Sourcing and logistics
The commercial side of buying fabric: how to compare quotes, how to verify a supplier, and how the goods actually get to you.
Fabric MOQ: why it exists and how to work with it
Why mills set minimums per colour, what the real numbers look like for woven and knit, and the legitimate ways to order less.
How to request fabric samples
Swatches, headers, lab dips and sample yardage — what to ask for, what it costs, and what to check when the parcel arrives.
How to verify a Chinese fabric supplier
Five checks that separate a real mill from a trading company with a website: business licence, factory address, references, sample behaviour and payment terms.
Shipping fabric from China: courier, air, LCL or FCL
How to choose between express, air freight, LCL and FCL for fabric, what each costs in time and money, and the packing details that decide the freight bill.
Incoterms for fabric buyers: FOB, CIF, DDP
What each Incoterm actually transfers, where the hidden charges sit, and which one to use for a first fabric order.
The four Chinese fabric markets that matter
Keqiao, Zhongda, Dieshiqiao and Shengze — what each is known for, what you can buy there, and how to visit without wasting a week.
How to compare fabric quotes properly
Unit, width, weight basis, incoterm and what is excluded — the five things that make two quotes incomparable.
What actually makes up the price of a metre of fabric
Fibre, yarn, weaving, dyeing, finishing and margin — the rough split, and which parts you can negotiate.
From enquiry to bulk: the real timeline of a fabric order
Every stage from quote to loading, with realistic durations and the two steps that cause most delays.
How fabric agent fees work and what is fair
Commission, markup and retainer models compared, what a good agent includes, and how to spot double-dipping.
Payment terms for fabric orders: T/T, L/C and escrow
How each payment method shifts risk, what it costs, and what to use for a first order versus a repeat.
How to negotiate a fabric price without breaking the mill
The levers that actually move a quote, and the ones that only move the quality.
The fabric sourcing calendar: when to order for each season
Spring/summer and autumn/winter production windows, Chinese New Year, and the weeks that decide whether you ship on time.