Minimum order quantity, sampling and lead times decide whether you can launch at all, and they're exactly where unclear factories cost new brands money and months. Get straight answers on these three and you can plan your launch with confidence.
What MOQ Really Means (and the Trap)
MOQ, or minimum order quantity, is the smallest run a factory will make. Simple enough, until you hit the classic trap: a low headline MOQ that's quietly applied per colour and per size. Suddenly your "50-piece" order needs 50 of each size in each colour, and you're staring at several hundred units before you've sold one.
The fix is one question: "Exactly how is your minimum counted?" We count from just 10 pieces per variation, so new brands can start small, test the market and scale when they're ready. The number we quote is the number you order.
Stock vs Custom Colours
Standard stock colours (white, blue, black) carry the lowest minimums because they're ready to run. A fully custom dyed colour is different: a dye-lot needs a certain per-colour run to come out clean and consistent, so it carries its own minimum. If custom colour matters to your brand, ask for that number early so it doesn't surprise you later. (More on how colour affects cost.)
Always Sample Before the Bulk Run
Never approve a run you haven't held in your hands. A single custom sample lets you check the weave, GSM, fit, stitching at stress points, and exactly how your logo embroiders or prints, all before a single bulk piece is cut. Approve it in writing and you've removed almost all the risk from your first order. A confident factory will happily sample for you; one that won't is telling you something.
We also offer a free design mockup before you even sample. Send your logo and we'll show you how your gi, rashguard or belt will look. Ask for a mockup on WhatsApp →
Realistic Production Lead Times
Here's the honest range: a first custom order typically takes about 4 to 8 weeks from approved design and cleared payment, and repeat orders are usually faster. What actually keeps a schedule is what sits behind it. A factory that keeps its own fabric in stock and controls its own weaving and dyeing can hold a date, while one that buys fabric per order after you pay is where delays creep in. Ask what's behind the promise, not just the number.
When You Need It Fast
Sometimes a launch or a competition can't wait. A rush service of around 15 working days is available for some orders, depending on fabric, quantity and branding. It's not magic; it's having the fabric on hand and the floor to prioritise it. Ask early and we'll tell you honestly whether your timeline is doable.
Scaling Up: Dedicated Capacity
As your brand grows, predictable supply matters more than a one-off price. For established partners we reserve dedicated production capacity against an annual forecast, so your reorders don't wait in the general queue. It's how a growing brand turns a supplier into a genuine manufacturing partner.
How to Plan Your Timeline
- Mockup: free, so you can see your brand before spending
- Sample: a single custom piece to approve fabric, fit and branding
- Production: roughly 4–8 weeks for a first custom run (faster on repeats)
- Ship: air or sea, with export docs handled to your door in the EU or US
Work backwards from your launch date, add a little buffer, and you'll never be caught short. Not sure how it maps to your plan? Judge the manufacturer as carefully as the timeline.