How do I start working with a custom clothing manufacturer?

How do I start working with a custom clothing manufacturer?

Direct answer

Start with a written brief, not a price question. Send the garment type, quantity per style and colour, fabric and GSM direction, size range, artwork and target delivery date. That one document drives the quote, the sample and the production plan. At VANRD the sequence is: brief and quantity confirmed, fabric and trims selected, sample produced in 7–10 days, then bulk production in 25–35 days after pre-production approval.

What the first message should contain

A factory cannot quote without quantity and construction. “How much for a hoodie?” has no answer, because the same silhouette ranges from a 280 GSM basic to a 480 GSM bonded piece with custom trims. The faster your brief is specific, the faster a real number comes back.

If you do not have a tech pack, send reference images, a physical sample, or the closest product you have seen. A factory used to OEM work can build a spec from a reference — what it cannot do is guess your intent.

StageWhat you provideWhat comes back
1. BriefGarment type, quantity, fabric direction, colours, sizesFeasibility and indicative pricing
2. SpecTech pack or reference garment, artwork, labelsFabric and trim options, final quote
3. SamplingApproved spec and artworkSample in 7–10 days
4. BulkApproved sample, PO, depositBulk in 25–35 days, then QC and shipping

The mistake that costs the most time

Opening three factories at once with a vague brief produces three answers you cannot compare, because each assumed a different fabric and construction. Send the same spec to every supplier.

Second mistake: treating the sample as a formality. The sample is the contract — if it is not right, bulk cannot be right.

Field example

A first-time brand in Sydney came to VANRD with four reference photos and a target of 300 hoodies. The first brief lacked GSM and colour count, so the quote could only be a range. After one call the spec was fixed at 420 GSM brushed fleece in two colourways, 100 pieces each. Sample approved in nine days, bulk shipped inside the 25–35 day window.

Numbers that matter

  • MOQ at VANRD is 100 pieces per style and color
  • Sampling runs 7–10 days after spec and fabric are confirmed
  • Bulk production runs 25–35 days after pre-production approval
  • One written brief beats three vague enquiries every time

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