Most factories in China will not reply to an order under 300 pieces. Our minimum is 100 pieces per style, and we built our whole production setup around making small runs work. If you are testing a design, launching a first collection, or restocking a style that sold out, you can start here without tying up money in inventory you are not sure about yet.
We are Imily Clothing, a clothing manufacturer in Guangzhou, China. We have been making custom garments for brands since 2012, and more than 300 small and mid-sized labels have run their production through our factory.
| Order type | Quantity | What it is for | Typical lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample / prototype | 1–5 pcs | Check the fit, fabric and workmanship | 7–10 days |
| First small batch | From 100 pcs per style | Test the market, validate your sizing | 20–30 days |
| Repeat order | From 100 pcs per style | Restock a style that sells | From 10 days |
| Bulk production | 500–5,000+ pcs | Full season or wholesale program | 30–45 days |
Two things worth knowing about how we count MOQ:
Most suppliers quote a low MOQ and then quietly push you toward 500. Here is why ours is real.
We are a manufacturer, not a trading company. Your order is made in our own production line in Guangzhou. There is no middleman adding a margin and no third party who has to agree to your quantity first.
Our pattern room and sample line sit next to the sewing lines. Small orders live or die on pattern work. Because we control it in-house, we are not paying a separate sample studio a setup fee for every 100 pieces.
We buy fabric from Zhongda fabric market, twenty minutes from the workshop. This is the largest fabric and trim market in southern China, and it sells partial rolls. Most factories refuse small orders because they cannot buy fabric below a full roll minimum. We can.
Small runs do not need a full assembly line. A 100-piece order goes through a small team instead of being slotted between two 5,000-piece runs. That is how a small order stays profitable for both of us.
Step 1 — You send us what you have (day 0). A tech pack, a drawing, a photo of a sample you already own, or even a written description. Nothing here has to be professional. Most of our clients start with a sketch and a reference photo.
Step 2 — We quote and confirm fabric (day 1–3). You get a price per piece, an estimated lead time, and fabric options with photos. If you want to see the fabric in your hand before committing, we can send swatches.
Step 3 — Sampling (day 4–14). We make a sample and ship it to you. You check the fit, the fabric and the finishing, then tell us what to change. One round of revision is normal.
Step 4 — You approve and place the order (day 15). We confirm the final quantity, sizes, colours and packaging, then take the deposit.
Step 5 — Fabric and cutting (day 16–25). Fabric is inspected before cutting. Nothing gets cut until the fabric passes.
Step 6 — Sewing, decoration and QC (day 25–45). Printing or embroidery happens in this window. Every piece is inspected twice before packing.
Step 7 — Packing and shipping (day 45–55). One piece per poly bag, with a waterproof inner bag and your own barcode on the carton. Air, sea or express — whichever you prefer. We can arrange DDP if you would rather not deal with customs paperwork.
We would rather be straight with you than quote a number that changes later. At 100 pieces your price per garment is higher than at 1,000 pieces. Here is exactly why:
How to keep a small order affordable: pick a stock fabric or a stock colour for your first run, keep the design to two or three print colours, and use our standard packaging with a printed sticker instead of a fully custom box. You can upgrade all of it on the reorder.
For a fully custom garment made from your own pattern, 100 pieces per style is our floor. For printing or embroidery on stock blanks, we can go lower — tell us what you need and we will say honestly whether it is possible.
Yes. A sample involves pattern making, fabric and machine time on a single piece, which is the most expensive way to make a garment. The cost depends on the design: RMB 300 (approx. US$42) per piece for t-shirts, RMB 500 (approx. US$70) per piece for other styles. Sample cost does not include shipping — but when you place the production order for the sampled style (100 pieces or more), the sample fee is credited back against your order.
Yes, within reason. Mixing two or three colours and five sizes is normal. Ten colours at ten pieces each is not, because of fabric minimums — we will tell you where the line is before you commit.
Yes. Woven labels, size and care labels, hang tags, price tags, poly bags and printed cartons can all be made with your brand on them. See private label clothing manufacturing.
Then you reorder, and it gets easier and cheaper. The pattern, the fabric and the trims are already set up. Reorders are typically faster and the unit price drops because the setup costs are already paid.
Send your design or reference to sales@imilyclothing.com, or use the contact form. You will hear back within 24 hours, including weekends, because we know buyers in the US and Australia are often working while Guangzhou is asleep.
You do not need to be a big brand to produce a real collection. Send us what you have — a sketch, a photo, a sample — and we will tell you what it costs and how long it takes.
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