What does Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) mean? if clothing comes from OEM factory is it authentic?

Question

if a retailer tells you that they are a Nike original equipment manufacturer, for example, can their items be trusted. are they authentic like what you would find at the mall?also where are these OEM factories and what is the difference between OEM factory and a regular manufacterer factory that makes authentic Nike for example?

Answer 1

From my experience, OEM refers to things like automotive manufactures and the like.  Generally, it means that the manufacturer knows the specs and that the product will fit and do the job correctly since they originally made the product.  Some knock-offs don't fit correctly or last as long as they should, etc.  I don't think I've every seen OEM in relation to clothes.  Somebody might be licensed to make and label something as Nike, or put the Nike label on a shirt or shoe, but this just means they've paid the royalty fees.  In some instances they have to assure that they are making the product to certain standards, but not always.  It depends on the brand.