← All guides·Sourcing·Quality·Duty-free·Private label·Compliance·Pricing·Startups·Trust
What separates a good school uniform manufacturer from a risky one — colour continuity across years, the right fabrics and constructions, childrenswear safety built in at design stage, realistic minimums, and the questions that reveal everything before you order.
Read guideWhat a final inspection actually checks before your garments ship: quantity and assortment, AQL workmanship sampling, measurements, labels and compliance, packing, the complete checklist, who should inspect, and what to do when a lot fails.
Read guideHow garment sizing really works between brand and factory: the base-size spec, grade rules, points of measure and tolerances, what to send, what happens if you send nothing, and the sizing traps (unisex, UK vs US, kids’ heights) that cause returns.
Read guideThe paper trail of a garment import, in the order it actually arrives: proforma invoice, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, origin documents, what each is for, who issues it, and the errors that hold cargo at customs.
Read guideThe commodity codes every knitwear importer needs, t-shirts 6109, sweatshirts and hoodies 6110, polos 6105 — what classifies where, the cotton-vs-synthetic split that changes US duty, and the current duty rates into the UK, EU, US, Canada and Japan by origin.
Read guideWhy cotton knits shrink (spinning and knitting tension, not magic), how much shrinkage is normal, what compacting does at the mill, the tolerance to put in your tech pack, and how to wash-test a sample before approving bulk.
Read guideHow a factory builds your price: the costing sheet line by line, fabric consumption and price, trims, CMT, overheads, margin, with a worked t-shirt example, the levers that actually move cost, and how to read a quote like an insider.
Read guideCombing is the fibre-preparation step that separates premium tees from budget ones: what it removes, why combed cotton prints sharper and pills less, how it pairs with ring spinning, and when carded cotton is honestly good enough.
Read guideThe standard payment structure of garment sourcing decoded: why factories ask 30% upfront, what the 70% balance is actually released against, the safe and unsafe variants, and how to negotiate terms that protect both sides.
Read guideActual t-shirt weights by size and GSM — from a factory that weighs them: singles, dozens, and cartons, with packaging included, plus a GSM-to-grams method for estimating any garment’s shipping weight before you order.
Read guideThe two ways factories work: CMT (you supply fabric, they cut-make-trim) versus FPP full-package production (the factory sources everything). What each costs, who owns which risk, why quotes aren’t comparable across models, and which fits your stage.
Read guideThe single yarn choice behind why two “100% cotton” t-shirts feel completely different: how ring-spun and open-end cotton are made, what each does to softness, printing, pilling and price, and which to specify for your programme.
Read guideWhat hoodie GSM actually means, the weight bands (250–300 everyday, 300–350 standard, 350–450 heavyweight, 450+ ultra), how much hoodies weigh in grams, brushed vs loopback at each weight, and which GSM to order for your market.
Read guideBulk production copies your sample — including its mistakes. Why buyers approve samples too fast (excitement, deadlines, sunk cost), and the disciplined checklist that catches problems while they still cost nothing: measure against spec, wash before approving, check the inside, archive the standard.
Read guideThe real barrier to overseas sourcing isn’t price or quality — it’s the fear of wiring money to strangers. How scammers actually exploit buyer psychology, why a live unscripted video walk is almost impossible to fake, and a triangulation method that settles trust without a plane ticket.
Read guideKidswear is the most regulated garment category — cords and drawstrings, small parts, chemical limits, flammability, and US CPSIA testing. What each rule actually requires, why they exist, and what a compliance-literate factory does at the design stage so your brand never learns any of this from a recall notice.
Read guideThe vocabulary of garment sourcing, translated: pricing and shipping terms, production and sampling terms, quality control, and the paperwork of international trade — each in one plain sentence, with links to deeper guides.
Read guideEvery supplier waves certificates; few buyers know what each one actually certifies. The three questions a certification can answer — is the product safe, what is it made of, how is the factory run — and which to ask for in which situation. Including an honest note on where we stand.
Read guideWho actually sits between a brand and a garment factory — and what it costs. Agent commissions, buying-house margins, hidden kickbacks, how agents vet factories, when a middleman earns their fee, and when factory-direct plus a $300 inspection day is the smarter structure.
Read guidePolos and tees are the modern corporate uniform — and the hardest part isn’t the rollout, it’s years of replenishment in matching colours and fragmented sizes. How uniform programmes are actually bought, the pain points that break them, and when factory-direct production fixes the maths.
Read guideThe three main ways to brand a garment — screen printing, DTG, and embroidery — compared on cost, quantity, detail, and durability, so you pick the right one.
Read guideNew to importing garments? Here’s how to communicate with an overseas factory, what MOQ / lead time / payment terms to expect, and how to avoid the common first-timer mistakes.
Read guideThe fabric blend changes your tee’s feel, price, durability, and print results. Here’s a plain guide to 100% cotton, CVC, and poly-cotton for brand owners.
Read guideThe step-by-step of a garment order — from tech pack to sample approval to bulk production, QC, and shipping — so you know what happens and when.
Read guideA practical roadmap for turning a clothing idea into real, sellable product — designs, tech packs, finding a manufacturer, MOQ, samples, and your first order.
Read guideRules of origin decide whether your garment qualifies for duty-free import. Here’s the difference between single and double transformation — and why it matters when the fabric is imported.
Read guideIncoterms decide who pays for freight and who carries the risk at each stage. Here’s what EXW, FOB, and CIF mean for importing garments — and how landlocked Nepal ships.
Read guideGSM is the number that most affects how your garment feels and drapes. Here’s what GSM means and which weights work best for t-shirts, polos, and knit basics.
Read guideThese four terms confuse every new brand. Here’s what each manufacturing model means in plain English, and which fits your product and stage.
Read guideA tech pack is the blueprint your manufacturer builds from. Here’s what goes in one, why it matters, and the minimum info a factory needs to quote your garment accurately.
Read guideHow long does it really take to produce a garment order, and when should you place it? A count-back planner covering sampling, fabric, bulk, QC, and freight — so your knitwear lands in time for the season.
Read guideHow a blank tee becomes your brand: woven vs printed labels, neck prints, hang tags, poly bags, barcodes, and retail-ready packaging — plus the artwork a factory needs and how custom trims affect MOQ and lead time.
Read guideA buyer’s guide to garment labelling compliance across the EU, UK, US, and Canada — fibre composition, care symbols, country of origin, and manufacturer ID — so your imported knitwear clears customs and shelves cleanly.
Read guideHow garment quality control and AQL inspection actually work — defect classes, inspection stages, a copy-and-use QC checklist, and how to inspect an order before it ships.
Read guideConsidering Nepal for your knit basics? A practical, step-by-step guide to importing garments from Nepal — from first inquiry to delivery, including duty-free access, export paperwork, freight, and payment.
Read guideSend us your designs, tech pack, or a reference — we’ll come back with MOQ, pricing, and lead time for your program.
