How to start a clothing brand with a low MOQ (30 pieces)

Why MOQ matters more than anything else in year one

A minimum order quantity (MOQ) is the smallest number of pieces a factory will produce per order or per style. Many factories set MOQs in the hundreds or thousands because cutting, line set-up and fabric purchasing have fixed costs. For a new brand, a high MOQ means money tied up in stock you have not yet proven you can sell.

A low MOQ changes the risk. Instead of betting on one design in large quantity, you can launch three or four styles in small runs, see which ones sell, and reorder the winners. At Anlai the MOQ is 30 pieces per order or style, which is low enough to test and high enough to be produced on a real production line rather than one-off sample sewing.

Step 1: Decide what you are really selling

Before talking to any factory, write down three things:

• Who buys it. A gym community, a music audience, parents looking for kids’ basics, a creator’s followers. The buyer decides price, fit and fabric.
• What the product is. Start with garments that are forgiving to fit and easy to size: T-shirts, long sleeves, hoodies, sweatshirts and joggers. Tailored or highly technical pieces need more development and more sampling rounds.
• What makes it yours. A fit (boxy, oversized, cropped), a fabric hand-feel, a print or embroidery style, a colour palette, or the label and packaging experience.

Keep the first drop narrow. Two to four styles in two or three colours each is plenty to learn from.

Step 2: Turn the idea into a brief a factory can quote

Factories quote faster and more accurately when the brief is complete. You do not need a professional designer for a first collection, but you do need clarity. A useful brief includes:

• A tech pack, if you have one: flat sketches, measurements per size, fabric, trims, stitching and artwork placement.
• If not, a reference garment you like, or photos with measurements. A factory with its own pattern room can work from these.
• Quantity per style and per colour, and the size range.
• Decoration: printing, embroidery, heat transfer, rhinestones, washing or dyeing, with artwork files and the size and position you want.
• Branding: neck label, care label, hang tag, polybag or other packaging.
• Destination country and the date you need goods.

If you are unsure about fabric weight, our fabric and GSM guide explains the general ranges buyers ask for.

Step 3: Choose a production model

There are three common ways to work with a garment factory:

• Full package — the factory sources fabric and trims, makes patterns and samples, produces, checks and packs.
• CMT (cut, make, trim) — you supply fabric and trims; the factory cuts and sews.
• OEM / private label — the factory produces to your spec under your brand.

For most first-time brands, full package with private label is the simplest, because you deal with one supplier and one price per piece. We compare them in detail in CMT vs full package vs OEM.

Step 4: Sample before you sell

A sample is your proof that the factory understood the brief. Check fit on a real person, wash it, check the print or embroidery up close, and compare the colour in daylight. Expect to request changes; that is what sampling is for.

At Anlai, a sample costs US$50, which is waived or reduced once the bulk order goes ahead, and samples typically ship internationally in about a week. We explain the full process in how apparel sampling works.

Use the approved sample for content too: product photos, a try-on video, and pre-orders. Selling some units before bulk is the best way to fund production.

Step 5: Budget the first run honestly

Your real cost per piece is more than the factory price. Build a simple spreadsheet per style:

• Garment price per piece (from the quote)
• Decoration, if quoted separately
• Labels, tags and packaging
• Sample cost (and a second round, just in case)
• Shipping and import duties to your country
• Payment platform fees
• Photography, website and marketing
• Returns, defects and unsold stock

Then work backwards from your target retail price. A common rule of thumb in fashion retail is to aim for a retail price several times your landed cost so that marketing, discounts and wholesale margins still leave profit — but your numbers should come from your own market, not a rule.

Step 6: Place the bulk order and plan the reorder

Once the sample is approved, confirm the final quantities per colour and size, the delivery date and the packing instructions in writing. Bulk lead time depends on quantity, style complexity and the factory’s schedule, so agree it per order rather than assuming a number. At Anlai, orders above US$200 are paid through a third-party payment platform before production starts.

While the first run is being made, decide what will trigger a reorder: a sell-through percentage, a waiting list size, or a date. Fast reorders of what sells are where a low-MOQ brand gets its advantage.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Too many styles at once. Every style needs its own sample and its own minimum.
• Skipping the wash test. Shrinkage and print cracking show up after washing, not on the hanger.
• Unclear artwork specs. “Big logo on the front” is not a spec; centimetres from the collar is.
• Ignoring labelling rules. Many countries require fibre content, care and origin labelling. Check yours.
• Choosing on price alone. Ask how the factory communicates, who handles your order, and whether you can see the floor on a video call.

A simple first-drop plan

1. Pick 3 styles: for example a T-shirt, a hoodie and a jogger.
2. Two colours each, 30 pieces per style to start.
3. Request quotes and samples; approve after one or two rounds.
4. Shoot content with the samples and open pre-orders.
5. Produce, ship and track which style sells through first.
6. Reorder the winner and add one new style.

If you would like a quote for a first drop, send your styles, quantities and destination through our contact page — we reply within 24 hours. You can also see what we make on the private label page.