“ What is your MOQ?” It is almost always the first question that a starting brand asks a producer. And it's almost always the question that makes or breaks the project. In this article we explain why MOQ’s exist, which MOQ’s are realistic for different types of production, and which negotiating strategies work without falling into poor quality.
What is MOQ actually
MOQ stands for Minimum Order Quantity — the minimum number of pieces that a manufacturer or fabric supplier accepts per order, per color or per size. A typical MOQ structure could be:
Why do manufacturers use MOQ
MOQ
- Setup costs: making a pattern, preparing for cutting, setting up a sewing line costs a fixed amount, regardless of whether you order 50 or 5000 pieces.
- Fabric purchasing: weaving mills supply fabric per roll (typically 30–60 meters). For small series, the manufacturer must take fabrics from stock or keep a roll.
- Quality control and certification: overhead is the same for 100 or 1000 pieces.
- Risk: small orders often mean new customers — and new customers mean more revisions, more communication and more payment risk.
Realistic MOQ
| Product type | Industry standard | What is realistically achievable |
|---|---|---|
| T-shirts (basic) | 500–1000 pieces | 100 pieces for stock fabric |
| Hoodies / sweaters | 300–500 pieces | 50–100 pieces |
| Woven shirts | 300–500 pieces | 100–150 pieces |
| Custom woven fabrics | 500–2000 meters | Often non-negotiable |
| Sportswear / technical | 500 pieces | 200 pieces, higher price |
Five strategies to lower your MOQ
1. Work with stock fabrics
The biggest MOQ driver is usually the fabric, not the garment. By choosing from your manufacturer's stock range, you avoid the fabric MOQ of the weaving mill. We permanently keep more than 80 basic qualities in stock.
2. Limit your color execution
“50 pieces in 5 colours ” is practically a no-go. “250 pieces in 1 color” works for almost every producer. Limiting helps the first collection I would always recommend 2 colors: One neutral, one signature.
3. Combine styles on the same fabric
Do you have 5 styles in the same fabric? Make this clear in the application. The manufacturer can spread fabric costs across multiple styles and accept lower style MOQ
4. Accept higher unit price
The unit price for 100 units is typically 35–60% higher than for 1000 units. For a start-up brand, this is acceptable — market launch is more important than margin optimization. Build that premium into your sales price.
5. Work with a specialist manufacturer for small series
Not every factory wants to run small orders. Producers who specifically focus on the starting brand segment (such as us for brands of 50 units or more) have set up their processes accordingly — which makes the difference between a quotation or not.
Common mistake: MOQ shopping
Many starters approach 30 factories and choose the lowest MOQ. The result is often a producer with inadequate quality control, poor communication or a hidden pricing structure. Better strategy: choose two to three manufacturers based on quality, ask them for their MOQ conditions and negotiate within that selection.
A realistic timeline
For a first small order (50–200 pieces) please take into account:
- Tech pack and pattern: 2–3 weeks
- Sample rounds: 3–4 weeks
- Fabric attachment: 1–2 weeks
- Production: 3–5 weeks
- Shipping: 1 week within EU
Total: 10–15 weeks from first contact to delivery. Plan on planning your first collection more than 4 months in advance.
Are you working on your first collection and are you looking for a partner who can help you from 50 pieces per style? Send us your tech pack or mood board — we will provide an initial quote within 3 working days.
