Guides
Everything between the brief and the delivery.
Practical guides for buying knitwear from China, from choosing fabric to clearing customs in your country. Written by the people who make it.
01
Develop & order
Tech packs, sampling, OEM vs ODM, quotations.
- How to write a tech pack a factory can actually useWhat to put in an apparel tech pack — style, fabric and GSM, size chart and tolerances, decoration, trims, labels and packing. Free online template.
- OEM vs ODM in apparel manufacturing — what's the difference?OEM means the factory makes your design; ODM means the factory also develops it. Compare OEM and ODM for apparel and uniforms, and choose the right model.
- Garment sampling stages: proto, fit, PP and top samples explainedWhat each apparel sample stage is for — proto, fit, size set, salesman, pre-production (PP) and top of production — and what to check before you approve.
- MOQ in clothing manufacturing: why factories have minimumsWhat MOQ means in apparel manufacturing and why knitwear factories set minimums — fabric dye lots, knitting and dyeing minimums, trims and set-up costs.
- Payment terms when sourcing clothing from ChinaHow common apparel payment terms work — T/T deposit and balance, balance against B/L copy, L/C and D/P — with the risks and checks for each side.
- How to measure a T-shirt: points of measure, size charts and tolerancesHow to measure T-shirts, hoodies and polos flat — key points of measure, how to build a size chart, and how to set realistic tolerances for knitwear.
- Uniform size run planning: how to work out sizes for a staff or school orderHow to plan sizes for a uniform order — collecting staff sizes, choosing a size range, adding spares, packing size ratios per carton and planning re-orders.
- How to choose a school uniform supplier: a buyer's checklistHow to choose a school uniform supplier: a checklist covering sampling, fabrics, child safety, labelling, size ranges, re-orders and packing.
- Garment trims explained: the trims list for T-shirts, hoodies, polos and setsWhat garment trims are, the eight trim categories, the 10 trim points on a T-shirt, hoodie, polo and set, and why unclear trims cause re-sampling and complaints.
02
Fabric & decoration
Knit fabrics, GSM, shrinkage, print and embroidery.
- Knit fabrics and GSM, explained for apparel buyersWhich knit fabric and GSM to choose for T-shirts, polos, hoodies and sets — single jersey, piqué, French terry, fleece and interlock compared, with typical weights.
- Why knit garments shrink, and how factories prevent itKnit garments shrink because the fabric is stretched in knitting and rolling. How relaxation, shrinkage tests and pattern allowance keep them to size.
- Screen print vs DTG vs heat transfer vs embroidery: which to chooseCompare screen printing, DTG, heat transfer, embroidery, chenille and appliqué for uniforms and custom apparel — what each is best for and how to choose.
- Piqué vs jersey polo shirts: which fabric should you choose?Piqué vs jersey polo shirts compared — texture, breathability, drape, print and embroidery results, durability and which suits uniforms, retail and promo.
- French terry vs fleece: choosing hoodie and sweatshirt fabricFrench terry vs fleece for hoodies and sweatshirts — warmth, breathability, weight, print results, pilling and which suits uniforms, retail and promo.
- Fabric consumption per garment: how much fabric does a T-shirt, polo or hoodie use?How much fabric a T-shirt, polo, hoodie or casual set uses in kg per piece, and the factors behind it — GSM, size range, fabric width and marker efficiency.
- Choosing school uniform fabrics: polos, sweatshirts and PE kitHow to choose fabric for school uniform polos, sweatshirts and PE kit — durability, frequent washing, comfort, colour consistency and child safety details.
- Garment dyeing vs piece dyeing: what apparel buyers should knowGarment dyeing vs piece dyeing for knit T-shirts, hoodies and sets: how each works, colour consistency, shrinkage, look and when to choose each.
- Best printing method for hoodies and sweatshirtsScreen print, DTG, heat transfer, embroidery, chenille or appliqué: how to choose the best decoration method for custom hoodies and sweatshirts.
- Garment decoration techniques: what works on T-shirts, hoodies, polos and setsThe four types of garment decoration — embroider, print, heat-apply, attach — and which techniques suit T-shirts, hoodies, polos and two-piece sets, with limits.
- Garment finishing explained: mercerising, washes and performance finishes for knitwearWhat garment finishing is, which finishes suit T-shirts, hoodies, polos and sets, how each one is verified, and what finishing adds to lead time and minimums.
03
Production & quality
The production process, inspections and AQL.
- Knitwear quality control: from fabric inspection to AQLA stage-by-stage quality control checklist for knit apparel — 4-point fabric inspection, relaxation, inline checks, AQL final inspection and 100% needle detection.
- Lab dip approval: how colour matching works for apparelHow lab dips work for knit apparel — Pantone TCX references, light sources, A/B/C submissions, how to comment, and how to keep bulk shade consistent.
- Needle detection in garment factories: why it mattersWhy garment factories use needle detectors, how needle detection works, broken-needle control on the sewing floor, and what buyers should ask suppliers.
04
Compliance by market
Labelling and safety rules in the US, EU, UK, Canada and Australia.
- Selling apparel in the US: labelling and safety rules buyers must knowCore US rules for importing knit apparel from China — FTC fibre, origin and care labels, CPSIA, the children's drawstring rule, flammability and UFLPA.
- Selling apparel in the EU and UK: labelling, chemicals and child safetyCore EU and UK rules for importing knit apparel — fibre labelling, REACH chemical limits, EN 14682 cords and drawstrings, and the GPSR.
- UK clothing labelling and safety requirements for importersUK clothing requirements for Great Britain: textile fibre labelling, UK REACH chemicals, general product safety and BS EN 14682 for children's cords.
- Apparel labelling for Canada, Australia and New ZealandClothing label rules for Canada (bilingual fibre content, CA number) and Australia/NZ (mandatory care labels), plus children's drawstring guidance.
- Care labels and care symbols: what to put on a clothing care labelHow clothing care symbols work (ISO 3758 / GINETEX and ASTM D5489), which markets require care labels, and what to include on a care label for knitwear.
05
Export from China
Incoterms, HS codes, documents and certificates of origin.
- Incoterms 2020 for apparel buyers: EXW, FOB, CIF and DDP explainedWhat EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP and the other Incoterms 2020 rules mean when you buy apparel from China — who pays for what, and where risk passes.
- Export documents for apparel: HS codes, invoices and certificates of originHS codes for knitted apparel (chapter 61), the documents that travel with a shipment from China, and when a certificate of origin cuts import duty.
06
Packing & shipping
Cartons, containers, sea vs air.
- How apparel is packed for export — polybags, cartons and containersHow T-shirts, polos, hoodies and sets are folded, bagged, labelled and packed into export cartons and containers — and how to estimate cartons and CBM.
- Shipping apparel from China: FCL vs LCL vs air vs expressHow to choose between a full container, shared container, air freight and express courier for apparel shipments from China — by volume, urgency and cost.
07
Import & customs
Clearing the goods in your country.
- Importing apparel into the US and EU: customs clearance basicsThe basics of clearing apparel through customs in the US (ISF, customs bond, duties) and the EU (EORI, customs duty, import VAT) when importing from China.
- How to calculate the landed cost of clothing importsHow to calculate landed cost for apparel imports: product cost, freight, insurance, duty, import VAT, brokerage and delivery, with a worked example.
RFQ · Tech pack or brief welcome