The short answer
Starting a clothing brand with a manufacturer takes nine steps.
- Define your product, customer and price point.
- Plan your budget and how many pieces you need per style.
- Brief the factory with a tech pack, or a sketch and reference garment.
- Choose a manufacturer that already makes your product type.
- Get a written quote with minimums, lead times and terms.
- Approve a sample before anything is produced in bulk.
- Set up labels that meet the rules of the country you sell in.
- Produce and check the order against the approved sample.
- Ship and import on agreed terms, then restock what sells.
Most first orders take from about six weeks to three months from approved spec to stock in hand, depending on the product, quantity and shipping method.
01
Private label, OEM or ODM: choose how you work with the factory.
Every clothing brand that does not own a factory works with one in one of three ways. The words are used loosely online, so it helps to know what each one really means before you ask for a quote.
| Private label | OEM | ODM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it means | The factory makes garments that carry your brand name and labels. | You bring the design; the factory makes it exactly to your spec. | The factory develops the design or base style; you choose, adapt and brand it. |
| You provide | Logo, labels, colours, choices from the factory's range | Full design: tech pack, patterns or a sample to copy | Your idea, references, target price and customer |
| Speed | Fastest | Slowest (more development) | Fast to medium |
| Uniqueness | Lower: base styles may be shared | Highest: the design is yours | Medium to high, depending on changes |
| Best for | Testing a market, merch, team and staff wear | Brands with a designer and a clear product | New brands that want help with design and fit |
Tip
Most successful first collections are a mix: an ODM or private label base style for speed, upgraded with your own fabric, colours, trims, labels and packaging so it feels like your brand. Adriqa offers OEM, ODM and private label routes for all four of its lines.
02
The nine steps, in order.
Skipping a step rarely saves time; it usually moves the problem to a more expensive moment. Here is the order that works.
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01
Define the product and the customer
Write one sentence for each: who buys it, what it is, and what they will pay. "A 240 GSM oversized tee for gym-goers aged 20 to 35, selling at a premium price" is a brief a factory can work with. "A cool streetwear brand" is not.
- Start with one to three products, not a full collection.
- Pick one hero product you can explain in a single line.
- Collect five to ten reference photos of garments you like and why.
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02
Plan budget and quantities
Your first order is decided by three numbers: how many styles, how many colours of each, and how many pieces per colour. Each extra colour or style usually adds its own minimum, so a tight range lets you order deeper in what matters.
- Budget for samples, labels, packaging, shipping, duties and a reserve, not only the garments.
- Plan your size split from real data if you have it (many brands sell most in M and L).
- Keep cash for a fast reorder of what sells.
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03
Brief the factory
The best brief is a tech pack (see the checklist below). If you do not have one, send a sketch, a photo or a reference garment, your logo files, the quantity, the sizes and your deadline. A good manufacturer will ask questions and turn your brief into a spec sheet you approve.
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04
Choose a manufacturer
Shortlist factories that already make your product type: knitwear, outerwear, sublimated sportswear and seamless activewear need different machines and skills. Then use the vetting questions to compare them on the same terms.
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05
Get a written quote
A useful quote lists the spec it is based on, the price per piece at your quantity, the minimum order, sample cost and timing, production lead time, packing, shipping terms and payment terms. If something is missing, ask before you pay anything.
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06
Approve a sample
The sample is your garment made once. Check the fit on a real person, wash it, check the colour in daylight, and test the print or embroidery. Ask for changes in writing, with photos and measurements, and approve production only when it is right.
- Keep one approved sample: it becomes the standard for the whole order.
- Approve colour separately (a lab dip or strike-off) if colour is critical.
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07
Set up labels and packaging
Your brand label, size label, care and composition label, hang tags and polybags are part of the product. Each market has its own legal content: see labels for the EU, UK and US. Send final label artwork before production starts.
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08
Production and quality check
Fabric is cut, sewn and decorated to the approved sample. Ask for progress updates and photos, and agree how quality is checked: measurements against your size chart, stitching, print and colour, and a final check before packing.
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09
Ship, import and restock
Agree the shipping terms in your quote (see FOB, EXW and DDP in the glossary), and who pays duties and handles customs. When stock lands, track what sells by size and colour, and reorder early: a repeat order of an approved style is faster and easier than the first.
03
What goes in a tech pack.
A tech pack is the instruction file a factory works from. The more complete it is, the more accurate your quote and the closer your first sample. Without one, a factory has to guess, and guesses cost sample rounds.
Flat sketches
Front, back and side views, with every seam, pocket, zip and panel drawn.
Measurements
A size chart for each size, with how each point is measured, and the tolerance you accept.
Fabric
Fibre content, weight (GSM), knit or weave, finish and colour for each part.
Trims
Zips, buttons, drawcords, elastic, labels and thread, with size and colour.
Decoration
Method, size and position of every print, embroidery or patch, with vector artwork.
Colourways
Each colour version, with colour references (for example Pantone codes).
Construction
Stitch types, seam finishes and anything special about how it is sewn.
Labels and packing
Label positions, folding, polybags, hang tags and carton marks.
No tech pack yet?
That is normal for a first brand. Send what you have: a sketch, photos, a garment you like and your logo. Adriqa builds the spec sheet with you and confirms every line before a sample is made. See what to send us.
04
Minimums (MOQ) explained.
MOQ, the minimum order quantity, is the smallest number of pieces a factory will make in one order. It exists because fabric is bought by the roll, dyed by the batch, and every style needs patterns, cutting and machine set-up before the first piece is sewn.
How minimums are usually counted
- Per style: each design has its own minimum.
- Per colour: custom-dyed fabric often has a minimum per colour.
- Per decoration: some methods (like screen printing) have set-up per design.
- Sizes can usually be split freely within the minimum.
How to work with a minimum
- Start with fewer colours and order deeper.
- Use stock-colour fabric instead of custom dye.
- Use one body style in two colours instead of two styles.
- Ask which change lowers the minimum the most.
Minimums vary widely by product and country. For example, Maker's Row reports that US factories commonly set minimums of about 50 to 500 units per style. Always get the minimum for your exact product in writing.
05
A realistic timeline for a first order.
Typical ranges for apparel made in Sialkot, Pakistan, counted from an approved spec. Your manufacturer should confirm exact dates in writing for your order.
Simple tees and jerseys are quicker; outerwear and new patterns take longer.
Courier time to you, plus your checks and feedback.
For about 500 pieces, depending on the product. Jackets take the longest.
3–8 weeks by sea
Door to door, depending on the destination and customs.
These ranges match the lead-time planner on our How to order page, where you can see dates for your product, quantity and country.
06
What decides the price per piece.
There is no single price for "a hoodie". Two hoodies can look similar and cost very different amounts to make. These are the factors to compare when quotes come in:
Fabric
Fibre, weight, quality and whether it is stock or custom-dyed.
Construction
Number of panels, seams, pockets and how they are finished.
Trims
Zips, drawcords, labels, buttons and their quality.
Decoration
Method, size, number of colours and number of positions.
Quantity
Per style and per colour. Set-up costs spread over more pieces.
Packing and terms
Folding, bags, tags, and who pays shipping, duty and customs.
Compare fairly
Send every factory the same spec and quantity, and ask each to list what is included. The cheapest quote is often missing labels, packaging or shipping.
07
Labels for the EU, the UK and the US.
Labels are the part new brands most often get wrong, and they are checked at customs and by marketplaces. This is a plain summary of the main rules; it is not legal advice, so confirm the current rules for your market before you order labels.
European Union
- Fibre composition under Regulation (EU) 1007/2011: official fibre names, with percentages by weight in descending order.
- Language accepted in the country where it is sold.
- Manufacturer or importer name and contact details, including an electronic address, plus a product identifier, under the General Product Safety Regulation (EU) 2023/988, in force since 13 December 2024.
- Care symbols (ISO 3758) are not required by the fibre regulation, but buyers and retailers expect them.
United Kingdom
- Fibre content under the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012, in English.
- Label must be durable, legible and accessible; each part with a different fibre (such as a lining) is listed.
- The manufacturer or UK importer is responsible for correct labelling.
- Care labelling is voluntary but expected by retailers.
United States
- Fibre content by generic name and percentage (FTC Textile rules).
- Country of origin, for example "Made in Pakistan".
- Company identity: the name of the responsible company, or its FTC Registered Identification Number (RN).
- Care instructions on a permanent label (FTC Care Labeling Rule).
Children's clothing has extra safety rules (for example EN 14682 on cords and drawstrings in Europe, and CPSIA tracking labels in the US). Each style page on this site lists the labelling notes for its market, for example the classic heavyweight T-shirt.
08
How to vet a manufacturer: twelve questions.
Ask every shortlisted factory the same questions, in writing, and compare the answers side by side.
- Do you already make this exact product type? Can you show examples?
- What is the minimum per style, per colour and per decoration?
- What does a sample cost, how long does it take, and is the cost credited to the order?
- What is the production lead time after sample approval?
- How do you check quality, and against what reference?
- Which certificates or social and environmental audits do you hold, and can you send copies?
- Can you make my labels, hang tags and packaging, to my market's rules?
- Who will be my contact, and how fast do you reply?
- What are the payment terms and the payment schedule?
- What shipping terms do you offer (for example FOB or DDP)?
- What happens if pieces do not match the approved sample?
- Will you keep my designs and artwork confidential?
Good signs
- Clear written answers and a detailed quote
- Sample before production, always
- Copies of certificates on request
- Questions about your customer and market
Warning signs
- No sample, "trust us"
- Prices without a spec
- Vague answers on minimums or timing
- Pressure to pay everything up front
Adriqa sends copies of its 12 certificates and audits on request, each with its number and dates.
09
Ten costly mistakes to avoid.
- Too many styles in the first order. Spread thin, every style hits its own minimum.
- Skipping the sample. Fit problems found in bulk cost the whole order.
- Approving a sample in a hurry. Wash it, wear it, measure it first.
- No size chart. "Medium" means different things in different markets.
- Low-resolution logos. Send vector files (AI, PDF or SVG).
- Forgetting legal labels. Fibre, origin and company details are required.
- Comparing quotes on price only. Check what is included.
- Ignoring shipping and duty. They can change your margin a lot.
- Changing the design after approval. It restarts the clock.
- No plan for reorders. Bestsellers sell out; reorder early.
10
Glossary.
- Private label
- Garments made by a manufacturer and sold under your brand.
- OEM
- Original equipment manufacturing: the factory makes your design to your spec.
- ODM
- Original design manufacturing: the factory develops the design for you to brand.
- Tech pack
- The full instruction file for a garment: sketches, measurements, materials and details.
- MOQ
- Minimum order quantity, usually per style and often per colour.
- GSM
- Grams per square metre: fabric weight. A heavyweight tee is often 220 GSM or more.
- Lab dip
- A small dyed fabric swatch to approve a colour before bulk dyeing.
- Strike-off
- A test print on fabric to approve print colours and placement.
- Grading
- Scaling a pattern from one size to the full size range.
- Sublimation
- Printing dye into polyester fabric so the design never cracks or peels.
- FOB
- Free on board: the seller delivers to the ship at the port of export; the buyer pays from there.
- EXW
- Ex works: the buyer collects from the factory and pays all transport.
- DDP
- Delivered duty paid: the seller delivers to the buyer's door with duty paid.
- RN
- Registered Identification Number, issued by the US FTC, used on US labels.
11
Questions new brands ask.
What is the difference between private label, OEM and ODM clothing?
Private label means a manufacturer makes garments that are sold under your brand name. With OEM you bring the design and the factory makes it to your spec. With ODM the factory also designs or develops the product, and you choose and brand it. Many brands mix the two: an ODM base style, customised with their own fabric, colours, trims and labels.
Do I need a tech pack to start?
A full tech pack gives the most accurate quote and sample, but you do not need one to start. A sketch, a photo or a reference garment, plus your logo, quantity and sizes, is enough for a manufacturer to ask the right questions and build a spec sheet with you.
What does MOQ mean in clothing manufacturing?
MOQ is the minimum order quantity: the smallest number of pieces a factory will make in one order, usually counted per style and often per colour. It depends on the product, the fabric and the decoration, because fabric is bought and machines are set up in fixed amounts.
How long does it take to make a first clothing order?
For a simple product with a clear spec, a typical first order runs in three stages: sampling (about one to three weeks), production after sample approval (about two to six weeks for a few hundred pieces, depending on the product), and shipping (days by air, several weeks by sea). The manufacturer should confirm exact dates in writing with your quote.
What labels does clothing need to be sold in the EU, the UK and the US?
In the EU and the UK, clothing needs a fibre composition label using the official fibre names and percentages; in the EU the General Product Safety Regulation also requires the manufacturer or importer name and contact details and a product identifier. In the US, the FTC requires fibre content, country of origin and the name or RN of the company responsible, plus permanent care instructions. Check the current rules for your market before you order labels.
How do I choose the right clothing manufacturer?
Look for a factory that already makes your product type, answers clearly and in writing, makes a sample before production, checks quality against that sample, can show independent certificates or audits, and puts minimums, lead times, sample terms and payment terms in a written quote.
Should I order a sample before production?
Yes. A sample is your garment made once, so you can check fit, fabric, colour and decoration before the full order. Approve production only after the sample is right, and keep the approved sample as the reference for quality checks.
What decides the price of a private label garment?
The main factors are the fabric and its weight, the amount of sewing, the trims (zips, labels, drawcords), the decoration method and size, the quantity per style and colour, the packaging, and the shipping terms. Ask for a written quote that lists these, so you can compare factories fairly.
Made in Sialkot, Pakistan
Start your brand with Adriqa.
Adriqa Enterprises makes private label clothing for brands, teams and businesses in Europe, the UK and North America, across four specialist lines and 240 ready styles you can start from.
Sources
- Maker's Row: How do I get my clothing designs manufactured?
- ComplianceGate: Textile labelling requirements in the European Union
- Bureau Veritas: New labelling requirements under the General Product Safety Regulation
- Business Companion (UK Trading Standards): Labelling of textile products
- Flexport: Textile labeling requirements (US)
Lead times are typical ranges for apparel made in Sialkot and are confirmed in writing for each order. This guide is general information, not legal advice.