Guides for Apparel Buyers
Plain-language playbooks on fabric, decoration craft, MOQ and production — built to help you brief our factory with confidence.
Nineteen practical guides in three tracks — Production, Materials & Trims, and Decoration Craft. Each one reads in under 5 minutes and is easy to share with your team.
MOQ Guide
When 1-pc MOQ applies (blank-base / POD), real minimums for custom-decorated apparel, small-batch production for startup brands, and how to plan your first order.
Read guide Small BatchSmall-Batch Manufacturing
How 50–200 piece runs work: what drives the unit price, which processes allow low minimums, and how to plan a first run.
Read guide ProductionLead Time Guide
Stage-by-stage lead times: 5–7 day sampling, bulk from 7 days, QC and freight — and where first orders lose days.
Read guide MaterialsYarn Count Explained
What the yarn number measures, single vs double yarn, and which count to choose for tees, sweatshirts and fleece.
Read guide MaterialsLabels & Tags
Woven vs printed labels, the four labels on every garment, care-label compliance and what to specify.
Read guide MaterialsRecycled Fabric
rPET vs recycled cotton, what GRS certifies, and how the TC chain proves a recycled claim.
Read guide HoodieCustom Hoodies
Blank-base, private label and decorated hoodies — real MOQ, price tiers and how our 4,000-pc/day line keeps delivery fast.
Read guide TimelineSample Development Timeline
From artwork to bulk: tech pack, proto sample, pre-production sample and mass production — days per stage and what you approve at each step.
Read guide ProcessSampling Process
The stage-by-stage path from tech pack to bulk-ready — proto, fit, pre-production and size-set, and what you approve at each gate.
Read guide QualityQuality Control Guide
What to expect from a real QC process — inspection points, sampling standards, common defects and how SILAMON keeps pass rate above 99%.
Read guide AQLAQL Inspection
AQL 1.0 / 2.5 / 4.0 explained, sample-size plans and how a cotton knitwear factory holds pass rate above 99%.
Read guide ModelsOEM / ODM / White Label
The difference between OEM, ODM and white label, which fits your brand stage, and how each changes MOQ and lead time.
Read guide VetVerify a Manufacturer
Five due-diligence steps, a red-flag checklist and which certificates to verify before you pay a deposit.
Read guide CompareHoodie vs Crewneck Sweatshirt
Construction and cost differences between a hoodie and a crewneck sweatshirt — both are sweatshirts, but which fits your line?
Read guideFabric Selection Guide
Cotton, polyester, blends, french terry, fleece, jersey and rib — their traits and which silhouettes each suits best.
Read guide GSMFabric Weight (GSM) Explained
What GSM means, recommended weight ranges per product, and how weight changes hand-feel, drape, warmth and cost.
Read guide TrimsTrims & Accessories Guide
Zippers, rib, drawcords, tapes, buttons, lining, wash labels and hangtags — how to choose them and how they affect quality and cost.
Read guide ActivePrivate Label Activewear
How to source an activewear line from a cotton knitwear factory — fabrics, moisture management and MOQ for a first run.
Read guide ExportCotton Knitwear Export Guide
Incoterms, HS codes, customs documents and how to keep a shipment compliant for EU/US buyers.
Read guide EcoSustainable & OEKO-TEX
OEKO-TEX, GRS recycled claims, low-impact fabrics and how a compliant factory meets EU/US eco rules.
Read guidePrinting Methods Compared
Screen print vs DTG vs heat transfer vs sublimation — look, cost per piece, MOQ and durability, and when to use which.
Read guide EmbroideryEmbroidery Guide
Flat, 3D puff and appliqué embroidery — cost, MOQ, stitch limits, fabric suitability and artwork prep.
Read guide ArtworkArtwork Preparation Guide
File requirements for print and embroidery — vector vs raster, resolution, color mode, minimum size and bleed.
Read guide PODPOD T-shirt Printing
Print-on-demand vs screen print, DTG vs DTF, and how 1-piece custom tees actually get made.
Read guideReady to brief the factory?
Tell us your fabric, craft and quantity — we reply with a quote and a sampling plan within 24 hours.
Start an Inquiry