How do I choose a clothing manufacturer for my brand?
Check four things before you commit: what the minimum order quantity actually covers, how they run sampling, how quality is inspected, and whether they can state a lead time without guessing. A manufacturer who answers those four clearly is usually one you can build a programme with.
What the MOQ covers
We work at 100-500 pieces depending on product type. Ask what sits inside that number - whether labels, packaging and sampling are included or excluded - because two quotes with the same MOQ can be quoting different things.
How sampling runs
The sequence is proto sample, then fit sample, then pre-production sample, each approved before the next. A manufacturer who collapses those stages to save time is trading your fit against their schedule.
How quality is inspected
Look for inspection during the run as well as at the end. Ours is a multi-stage process: inline checks catch drift while the order is still on the line, and a final inspection catches anything that reached the end of it.
The lead time
An honest answer for a first order is 30-60 days, and 15-25 days for repeats. A first order quoted much faster usually means the sampling stages have been cut.
Where it is made matters too. Ludhiana produces over 60% of India's knitwear exports, and proximity to the mills reduces material cost by 20-30% and delivery by 7-14 days against cities further away.
Send a brief and judge the answer that comes back.
