Fabric first, factory second
A cut-and-sew factory can only be as good as the mill behind it. Ask where the fabric is woven or knitted, whether it is domestic or imported, and what that does to your lead time. Imported fabric routinely adds three to five weeks nobody mentioned in the quotation.
Country shorthand
- Vietnam — strong on knits, outerwear and technical sportswear; good EU trade terms; fabric often imported
- India — deep in cotton, home textiles and hand processes; strong at low-to-mid volumes; variable finishing consistency
- China — widest fabric library and fastest development; highest price, still unmatched on complex specs
- Bangladesh — lowest cost at high volume; long lead times, high MOQs
Test the things that fail later
GSM against spec, shrinkage after three washes, colour fastness to wash and rubbing, pilling, seam strength, and consistency between the sample and bulk fabric rolls.
MOQs and how to move them
MOQ is usually driven by the fabric dye lot, not the sewing line. Choosing a stock fabric or an existing colour is the fastest way to cut a minimum from 1,000 units to a few hundred.
Questions buyers ask
Is Vietnam cheaper than China for textiles?
Often on labour, rarely on fabric. If the fabric is imported from China anyway, the total saving can be small — compare landed cost per unit, not the sewing quote.
What MOQ should a new brand expect?
300–1,000 pieces per colourway is normal with a custom fabric; far lower using stock fabric. Ask for both quotes.