What information is needed for a garment enquiry?
Direct answer
A useful garment enquiry should give a factory enough information to answer three questions: Is this project a suitable fit for the factory? What should the quotation be based on? Can the project meet the intended timeline?
You do not need a complete technical pack before making first contact. A reference photo, an existing sample or an initial product description can be enough to begin. Before a factory can issue a workable quotation and sampling plan, however, the product, materials, construction, measurements, quantity, quality requirements, packaging, destination market and timing need to be converted into written requirements.
A photograph can communicate direction, but it cannot replace a production specification. Two garments that look similar may carry very different costs and lead times because of differences in fabric, weight, construction, tolerances, labelling, testing or packaging.
Scope
This guide applies to brands, importers, wholesalers, e-commerce sellers, uniform programmes and other buyers sourcing OEM, ODM or customised garments in China. Ready-stock purchasing usually follows a different confirmation process and may not require full product development or sampling.
What the buyer should provide
Product and end use
Identify the garment category, intended wearer, use case and destination market. Underwear, childrenswear, uniforms, sportswear and protective clothing can have different material, labelling, testing and compliance priorities.
Reference information
Provide a technical pack, measurement chart, physical sample, front and back images, detail photographs, artwork or links to comparable products where available. State clearly which details are for general reference and which must be followed.
Fabrics and trims
Where possible, describe fibre content, construction, weight, width, colour, hand feel, stretch, finish and performance requirements. Include requirements for zips, buttons, elastics, labels, hangtags and other trims. Items that are still open can be marked “supplier proposal required” rather than being left to assumption.
Measurements and construction
Provide the base size, measurement chart, tolerances, sewing or seamless construction, print or embroidery positions, panel details and important appearance requirements. If the factory is expected to develop the pattern, include a fit reference and describe the intended silhouette.
Quantity breakdown
Give the total quantity and, where possible, the breakdown by style, colour and size. Three thousand units in one colour are not commercially equivalent to three thousand units divided across six colours and eight sizes.
Quality, testing and compliance
State the destination market, customer quality requirements, required testing, inspection arrangements and any product-specific requirements. Applicable test methods, acceptance criteria and responsible parties should be confirmed in writing for the project.
Packaging, delivery and timing
Describe individual packaging, carton packing, barcodes, labels, destination or delivery point, expected trade terms, target shipment date and any fixed launch deadline.
What the factory should confirm
The factory should review the same enquiry package and confirm:
- relevant product, material and process capability;
- quotation basis, inclusions and exclusions;
- fabric, trim and garment minimum-order conditions;
- sampling charges, sample lead time and available sample stages;
- measurement tolerances, process limitations and proposed deviations;
- ability to meet testing, packaging, inspection and documentation requirements;
- expected production lead time, current production schedule, available capacity and quotation validity;
- payment, delivery and other commercial terms.
Any item awaiting supplier confirmation should be marked as provisional rather than left blank or treated as included.
What NiceDay Tex coordinates
NiceDay Tex organises the buyer's source material into one working brief, separating confirmed requirements, open questions and areas where supplier recommendations are needed. When several factories are being compared, we aim to have each one review the same version so that one factory is not pricing a higher specification while another is quoting an undefined lower-cost alternative.
NiceDay Tex does not confirm a factory's capacity, quotation or production terms on its behalf, and we do not approve the product on behalf of the buyer. We coordinate the questions, record the answers and keep later samples, revisions and production handovers connected to the correct version.
Checklist
- Product category and end use are stated
- Reference images, sample or technical pack are provided
- Materials, colours and key trims are defined or marked for proposal
- Base measurements, fit and key construction details are stated
- Total quantity and colour-size breakdown are provided
- Destination market, testing and quality requirements are stated
- Labels, packaging and carton requirements are included
- Target timing and delivery point are stated
- Open items are identified instead of being assumed
Related articles
- How can buyers obtain comparable garment factory quotations?
- What should be confirmed before approving a garment sample?
- How can sample revisions be carried accurately into bulk production?
You can start with a product image or the information you already have. NiceDay Tex can help organise the missing details and take the brief to suppliers or factories suited to the relevant garment category and process.