Finding the right wholesale fancy dress supplier is crucial for any costume retailer or online seller in the UK. Whether you're based in Manchester, London, Birmingham, or anywhere else, you need a supplier that offers competitive prices, fast delivery, and a wide product range. Here's our comprehensive guide to sourcing wholesale fancy dress across the UK.
What to Look for in a Wholesale Fancy Dress Supplier
Before we dive into regional options, here are the key factors every retailer should consider:
- Product range — A supplier with 5,000+ products gives you the variety your customers expect
- Trade pricing — Look for genuine wholesale prices, not inflated "trade" rates
- Minimum order value — Lower minimums (e.g. £25) let you test products without risk
- Dispatch speed — Same-day dispatch is essential for online sellers
- Product data — CSV feeds, API access, or integrations for your online store
- UK-based warehouse — Faster delivery and no customs delays
- Dropship option — Sell without holding stock if you're just starting out
Manchester — The Heart of UK Fancy Dress Wholesale
Manchester has been a hub for the fancy dress industry for decades. The city's strong textile heritage, central UK location, and excellent transport links make it the ideal base for wholesale distribution.
Wicked Nights is based in Manchester and has been supplying trade customers from our warehouse for over 20 years. Our central location means next-day delivery to virtually anywhere in the UK, and same-day collection is available for local trade customers.
Why Manchester? Central UK location means faster, cheaper delivery nationwide. Manchester's M62 corridor connects to Leeds, Liverpool, and Sheffield within an hour, while London is under 2.5 hours by train.
London and the South East
London has several fancy dress wholesalers, particularly around the East End and outer boroughs. The advantage of London-based suppliers is proximity to the capital's huge events market — West End shows, corporate events, film and TV productions, and London-specific events like the New Year's Day Parade and Notting Hill Carnival.
However, London's higher overheads can mean higher wholesale prices. Many London retailers actually source from Manchester and Midlands-based wholesalers for better pricing, accepting next-day delivery rather than same-day collection.
Birmingham and the Midlands
Birmingham's central location makes it another strong base for wholesale distribution. The Midlands benefits from excellent motorway connections (M6, M1, M42) and is within easy reach of both northern and southern retailers. Several costume wholesalers and party supply distributors operate from the West Midlands area.
Leeds, Sheffield, and Yorkshire
Yorkshire's fancy dress market is well-served by both local wholesalers and national suppliers offering next-day delivery. The region has strong demand from seaside towns (Scarborough, Whitby, Blackpool nearby), university cities, and a thriving events scene. Leeds and Sheffield are both within easy reach of Manchester-based wholesalers.
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
Retailers in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland can access all major UK wholesalers through next-day delivery services. Edinburgh, Glasgow, Cardiff, and Belfast all have thriving fancy dress retail markets, particularly around festival season and key calendar events.
Online Wholesale — The Best of All Worlds
Regardless of your location, online wholesale ordering gives you access to the full UK market. At Wicked Nights, we ship to every corner of the UK with fast, reliable delivery:
- Same-day dispatch — Orders placed before 2pm go out the same day
- Next-day delivery — Available to most UK mainland addresses
- Low minimum order — Just £25 to place an order
- 10,000+ products — Browse and order our entire range online
- Product data feeds — CSV and API integrations for your online store
Get Started with Wicked Nights
Wherever you're based in the UK, apply for a trade account to access our full range of over 10,000 wholesale products at competitive trade prices. Browse our wholesale costumes, wigs, tights, and hen party supplies — all dispatched same-day from our Manchester warehouse.