How to Import Apparel From China Without Surprises

Fix the fabric before anything else

Fabric decides hand feel, price and lead time. Every other decision is downstream of it, so approving it late means redoing the work that came after.

Approve colour against a physical standard

Colour is the most common reason a shipment is rejected at retail. A lab dip approved against a physical standard is the check that prevents it. A colour approved on a screen is not an approval.

Confirm labelling against the destination market

Fibre content and care wording requirements differ by market. Get them confirmed in writing before labels are printed, not after they arrive.

Plan the minimum around fabric, not around styles

The published minimums here are 200 pieces per colour on cut and sew, 300 on seamless and 2,000 on the underwear style. Styles sharing a fabric and colour share that minimum, which is the lever a small first order has.

Agree the delivery plan in writing

A date agreed in conversation is not a plan. Confirm the quantity, the destination and the schedule in one written thread, which is one reason enquiries here run by email rather than through a form.