Source Apparel and Textiles from China

An unspecified size curve leaves suppliers pricing different garments. Start with minimums by process, then send one versioned specification and quantity breakdown.

Start with a garment the factory can price

Give every supplier the same construction notes, fabric composition and weight, color reference, size chart, tolerance, stitching details, decoration, trims, labels, packing, and quantity by color and size. State whether the factory must develop the pattern or follow a supplied pattern. If a feature is still open, label it as an option and ask suppliers to price the options separately.

A photo can show the silhouette. It cannot tell the factory the fabric weight, seam allowance, shrinkage allowance, zipper grade, or where a label must sit. Put those details into the wholesale RFQ template so every quote answers the same questions.

Copy these fields into the tech pack; use one quantity row per style/color/size and one measurement row per size/point. Blanks are buyer inputs, not typical values.

Find the MOQ inside the MOQ

Ask whether fabric, dyeing, decoration, or trims impose separate minimums; do not assume the sewing minimum covers them.

This breakdown gives you choices. A smaller trial might use an available fabric and standard trim. A larger program may justify custom dyeing and branded components. Compare each supplier against the same brief and record differing assumptions.

Approve a sample that production can follow

Do not approve a sample with comments scattered across email and chat. Mark each revision, record the measurements, and keep the approved fabric, color, decoration, trim, label, and finished piece together. If fit changes, issue a new measurement table rather than saying the body should be “slightly looser.”

A practical approval sequence is:

1. Confirm fabric and color.
2. Approve construction and fit on the first sample.
3. Review a size set when grading matters.
4. Approve decoration and labels on the real material.
5. Sign the final sample and packing method before bulk production.

Before paying a deposit, verify the supplier and confirm whether cutting, sewing, dyeing, printing, washing, or embroidery will be subcontracted.

Inspect the order by size, color, and carton

An apparel inspection needs more than a workmanship check. Select units across colors and sizes, then compare measurements with the tolerance table. Check seams, symmetry, shade, spots, holes, skipped stitches, decoration, labels, assortment, folding, polybags, and carton marks. A random sample that happens to include only one size cannot represent a mixed-size order.

Visual inspection can confirm the garments match the approved file. It cannot prove every material or performance claim. Fiber composition, color fastness, restricted substances, and children’s product requirements may need suitable laboratory evidence. Use the quality control inspection guide to separate checks an inspector can perform from tests that need a lab.

Price the pack, not only the garment

Flat packing, hanging garments, individual boxes, tissue, inserts, and spare units all affect carton size and labor. Confirm the size and color assortment per carton so the receiver can put stock away without opening every box. Moisture control also needs attention before cartons are sealed.

If components arrive separately, agree intake counts and hold/release records with the warehouse. Review retail packaging during sampling, using the quality control checklist to record assortment and pack checks.

Prepare the supplier submission

For a first review, prepare the product reference, tech pack or measurements, fabric requirement, quantities by color and size, decoration files, packaging, destination, and target date. Use the wholesale RFQ template, then read how to choose a China sourcing agent before comparing providers.

Product types

• Wholesale clothing
• Uniforms and workwear
• Bags
• Fabrics
• Footwear
• Sustainable programs

Typical wholesale buyers

• Brands
• Uniform programs
• Retailers

Main sourcing markets

• Supplier-declared production site: confirm address and processes
• Subcontracted operations: confirm site and responsibility

Information graphic

MOQ and pricing factors

Request minimums by fabric, color, size assortment, decoration, and trim; compare them against your quantity breakdown.

Quality control

• Measurements by size against the approved tolerance
• Fabric shade, hand feel, weight, and visible defects
• Seams, stitch density, symmetry, and stress points
• Decoration position, labels, assortment, and carton marks

Compliance and documents

Fiber labels and kids’ wear rules are destination-specific. Recycled claims need a file, not a hangtag poem.

Shipping considerations

• Carton humidity
• Hanging vs flat
• Seasonal capacity crunches

Frequently asked questions

What does a factory need before it can quote clothing accurately?

At minimum, provide the garment construction, fabric composition and weight, size chart, quantity by color and size, decoration, labels, packing, destination, and required date. A reference photo helps, but it cannot replace those decisions.

Can several colors and sizes share one MOQ?

Sometimes, but the answer depends on fabric, dyeing, cutting, decoration, and trim minimums. Ask the supplier to show the minimum by fabric color, garment color, size, and decoration process instead of giving one total number.

What should an apparel inspection cover?

The inspection plan should cover measurements across selected sizes, workmanship, shade, decoration, labels, size and color assortment, packing, and carton condition. Laboratory tests may still be needed for composition, color fastness, or destination-market requirements.