Key Takeaway
A low sewing minimum does not guarantee a small total commitment. Check minimums separately for each style, colour, fabric and trim, then calculate the cost of materials left over after the order.
An order for 100 jackets can be straightforward in one stock fabric and difficult in four custom colours. The useful question is how the entire order fits the supplier's material availability and production schedule.
MOQ means minimum order quantity. Suppliers may apply it to a style, a colour, a fabric purchase or a branded component. Ask for each minimum in writing before paying for development.
| Minimum | Question to ask | Possible consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Style | Can different colours share the style minimum? | Four colours may become four separate commitments |
| Colour | What is the smallest cut quantity per shade? | A small colour split may carry a surcharge |
| Fabric | Must I buy full rolls or a custom dye lot? | You may own fabric beyond the garment requirement |
| Trim | Are labels and zippers stock or custom ordered? | Unused components need storage or delivery |
| Order value | Is there a minimum invoice amount? | A low unit count may still require substantial spending |
For illustration, 120 jackets divided into two colours and four sizes create eight colour-size combinations. An even allocation would be 15 pieces per combination, but your actual size curve should follow customer demand. There is no universal European size ratio.
Send the exact allocation with your enquiry. Request prices for the same specification at 60, 120 and 240 pieces. Ask which costs change with quantity and which remain fixed, such as pattern development or artwork setup. This reveals whether a larger order saves enough per piece to justify the extra inventory.
Request consumption based on the proposed pattern, usable fabric width and size mix. Clarify whether the number already includes cutting waste, shrinkage allowance and pattern matching.
An illustrative calculation: if the agreed gross shell allowance is 1.8 metres per jacket, 100 jackets require 180 metres. If the fabric seller only releases two 100-metre rolls, the purchase is 200 metres. Confirm who pays for, owns and stores the remaining 20 metres. These figures explain the calculation; they are not a standard jacket yield.
Stock fabrics can reduce the initial commitment, but ask whether the fabric is continuously replenished or is a one-off lot. A swatch book alone does not reserve stock for your order.
Using the same lining, labels or compatible hardware across styles may reduce separate purchases. Check zipper lengths, performance and colour compatibility before treating a component as interchangeable. An existing pattern may reduce development work, but it still needs a fit sample in the intended materials.
Keep the size range your customers need. Removing sizes solely to improve cutting efficiency can create a product that sells poorly even if it costs less to manufacture.
Before cutting, agree on the pre-production sample, measurements, tolerances, materials and packing. For a small batch, ask what checks will cover every garment and which will use a sample.
ISO 2859-1 describes acceptance sampling by attributes. An AQL number alone does not define an inspection: the plan also needs the lot size, inspection level and acceptance criteria. It does not promise a particular defect percentage in the delivered order.
Before paying a deposit, obtain a written quantity breakdown, material reservation, itemised quote, approval schedule and agreement for unused materials. The jacket costing guide shows how these commitments affect the unit cost.
Common Sourcing Questions
Often, but the supplier must confirm the exact split. Size grading, fabric availability and minimum quantities per colour can each affect the price and feasibility.
It reduces finished inventory, but development charges and leftover material purchases can offset the saving. Compare the full cash commitment, not only quantity multiplied by unit price.
Manufacturing Journal
A wholesale jacket buy needs to work at the size, margin and reorder level. Assess the actual garments and pack composition, then calculate expected revenue after markdowns and landed costs.
A useful jacket price connects a defined specification to material quantities, conversion work and commercial terms. Compare total order commitments and landed costs; headline prices and standard percentage breakdowns conceal important differences.
Start with a comparable brief, approve a physical production reference, and schedule material procurement separately from sewing. Confirm shipping and customs requirements for the destination before accepting a delivery promise.