Minimum Order Quantity in Clothing: Starting From 500 Pieces

Minimum order quantities are one of the first questions any brand asks, and one of the most misunderstood. A minimum is not a barrier designed to keep people out. It reflects how factories work: fabric has to be bought, patterns prepared, lines set up and quality checks run, and those efforts only pay off above a certain scale. Weftport projects start from 500 pieces and there is no upper limit. This article explains how to make a 500-piece start work for you.

What the minimum means

The minimum of 500 pieces applies to the project. It is a starting point for how we plan, and it does not mean every style must reach that number on its own. How the quantity is divided across styles, colours and sizes is something we discuss in the quotation, because it depends on fabric, construction and your design. Treat the figure as the entry point to a conversation, not a rigid formula.

Why factories have minimums

Several fixed efforts exist regardless of quantity. Fabric must be purchased, often in rolls. Patterns must be graded across sizes. The line must be set up. Inspection must be arranged. Spreading these efforts across more pieces lowers the effort per garment, which is why larger quantities usually improve unit economics. A minimum is where those economics start to make sense for both sides.

Splitting the quantity

Think in three dimensions.

Styles. A focused range is easier to manage. Three or four well-specified styles often work better than a dozen untested ones.

Colours. Each colour adds complexity in fabric purchasing and approval. Start with the colours you are confident will sell and add more in later orders.

Sizes. Decide the size split based on your customer data or best estimate. Confirm it before cutting, because cutting is hard to undo.

Planning a first order without overbuying

If you are unsure about demand, reduce the number of unknowns rather than the quality. Use fewer colours, choose styles close to your brand identity and avoid highly seasonal details in your first order. Choose classics that can be reordered, and treat the first delivery as data on what sells.

No upper limit: what that means for growth

There is no upper limit on quantity. Brands that grow can scale orders with the same specification, and the approved sample and records from the first project make repeat orders smoother. If you expect to grow, keep your documents tidy from the beginning: tech pack, approved swatches, measurements and packing instructions.

What changes at higher quantities

Larger quantities allow more planning options, such as splitting deliveries or producing across several weeks. They also raise the stakes on the sample: an error in a 5,000-piece order is far more expensive than in a 500-piece one. Do not shortcut sampling as quantities rise. See our guide to the first sample.

Questions to ask about minimums with any supplier

1. Does the minimum apply per style, per colour or per order?
2. What happens if my quantities fall between two breaks?
3. Can the quantity be split across sizes freely?
4. How does the fabric minimum interact with the order minimum?
5. Are there extra costs for small colour runs?

Answers differ between factories, so ask the same questions to everyone you compare.

Planning ahead for reorders

If a style sells well, you will want to reorder. Keep fabric references, colour approvals and measurements accessible. Tell us early if you expect repeat orders, since it can influence how we plan fabric purchasing and sampling.

A worked example of splitting 500 pieces

Imagine a capsule of a blazer, a trouser and a knit top for womenswear. Rather than spreading 500 pieces thinly over ten colours, you might choose two colours for the blazer and trouser and one for the top, with a size split matching your customer base. The point is not the exact numbers but the logic: fewer variations, clearer decisions, faster learning. Once the first delivery shows what sells, you can widen colours and sizes in the next order with confidence. Share your plan with us early, and we will tell you how it works with fabric purchasing and sampling for your specific styles.

Next step

Send us your category, estimated quantity and design direction through the contact page. You can also see the five-step process to understand what happens next, or explore the collections.