Apparel brands are often concerned about overproducing, which is why they’re always looking for low MOQ clothing manufacturers. And it’s actually not that easy to find them.
Most factories require large quantities for various reasons such as;
- they have a big factory and need large quantities to maintain operations;
- fabric supplier requires large quantities to be purchased;
- fabrics dyeing or printing requires large quantities for processing.
Many garment manufacturers also won’t work with startup fashion brands because their quantities are often too low to generate enough revenue.
So, how do you find low MOQ clothing manufacturers? And why exactly is low MOQ clothing manufacturing important, anyway?
In this article, we’ve outlined exactly what you need to consider and what you need to do. Let’s dig in!
For the Noobs: What is MOQ?
As always, acronyms save us time. I mean; who has the time to type Minimum Order Quantity every time we want to discuss quantities in manufacturing? Am I right?!
An MOQ is each garment factory’s own lowest starting quantity that they’re willing to produce. And each factory has their own MOQ.
For example, at CM Garmindo, our MOQ is 20 pieces per style per colour/variation at 5 pieces per size and we require at least 60 pieces split across a collection.
It means, for each different type of garment, we need to make at least 20 pcs of it in any fabric, any colour, any surface design (embroidery or print), or any other different version of it.
And inside each of these 20 pc quantities, for each size, we need to make at least 5 pcs.
And the 60 pcs total production order means the total of everything when we add up every type of garment and their variations.
Here’s an easy graphic to show you what this means:
Why is Low MOQ Manufacturing Important?
Four words: Environment. Money. Quality. Variety.
And yes, this is the correct order of things. No matter how much marketers keep wanting you to buy more!
Environment
- As the climate crisis heats up around the world, the clothing manufacturing industry is under scrutiny for being one of the biggest polluters.
- Over production and over consumption cause huge waste at every stage of the apparel manufacturing cycle.
- Starting small, producing less, but producing higher quality, is critical to doing your part to keep our surrounding environment healthy.
Money
- Obviously, producing less means you’re spending less.
- You also reduce the risk of having unsold items which lowers your inventory expense.
- By improving your business’ cash flow, you can free up money to invest in critical business areas like marketing and product development.
Quality
- Most low MOQ clothing manufacturers are specialised factories that can take more time to focus on quality over quantity.
- Garment factories become more efficient with time as they keep producing your same garments.
- Smaller apparel factories also provide wider selections of high quality compnents and fabrics versus bigger factories.
Variety
- Producing garments in smaller batches means you can afford to trial new designs as fashion trends change.
- Low MOQ clothing manufacturers can provide more personalization, enabling you to tailor designs specific to your brand’s unique identity.
- As mentioned above, with wider selections of unique materials, you can increase your product range more easily.
How to Find Low MOQ Clothing Manufacturers
You’d think finding the perfect small-scale apparel manufacturer was easy but it’s actually not.
Besides the fact there are hundreds of thousands of garment factories all around the world, most of them don’t have good websites. Google has a hard time listing the best ones when you search phrases like “low MOQ clothing manufacturers”.
Additionally, just because a garment manufacturer offers low MOQs, it doesn’t mean they’ll work with any brand.
The obvious first step is to search Google using the proper keyphrases. We recommend being specific to the country you want to produce in, the garments you want to make, and the fabrics you want to use.
For example, search for “Bali swimwear manufacturer recycled fabric” and you’ll see listings like this one below.
Online Directories
Alibaba is the biggest online directory where you can find a manufacturer for just about anything. However, we’re only listing it because it’s massive. You’ll need to do a lot of due diligence to avoid unethical businesses and low quality factories.
This directory has a database of garment manufacturers that offers a more sustainable approach. We find it a bit expensive but if it works, then it’s money well spent.
This is another pay-to-play directory where you can pay to find factories for many types of products; not just clothing.
Maker’s Row is a well-known directory that connects brands and factories. They’re also a paid service but they offer a free option.
It should be know that, CM Garmindo does not use these directories nor do we promote our services there. We prefer to stay away from algorthmic pay-to-play directories because oftentimes, they also list unethical factories that we don’t want to be associated with.
Fashion Forums
Did you know there are entire forums dedicated to the clothing industry?
Here’s a good definition to help you decide if going into the rabbit hole is right for you:
“A Fashion Forum is where fashion influencers, fashion stylists, designers and enthusiasts can discuss everything about fashion and the fashion industry. You will find discussions related to the latest fashion trends, designer’s collections, celebrity fashion, sustainable fashion and more. You can talk about the best fashion magazines, editorials, fashion news and the latest trends. The forums is where you will find conversations on aesthetics, minimalism fashion, fashion for anyone on a budget, and many other fashion and style advice.”
Industry Trade Shows
If you’re like us, then you probably want to meet people face-to-face and get a feel for their products.
Trade shows such as Premiere Vision host brands, apparel factories, textile suppliers, and more.
Trade shows are also great because ithey help you to curate a community of like-minded businesses. Having a strong business network is often critical to success.
Local Manufacturing Associations or Chambers of Commerce
Every country’s government has a chamber of commerce department whose sole purpose is to increase business opportunities for their country.
They should all offer directories to domestic apparel manufacturers and offer support resources.
But one great thing about manufacturing associations is they’ll generally only support legally registered, and QA compliant garment manufacturers like CM Garmindo.
Important Considerations When Choosing Low MOQ Clothing Manufacturers
Now that you’re equipped with the knowledge to find low MOQ production partners, there’s a few considerations before you contact any factories.
- Ensure your garment factory is QA accredited. For example, CM Garmindo is Bali’s best children’s wear manufacturer because we’re the only factory that’s CPSIA (USA), REACH (EU), CCPSA (Canada), and SASO (Saudi Arabia) certified which is required for export/import.
- Make sure your factory’s production capacity isn’t only geared for low MOQ. You’ll eventually need to scale your business and your factory should be able to help you grow.
- A transparently communicative and responsive apparel factory will significantly improve your manufacturing experience. This is why CM Garmindo is so popular; we’re a Canadian garment factory in Bali that offers fluent English services.
When you’re a startup fashion brand, working with low MOQ clothing manufacturers is almost a requirement.
The benefits can’t be overstated: reducing environmental impact, reducing inventory expense, getting boutique quality instead of fast fashion, and offering a wider selection of customisations.
If you’re looking for a reliable, quality-focused, low MOQ clothing manufacturer, contact us at CMGarmindo.com and we’d love to help you get started.
