Sampling, Orders, Quality & Shipping
Questions on tech packs, sampling stages, MOQ, approvals, lead times, inspection, lab testing, Incoterms, payment and claims when producing apparel.
Questions in this topic (33)
- Can I reorder a colour and get the same shade from a different dye lot?Why reorders can differ in shade, what a dye-lot tolerance means, how colour difference is measured (ISO 105-J03, grey scale) and how to approve reorder shades.
- What is the minimum tech pack a factory needs for underwear?The minimum tech pack a factory needs to quote and sample underwear: style sketch, measurement chart with tolerances, fabric and trim bill of materials, construction, labels, packing and the market rules the labels must meet.
- What is the difference between proto, fit and PP samples?The difference between proto, fit and pre-production (PP) samples: what each stage checks, which materials are used, what the buyer should approve at each step, and how the PP sample links to bulk inspection.
- How many sample rounds are normal for a new underwear style?How many sample rounds are normal for a new underwear style: what drives the number of rounds, how to reduce them with clear comments and references, and when extra rounds are a warning sign.
- Will my sample cost be refunded when I place an order?Whether underwear sample costs are refunded when an order is placed: what sample fees usually cover, which costs are credited and which are not, and how to agree sample terms in writing before development starts.
- How is MOQ split across colours and sizes?How underwear MOQ is split across colours and sizes: why factories set minimums per colour, how fabric, elastic and packaging minimums drive the split, and how to plan an order that meets MOQ without excess stock.
- What size ratio should I use for a first underwear order?How to choose a size ratio for a first underwear order: starting from the target market's body sizes and sales channels, using available data, protecting against stock-outs in core sizes, and reviewing after launch.
- Which light source should I use to approve lab dips?Which light source to use when approving lab dips: daylight simulators such as D65, checking under a second very different source for metamerism, matching conditions between brand and factory, and recording the approval.
- What should I check on a print strike-off?What to check on a print strike-off before bulk printing: colour against the standard, print scale and repeat, registration, base fabric, hand feel, and wash and rub tests for printed underwear and basics.
- What should be approved before bulk cutting starts?What should be approved before bulk cutting starts: bulk fabric shade, weight, width, shrinkage, fastness and surface against the approved standard, plus trims, markers and the PP sample, and why cutting is the last easy point to fix problems.
- What actually drives production lead time for basics?What actually drives production lead time for basics such as underwear and T-shirts: approvals, fabric and dyeing, trims and packaging, testing, sewing capacity, inspection and shipping, and how buyers can shorten the critical path.
- What are early warning signs that an order will be late?Early warning signs that an apparel order will be late: missed approval dates, fabric and trim status, vague updates, inspection rescheduling, and how a buyer can track milestones and respond before the ship date is lost.
- Do I need an inline inspection as well as a final one?Whether an apparel order needs an inline inspection as well as a final one: what each finds, when each is useful, sampling under ISO 2859-1, and how inline results reduce rework and delays at final inspection.
- How do I read an apparel inspection report?How to read an apparel inspection report: lot and sample size, AQL and acceptance numbers by defect class, defects found, measurements, packing and labelling checks, photos, and how to decide what to do next.
- How are major and minor defects classified in apparel?How major, minor and critical defects are classified in apparel inspection: what each class usually covers, how ISO 2859-1 links classes to AQLs, and why buyer and factory should agree a written defect list per product.
- What does a pre-shipment inspection check?What a pre-shipment inspection of apparel checks: quantity and packing, workmanship by AQL, measurements, labels and barcodes, carton marks and weights, on-site tests, and what the buyer should prepare beforehand.
- Which lab tests should I order for a new basics line?Which lab tests to order for a new line of underwear and T-shirts: performance tests such as shrinkage, colour fastness and pilling, legal requirements by market, children's products, and how to build a test plan.
- Can I reuse a lab test report for a reorder?Whether a lab test report can be reused for a reorder: what changes trigger retesting, US CPSC rules on material change and periodic testing, certificate validity periods, and a practical retest policy for basics.
- How do I verify a factory's certificate is real?How to verify a factory's certificate is real: checking OEKO-TEX labels, GOTS scope and transaction certificates and accredited ISO management system certificates against official databases, and matching scope, dates and products.
- FOB, EXW or DDP: which Incoterm should an apparel buyer use?How to choose between EXW, FCA, FOB and DDP for an apparel order under Incoterms 2020: where risk passes, who clears customs and pays duties, why FCA often suits container shipments, and what to write in the contract.
- What carton specs prevent shipping damage?What to specify for apparel export cartons to reduce shipping damage: board grade, size and weight limits, packing method, carton marks and labels, receiving warehouse rules, and when to use ISTA transport testing.
- When is air freight worth it for basics?When air freight is worth the extra cost for basics such as underwear and T-shirts: how to compare landed cost and lead time, which situations justify air, how split shipments work, and what to agree with the factory and forwarder.
- What payment terms are normal for a first apparel order?Payment terms commonly used on a first apparel order: deposit and balance, when the balance is due, letters of credit under ICC UCP 600, what each protects and does not protect, and how to link payment to inspection.
- What happens if bulk goods arrive defective?What to do when bulk apparel arrives defective: securing evidence, notifying the factory, sorting and counting defects, agreeing remedies such as rework, replacement or credit, and how to prevent the same problem on the next order.
- How should I plan reorders for core colours?How to plan reorders for core colours such as black, white and navy in underwear and basics: sales-based reorder points, fabric and dye lead times, shade continuity between lots, greige or fabric stock, and what to agree with the factory.
- How do I settle a measurement tolerance dispute with a factory?How to settle a measurement tolerance dispute with a factory: checking the specification and tolerances, using the same measuring method, remeasuring jointly, judging the impact on fit, and agreeing outcomes in writing.
- What is a sealed or golden sample and why keep one?What a sealed or golden sample is in apparel production, why buyers and factories keep one, how to label, seal and store it, and how it is used in inspection, disputes and reorders.
- What changes should a factory notify before production?Which changes a factory should notify the buyer about before production, such as fabric, dye, trims, subcontracting or process changes, why they matter for quality and compliance, and how to set up a simple change notification rule.
- What are the biggest risks on a small brand's first order?The biggest risks on a small brand's first apparel order, from unclear specifications and sample approval to payment, inspection, packaging, barcodes and shipping terms, with practical steps to reduce each.
- Should I split one style across two factories?Whether to split one apparel style across two factories: the benefits for capacity and risk, the risks for fit, shade and quality consistency, and the controls needed if you do it, such as shared fabric, specifications and sealed samples.
- How do peak seasons affect apparel factory capacity?How peak seasons and holidays affect apparel factory capacity and lead times, why fabric and shipping are also affected, and how buyers can plan orders, approvals and bookings to avoid delays.
- How do I read an underwear quotation line by line?How to read an underwear quotation line by line: fabric, elastic and trims, labour, packaging, testing, overheads and margin, plus Incoterms rule, quantity breaks, currency and validity, and how to compare quotes fairly.
- Why did my reorder price go up?Why an apparel reorder price can go up: fabric and trim costs, smaller quantities, specification changes, labour and energy costs, exchange rates, tariffs and shipping terms, and how to review and negotiate a price change.