How to source
custom apparel from China.
5 steps from first inquiry to delivered boxes. 30 years of sourcing experience distilled into one page. Use this as your checklist whether you work with us or another supplier.
The 5-step process.
We've refined this process over 8 years and 1,200+ orders. Each step has a clear deliverable, a clear timing, and a clear handoff. No mystery.
Step 1: Inquiry & Quote
Day 1-3Send us your inquiry: product type, quantity, design, target delivery date. We respond with a quote within 24 business hours.
- Email: [email protected] (or use the form on our contact page)
- Include product type (T-shirt, jersey, hoodie, etc.), estimated quantity, design file or reference image, target delivery date, and your company/organization info
- We respond within 24 business hours with: per-piece pricing, MOQ, fabric options, sample cost, and estimated lead time
- Pricing is held for 30 days (vs. 7 days at most factories)
- No deposit or commitment required to get a quote
Step 2: Sample & Sign-Off
Day 5-15Physical sample on production fabric, with your exact colors and design. You approve before bulk cut.
- Sample cost: $80-150 per design (refunded on bulk order)
- Sample production time: 7-10 days for first-time designs, 3-5 days for re-orders
- Sample includes: production fabric, your exact colors, full print, sewn construction
- Shipped via DHL/FedEx to your door, 3-5 business days
- Sample sign-off is the contract for bulk. We don't start bulk until you approve the sample.
Step 3: Deposit & Production Planning
Day 16-2030% deposit, 70% before shipment. We book your slot in the production schedule.
- Deposit: 30% of total order value
- Payment: T/T (wire transfer), PayPal (small orders), or LC at sight (large orders)
- Production slot confirmed in our 30-day rolling schedule
- You receive a production schedule with milestones (T-60, T-30, T-15, T-7, T-3)
- Communication: one named account manager for the duration of your order
Step 4: Production & 4-Stage QC
Day 21-60Cut, print, sew, inspect. 4-stage quality control with photo evidence. 15 business days for most orders.
- Fabric inspection before cut
- Cut, print, sew in 12-15 business days for most orders
- Stage 1: Pre-production sample (locked at sample sign-off)
- Stage 2: In-line inspection (first 30 pieces, then 10% random)
- Stage 3: AQL 2.5 final random inspection
- Stage 4: Pre-shipment photo evidence (you see it before it ships)
Step 5: Shipping & Delivery
Day 61-90DDP shipping arranged. Ocean, air, or US warehouse domestic. Customs handled.
- Final payment: 70% balance before shipping
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): we handle customs, duties, and last-mile delivery
- Ocean: 25-35 days from Yiwu to US West Coast, 5-7 days to your door via truck
- Air: 7-10 days from Yiwu to US door (for time-sensitive orders)
- US warehouse: 2-5 days domestic delivery for stocked items
- Tracking provided. Container photo at pickup.
Payment options.
We support multiple payment methods depending on order size and customer relationship.
| Method | Best for | Fee | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| T/T (Wire Transfer) | Standard for all orders | $15-30 per wire | 2-3 business days |
| PayPal | Sample orders, <$5,000 orders | 3-5% surcharge | Instant |
| L/C at Sight | Large orders >$50,000 | Bank fees | 5-7 business days |
| 30/70 Net-30 | Repeat customers, established accounts | 0% | Net-30 from delivery |
Shipping options.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is the default. We handle customs, duties, and last-mile delivery so you receive a single invoice.
| Method | Time | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean DDP | 25-35 days port-to-door | $$ (lowest) | Orders >1,000 pcs, not time-sensitive |
| Air DDP | 7-10 days door-to-door | $$$ | Orders <1,000 pcs, time-sensitive |
| US Warehouse | 2-5 days domestic | $$ | Re-orders, designs we already stock |
| Express (DHL/FedEx) | 3-5 days door-to-door | $$$$ | Samples only |
Common sourcing questions.
What's the minimum order quantity (MOQ)?
MOQ is 50 pieces per design. For per-piece customization (names, numbers), MOQ is 100 pieces. We do not accept single-piece orders.
Do you accept custom designs or only stock designs?
We accept any design. Send us your artwork (vector .ai/.eps/.svg preferred, or 300+ DPI PNG/PDF). We create a digital mockup for your approval before sample production.
How do I know I can trust a Chinese factory?
Ask for: (1) factory photos/video, (2) customer references, (3) sample before bulk, (4) third-party inspection access. We provide all four. We also have a US warehouse in California for transparency.
What if I need a 100% cotton feel, not poly?
We do offer cotton-feel sublimation (cotton-rich blends with sublimation coating). It's a 2-3 day longer process and slightly higher cost. Many event organizers use this for marathon shirts where comfort is the top priority.
Can I split an order into multiple shipments?
Yes. Many events have a pre-event shipment (volunteer/staff shirts) and a main-event shipment (participant shirts). We can ship in waves if production allows. Standard wave shipping is 1 wave + 1 main shipment.
Got a
project?
Send us your design, your quantity, and your deadline. We'll reply with a quote within 24 hours.
Zhejiang, China
Fontana, CA 92335
United States