance the appearance and functionality of these protective gear. This includes attaching Velcro straps or laces for secure closure and applying additional reinforcement or padding if needed.
Before the gloves are ready to ship to the consumer from a bulk manufacturing vendor, they undergo thorough quality control checks to ensure they meet the highest performance and safety standards.
Manufacturers carefully inspect each pair for defects or imperfections. Any issues found are corrected before the gloves are packed and shipped to retailers or directly to consumers.
Wrapping it Up!
A pair of boxing gloves is manufactured in different steps following cutting, assembling, and sewing, and all is done by hand. The bulk manufacturing of boxing gloves begins with the selection of material, which is either animal-sourced leather or synthetic leather. The material and lining are cut into different parts and stitched together along with the lining. The glove is then stuffed with padding and finished off by adding velcro, strap, and logos for branding. The manufacturer finalizes the bulk order by ensuring the quality through different steps.
Buy boxing gloves from Wholesale Boxing Gear, the leading manufacturer in the USA. We specialize is designing and customizing all sorts of sports gloves, equipment, and apparel.
FAQs
What are boxing gloves filled with?
The central layer is medium-density EVA foam, which is extremely durable and practically never degrades. The inside foam is a high-density synthetic foam that is quite comfy. A 10mm extra foam layer is positioned beneath the inner foam to provide additional knuckle protection.
How much time does it take to make a pair of boxing gloves?
Boxing glove manufacturing requires precision and hard work. Making a single piece of boxing glove takes 5 to 6 hours of skilled laboring. Almost 12 hrs are required to make a pair, from a selection of raw materials to the finished product.
How were the first boxing gloves manufactured?
Jack Broughton made the first boxing gloves simply with leather in 1743. Horsehairs were stuffed inside these gloves to reduce the impact of the pouches.