1. Start with the mix your customers actually buy
Visitors to Caribbean islands shop for what they will wear that week. Build your assortment around your customers. Categories to evaluate include:
- Women's resort dresses and sets — the anchor of the assortment, in light colors and breathable fabrics.
- Crochet cover-ups — easy add-on sales next to swimwear.
- Men's resort shirts, shorts and pants — consider alongside the rest of your apparel range.
- Swimwear and UPF rashguards — for beach days and water sports.
- Accessories — beach bags, hats, sunglasses and sandals to consider for your assortment.
- Island souvenirs — t-shirts, hoodies and gifts printed with your island's name.
Offer a size range wide enough for your visitors. Sizes vary by style. Ask Alto Mare for the current catalog and the size range of each selected garment.
2. Understand minimums before you order
We offer flexible wholesale ordering. Contact us to discuss your store's needs and product selection. Ask how sizes are packed, whether you can mix colors, and what the minimum is for custom printing.
3. Price from your landed cost, not the unit price
The unit price on a price list is only the start. Your real cost per piece includes:
- The wholesale unit price
- Freight to your island
- Import duties and taxes at your destination
- Customs broker and handling fees
Add these up, divide by the number of pieces, and set your retail price from that figure. Islands differ a lot on duties, so check your local rates before you compare suppliers.
4. Choose a supplier that ships to your island
Alto Mare operates from Tocumen and the Colón Free Zone in Panama, and from Miami and Boston in the US. We ship to boutiques, hotel shops and souvenir stores across the Caribbean and Latin America, with export orders processed through the Colón Free Zone. Typical order-to-dispatch time is 15–30 business days, depending on order size and the production queue; transit time is additional. See the page for your island, for example Aruba or Cayman Islands.
5. Add custom printing to stand out
T-shirts and hoodies printed with your island or your store name sell to visitors who want a souvenir they can wear. Alto Mare offers custom printing with island artwork. DTF printing has no minimum order. Screen printing starts at 144 pieces per design, with an added charge for each color.
How to open an Alto Mare wholesale account
Apply on the Wholesale Partner page. Tell us your store, your island and what you want to stock, and our team replies by email or WhatsApp (+507 6930-7827) with catalogs and pricing.
