Minimums, explained
Low MOQ clothing manufacturer
We do not publish an MOQ number, because any single number would be a lie in one direction or the other. Here is what actually decides it.
Ask ten factories for their MOQ and you will get ten numbers, most of them invented on the spot. The honest answer is that a garment factory rarely has a meaningful minimum at all — sewing a hundred pieces is perfectly possible. The constraint sits upstream, in the dyehouse.
A dye machine holds a fixed weight of fabric. Running it half empty uses the same water, steam, chemicals and machine hours as running it full, so the cost per kilogram climbs steeply as the lot gets smaller. That is your minimum, and it is arithmetic rather than policy.
Which means the right question is not "what is your MOQ?" but "how many kilograms of one colour does my order create?" — and that is a question you can answer yourself before you contact anyone.
- Published MOQ
- None — because it depends on the dye lot, not the factory
- Key variable
- Kilograms of one colour, not pieces
- Best lever
- Fewer colours, more depth per colour
- Free planner
- Model your own programme with the MOQ tool
- Repeat shades
- Black, navy, ecru and melange run frequently
- Answer time
- One working day with a straight yes or no
01
What actually sets the minimum
- Colour count. Each colour is a separate dye lot. Splitting 900 pieces across six colours creates six small lots instead of one healthy one.
- Fabric weight per garment. A heavy hoodie at 0.7 kg reaches a workable lot far faster than a light tee at 0.19 kg — fewer pieces, same kilograms.
- Shade. Deep and difficult shades are less forgiving in small lots, because correction costs a full extra cycle.
- Construction. A specialist fabric knitted only for you has its own knitting minimum on top of the dye lot.
- Whether the shade already exists. Joining a running lot of black or ecru can remove the minimum almost entirely.
02
Four ways to make a small order work
- Cut the colour count. The most effective change available to you, and usually the right commercial decision anyway.
- Share one fabric across several styles. A hoodie and a jogger in the same terry and colour are one dye lot, not two — so build the range around a cloth.
- Use a stock or repeat shade. Black, navy, ecru and grey melange run constantly and can often be joined.
- Consider garment dyeing. For some constructions, sewing in greige and dyeing the finished garment lets you commit to colour late and in small quantities.
03
What we can do, honestly
- We will tell you what is workable for your specific fabric, colours and quantity rather than quoting a policy number.
- We will suggest where to change the programme so the same budget buys you more — usually fewer colours, more depth.
- We will tell you when a different factory suits you better. Very small runs of woven garments, for instance, are not what this plant is built for.
- What we will not do is accept an order we know will be uneconomic and then find the difference in quality later.
Questions
What buyers ask us first.
So what is your minimum, really?
For a knitted garment in an existing fabric quality and a shade we already run, a few hundred pieces per colour is usually workable. For a bespoke construction in a new shade, you need enough volume to justify a dye lot — typically well into four figures per colour. Use the MOQ planner to see where your programme lands.
Can I mix sizes freely within a colour?
Yes. Size ratio does not affect the dye lot at all, because the fabric is dyed before it is cut. Split sizes however your market demands.
Will a small order cost more per piece?
Usually yes, and the honest reason is fabric price rather than sewing. We will show you the difference rather than burying it.
Can I add a repeat order to an existing lot later?
Sometimes, and it is worth asking early. If we know a repeat is likely, we can plan the first dye lot with that in mind.
Read next
- MOQ & dye-lot planner
Model your own colour count and quantity.
- For startups and small brands
What to prepare before approaching a factory.
- Private label manufacturing
How a programme runs with us, step by step.
Start a conversation
Tell us what you want made.
Send a tech pack, a reference sample, or just a sketch and a target price. We will come back with fabric options, a costing and a realistic delivery date.