Factory-direct · From 300 pcs per style · Startups and first-time brands
Low MOQ Custom Apparel Manufacturer for Startups
SDF Clothing is a factory-direct custom apparel manufacturer that takes first production runs from 300 pieces per style. That is our low minimum order quantity (MOQ): sizes and colours split inside the 300, samples take 10 to 14 days, and you get a quote within 48 hours.
It is a real minimum for a certified export factory, not a 50-piece studio run. This page shows what 300 pieces means for your budget, what “custom” includes, how a first run works from brief to delivery, and when you should look elsewhere.
| For | Startup and first-time fashion brands (B2B only) |
|---|---|
| Models | Full-package OEM · ODM · Private label (we source the fabric) |
| MOQ | 300 pieces per style, sizes and colours split inside |
| CMT (your fabric) | 5,000 pieces per style — a separate arrangement |
| Sample / quote | 10–14 days · quote in 48 hours |
| Bulk production | About 30–45 days after pre-production sample approval |
| Payment | 30% to start, balance before shipment, T/T or L/C |
| Certs | GOTS, OEKO-TEX, BSCI, ISO 9001 |
| Origin / markets | Factory: Bangladesh, FOB Chittagong or Dhaka. Ships to: USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan |
How a low MOQ works: per style, not per colour or size
Our minimum order quantity is 300 pieces per style. That number is the total for one style, and you split it across sizes and colours, typically 3 to 4 colours and a full size run. A second style needs its own 300, so two styles is 600 pieces.
Ask every supplier how they count. Some set the minimum per colour: at 200 pieces per colour, a three-colour style is really a 600-piece order. A per-style 300 and a per-colour 200 are not the same number, so compare them on total pieces.
| Colour | S | M | L | XL | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 30 | 60 | 60 | 30 | 180 |
| Off-white | 20 | 40 | 40 | 20 | 120 |
| Total | 50 | 100 | 100 | 50 | 300 |
By export-factory standards, this is small-batch custom apparel production. Below 300 per style we do not open a new style, so if you need 20 to 50 pieces, print-on-demand or a local studio will serve you better. Plan your split with our MOQ calculator.
What “custom” includes at 300 pieces
Custom means your pattern and fit, fabric sourced to your specification, your labels and trims, and your decoration. It does not mean stock blanks with a logo added.
Pattern and fit. Send a reference garment, flats or a written brief; you do not need a finished tech pack to get a quote. If you want one, our tech pack service builds a production-ready pack from $85 per style.
Fabric. In a full-package order we source the fabric to your weight, fibre and colour, including GOTS organic cotton and recycled polyester on request. On a first run, keep the fabric standard and spend your customisation on fit, labels and decoration. Custom-developed fabric adds time and cost and makes more sense once volume supports it.
Labels, trims and packaging. Your woven neck labels, care labels and packaging go on our production. We source them directly or work from your existing supplier.
Decoration. Screen print, DTG, embroidery and wash finishes are done in-house. The full list is on our services page.
Your own fabric. If you already have a fabric supplier, cut, make and trim (CMT) is a separate arrangement with a higher minimum of 5,000 pieces per style, because we would then be cutting fabric we did not source or inspect ourselves. For a first order, full-package at 300 pieces is almost always the lower-commitment route. See our cut and sew service for how CMT works.
What a 300-piece first run costs
Indicative FOB Chittagong prices per piece, for the same specification at two quantities. FOB means the garment delivered to the port: freight, duty and import costs come on top, and custom labels or packaging are itemised in your quote.
| Garment | 300 pcs, per piece | 1,000 pcs, per piece | Total at 300 pcs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic T-shirt, 180 GSM cotton | $2.50–$4.50 | $2.10–$3.80 | $750–$1,350 |
| Fleece hoodie, 300–350 GSM | $8.00–$14.00 | $7.00–$12.00 | $2,400–$4,200 |
| Heavyweight hoodie, 400+ GSM | $12.00–$18.00 | $10.50–$15.50 | $3,600–$5,400 |
| Basic jacket, nylon or poly shell | $12.00–$22.00 | $10.50–$19.00 | $3,600–$6,600 |
At 300 pieces the per-piece price sits roughly 15 to 20 percent above the 1,000-piece range. Pattern-making, cutting set-up and inspection cost about the same at either quantity, so each garment carries a larger share. What the premium buys you is a much smaller cash commitment and a real test of demand before you scale.
Sampling is covered by your 30% deposit, so it is not a separate line item. Get a specification-level estimate from the price calculator, or read the full breakdown in our manufacturing cost guide.
Your first production run, step by step
- Send a brief. A reference garment, flats or a written brief is enough. You get a quote within 48 hours.
- Tech pack, if you want one. Bring your own or ask us to build it; our tech pack service is from $85 per style.
- Sampling. A 30% deposit starts sampling. A proto sample takes 10 to 14 days with up to 10 free revision rounds, and bulk production does not start until you approve. Prefer to test the design first? See the Design Sample option in the FAQ below.
- Pre-production sample, then bulk. After you approve the pre-production sample, bulk production takes about 30 to 45 days, with AQL 2.5 inspection before shipment.
- Ship and pay the balance. Goods ship FOB Chittagong or Dhaka. The balance is due before shipment, by T/T or L/C.
- Reorder. A repeat order on an approved style is typically faster, because the pattern, fabric specification and decoration set-up are already confirmed.
Allow roughly three to four months from first brief to goods in your warehouse, including sea freight. Plan around a launch date with our lead time calculator, and see the full work process. For a step-by-step launch checklist that goes beyond manufacturing, read our clothing brand launch guide.
Factory-direct, and you can verify it
Not every low MOQ supplier is a factory. Some are sourcing agents who place your order with a workshop you never see. SDF Clothing is the factory: we have cut and sewn garments in Bangladesh for global fashion brands since 1998, and there is no buying-house commission layered into your price.
We hold GOTS, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, BSCI and ISO 9001, among 13 international certifications. Check certificate numbers on our certifications page and with the issuing body, book a factory visit, and download a pre-filled NDA before you share design files.
Choosing between a factory, a trading company and a buying agent? Read our direct factory comparison, and see how to avoid clothing manufacturer scams before you pay any deposit.
Is 300 pieces right for you?
Match the route to your stage. Three situations, and the route that usually fits each.
| Your situation | Usual best route | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Testing an idea with 1–50 pieces | Print-on-demand or a local studio | No minimum and fast, but a higher price per piece and less control of fabric and fit |
| A tested design and a budget for a first run | Full-package with us, from 300 pieces per style | Certified production, factory-direct pricing and a pattern you can reorder |
| Your own fabric supply and 5,000+ pieces per style | CMT | A higher minimum, and you carry the fabric risk |
For a fuller comparison of print-on-demand, local cut-and-sew and overseas manufacturing, see the print on demand vs factory section of our UK founder guide.
Shipping and duty at a glance
First runs ship FOB from Chittagong or Dhaka. Duty rules change, so we confirm the current rate for your HS code before you commit.
| Item | United States | United Kingdom | Canada | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duty | MFN plus any extra tariff; we confirm the current HTS rate | Often 0% under DCTS | 0% under LDCT for qualifying goods | Often 0% or low under LDC |
| Quote | USD FOB | GBP FOB | CAD FOB | AUD FOB |
| Sea transit | 28–40 days | 25–35 days | 28–40 days to Vancouver | 20–30 days |
| Labels | Care label and RN; CPSIA if kids | Fibre content; GB product safety rules | Bilingual EN/FR labels and CA number | ACL care label |
Full detail on our country pages: US · UK · Canada · Australia.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a low MOQ for a clothing startup?
There is no fixed number. Small studios and print-on-demand services quote 20-50 pieces, while certified export factories usually start higher. At SDF Clothing the minimum is 300 pieces per style, with sizes and colours split inside that quantity.
See: MOQ calculator
Is the MOQ per style, per colour or per size?
Per style. At SDF, 300 pieces is the total for one style, split across sizes and colours, and a second style needs its own 300, so two styles means 600 pieces. Some suppliers apply the minimum per colour, which can multiply your real order, so ask how it is counted before you compare quotes.
Can I order fewer than 300 pieces?
No. Below 300 per style we do not open a new style, because fabric sourcing, pattern grading and line set-up cost too much per garment at that size. For 1-50 pieces, print-on-demand or a local cut-and-sew studio is usually the better fit.
Why is a low MOQ more expensive per piece?
Pattern-making, cutting set-up, line changeover and inspection cost about the same at 300 pieces as at 1,000, so each garment carries a larger share. In our published FOB ranges, per-piece prices at 300 pieces sit roughly 15-20% above the 1,000-piece range for the same specification.
How much does a 300-piece first order cost?
Indicative FOB Chittagong prices at 300 pieces are about $2.50-$4.50 per basic T-shirt ($750-$1,350 total), $8-$14 per fleece hoodie ($2,400-$4,200) and $12-$18 per heavyweight hoodie ($3,600-$5,400). Freight, duty and import costs come on top, and custom labels or packaging are itemised in your quote.
See: Price calculator
Do I need a tech pack before I contact you?
No. A reference garment, flats or a written brief is enough to get a quote. If you want a production-ready tech pack, our tech pack service builds one from $85 per style.
See: Tech pack service
How does sampling work, and what does it cost?
A 30% deposit starts sampling. A proto sample takes 10-14 days with up to 10 free revision rounds, and bulk production does not start until you approve. If you would rather test a design before paying the deposit, ask about our USD 250 Design Sample option: two correction rounds, made in stock fabric by default, showing design, print and labelling but not bulk-grade fabric or fit. The fee is deducted from your 30% deposit if you confirm a bulk order within 20 days, and is non-refundable otherwise. It is offered at our discretion.
See: Sample timeline estimator · Terms
How long does a first production run take?
Plan on 10-14 days for a proto sample, then about 30-45 days of bulk production after pre-production sample approval, with AQL 2.5 inspection before shipment. Sea freight adds roughly 20-40 days depending on destination, so first brief to delivery is usually three to four months. Reorders on an approved style are typically faster.
See: Lead time calculator · Work process
Can I supply my own fabric to lower the cost?
You can, but it is a different arrangement. Cut, make and trim (CMT), where you supply the fabric, has a higher minimum of 5,000 pieces per style, because we would be cutting fabric we did not source or inspect ourselves. For a first order, full-package at 300 pieces is almost always the lower-commitment route.
See: Cut and sew service
How do I know a factory is real and not a middleman?
Ask for certificate numbers you can verify with the issuing body, a factory address you can visit, and a written agreement, and never pay 100% upfront. SDF Clothing is a direct factory, lists verification steps on its certifications page, will sign an NDA before you share design files, and welcomes factory visits by appointment.
Prices, lead times and duty notes last reviewed September 2026. Tariff and duty rules change; confirm current rates for your market before you commit.
Ready to plan your first run?
Free quote within 48 hours. No obligation. Full-package production from 300 pieces per style.