What is your minimums / MOQ?

Short Answer (Citable)

What MOQ Means and Why It Exists

MOQ is the smallest quantity a factory will produce for one style in one production run. It exists because a production run has fixed costs: pattern making, grading, marker making, cutting setup, and line preparation happen whether the order is 50 pieces or 500 pieces.

A reasonable MOQ balances the factory's need to cover fixed costs with the buyer's need to test products and manage inventory risk. A MOQ that is too high forces startups to over-order and tie up capital; a MOQ that is too low for the factory's cost structure usually signals that quality or capacity may be compromised elsewhere.

The MOQ also protects the factory's production efficiency. Running a line for a very small order means stopping a line that could produce a larger order, so the minimum reflects the smallest batch that keeps the line economics sensible. Understanding this helps you see the MOQ as part of the cost structure rather than an arbitrary rule.

When you evaluate a supplier's MOQ, ask how it is applied: per style, per color, or per order. The answer changes what the minimum really costs you, because a per-color minimum multiplies your commitment across the whole collection.

How Ginwen's MOQ Works

Ginwen's MOQ is 50 pieces per style, and for most programs colors and sizes can be mixed within that minimum. This means you are not required to order 50 pieces of a single color; you can split the 50 pieces across your planned size curve and color assortment.

• MOQ of 50 pieces per style for bulk production
• Mixed colors and sizes allowed within the minimum for standard programs
• Sample orders of a few pieces available before bulk, with fees of $50-$200 credited to the bulk order
• Larger quantities qualify for tiered pricing, so unit cost drops as order size grows
• MOQ applies per style, which lets you test several styles with the same capital as one large order elsewhere

The per-style structure is important for collection planning. If you are launching a first collection of three jacket styles, each style carries its own 50-piece minimum, so the total commitment is 150 pieces across the collection rather than one large order of a single style. That is a practical structure for validating which silhouettes your market wants.

Confirm the mixing rules in writing when you place the order: how many colors, how many sizes, and whether the 50-piece minimum applies to the style as a whole. Written confirmation prevents surprises at the production stage, when changing the size curve is expensive.

For larger programs, the same MOQ applies, but the tiered price structure becomes more favorable. If you expect a style to sell through a season, ordering 200 or 500 pieces per style is usually more cost-effective per unit than ordering the minimum, so model both scenarios before you commit.

MOQ for Startups and Market Testing

The 50-piece MOQ is specifically structured for brands that need to test the market before scaling. A small first batch lets you validate design, fit, price point, and customer response without tying up your working capital in inventory that may not sell.

1. Start with sampling: 7-14 days per round to develop and approve the sample, with the $50-$200 fee credited to bulk
2. Place a first bulk order at the 50-piece MOQ to test the market with real inventory
3. Measure sell-through, customer feedback, and reorder demand from the first batch
4. Scale successful styles to larger tiers for better unit pricing
5. Drop underperforming styles without carrying excess stock

For a startup, the alternative to a low MOQ is often a large minimum with heavy inventory risk, or a per-piece sample price that makes testing expensive. A 50-piece MOQ with sample fee credit gives you a middle path: real production quality at a quantity you can actually sell.

If you are testing multiple styles, use the per-style structure to your advantage. Order the minimum across three or four styles rather than one style at a large quantity, and let your early sales data decide which styles earn the larger reorder. This is a common strategy for first-season outerwear brands.

Remember that sampling is part of the same cycle. Because the sample fee credits against the first bulk order, the validation cost is not wasted; it reduces the amount you pay for the first production run. Keep the credit confirmation in writing with your order.

What If Your Order Is Below the MOQ?

If your quantity is below the 50-piece MOQ, the practical path is usually a sample order rather than a bulk order. Sample orders are a few pieces, they validate the product, and the fee credits against a later bulk order.

Below the MOQ, the economics change: the fixed costs of pattern making, cutting setup, and line preparation must be spread over fewer pieces, which raises the unit cost or requires a special arrangement. The factory can discuss what is possible for your specific program, but the standard structure is 50 pieces per style for bulk.

If you need a very small quantity for a pilot or a sales event, the cleanest approach is a sample order followed by a bulk order when demand is confirmed. This keeps your cost structure predictable and gives you a production-quality product to show customers before you commit to volume.

Do not ask a factory to make a one-off bulk exception without understanding what it costs them. The honest question is not "can you do 20 pieces?" but "what is the right way to structure a small test so it does not waste either of our money?" The answer is usually sampling first, then a minimum bulk order.

How MOQ Interacts with Pricing

MOQ and price are two sides of the same structure: the minimum defines the entry point, and the tiered pricing defines the reward for ordering more. Understanding the tiers lets you choose the quantity that maximizes margin.

• At the 50-piece MOQ, the unit price includes the full fixed-cost allocation for the style
• At 200-500 pieces, fixed costs spread further and material volume pricing improves
• At 500+ pieces, the factory can plan dedicated line time and procurement, improving cost and lead time
• Larger orders also reduce per-unit freight and inspection costs when spread over more pieces

When you receive a quotation, ask for the tiered price at the quantities you are realistically considering, not only the MOQ price. The difference between 50 and 200 pieces is often significant enough to change which styles you can afford to launch and at what retail price.

Balance the unit price against inventory risk. A lower unit price at 500 pieces only helps if you can sell 500 pieces; unsold inventory costs storage, markdown, and cash flow. The right quantity is the one that sells through at the planned margin, not the one with the lowest unit cost in isolation.

Model the landed cost at each tier: FOB price plus freight, duties, inspection, and any financing cost of the deposit. The tier that maximizes your total margin per season is the correct order size, and the factory's tiered quotation gives you the data to compute it.

MOQ, Sampling, and Payment in Sequence

MOQ is only one element of the order structure. The complete sequence for a first order connects sampling, approval, payment, and production into a predictable timeline.

1. Sample development: 7-14 days per round, fees of $50-$200 credited against the first bulk order
2. Sample approval: fit, materials, and construction signed off in writing
3. Bulk order at 50-piece MOQ per style, with the size and color mix confirmed
4. 30% deposit: reserves capacity and funds material purchasing
5. Bulk production: 25-40 days depending on quantity and complexity
6. Final inspection: AQL-based checks and photos before shipment
7. 70% balance: due before shipment against the packing list

Each step has a written confirmation, which protects both sides. The sample approval is the quality benchmark for bulk; the order confirmation fixes the MOQ, mix, and price; the deposit locks the production slot; and the balance release follows inspection.

Plan the calendar backward from your retail launch: sampling plus revisions, bulk production of 25-40 days, and sea freight to the US or EU typically mean starting the process several months before the season. The MOQ conversation happens at the start, but the timeline it enables runs the whole program.

If you are comparing factories, write each one's MOQ, mixing rules, sample policy, and payment terms in the same format. Side-by-side comparison in a consistent format reveals differences that a friendly sales conversation can hide.

Questions to Ask About Any MOQ

A MOQ figure on its own tells you little; the details around it determine the real commitment. Ask these questions before you place an order with any supplier.

• Does the MOQ apply per style, per color, or per order?
• Can colors and sizes be mixed within the minimum?
• What is the tiered price at 100, 200, and 500 pieces?
• Is a sample order available before bulk, and is the sample fee credited?
• What happens if a style underperforms and you reorder below the minimum?
• How is the MOQ confirmed in the order document?

Write down the answers in the same format for every factory you compare. The supplier with the lowest headline MOQ is not automatically the best fit; the supplier whose MOQ structure matches your actual order plan is the one that minimizes your risk.

Also ask how the factory handles a reorder below the original MOQ for an established style. Some factories are flexible for repeat styles because the patterns and materials are already set, and knowing this in advance helps you plan your reorder strategy.

Finally, confirm the MOQ in the order confirmation document rather than relying on email discussions. The written order document is the reference point if a later dispute arises about quantity, price, or terms.

Getting Started with Your First Order

If the 50-piece MOQ fits your plan, the practical next step is to start the process with a specification and a sample request. The factory will develop a sample in 7-14 days, credit the $50-$200 sample fee against your first bulk order, and then move into bulk production of 25-40 days once the sample is approved and the 30% deposit is placed.

Send a complete specification with your first inquiry: garment type, fabric, fill power and weight, hardware, size range, colors, and target quantity. A complete specification produces an accurate quotation and a sample that is close to final on the first round, which saves time on both sides.

If you are not ready for bulk, start with samples only. Sampling is the lowest-risk way to evaluate the factory's quality, communication, and turnaround before you commit to production, and the sample fee is credited when you move to bulk.

Ginwen also offers OEM and ODM services, so the factory can develop a style from your tech pack or work from a reference design. The MOQ structure applies the same way, which means you can develop a custom style for your brand at 50 pieces per style rather than at a volume only large retailers can reach.