Guides
How to guides
39 guides on how to for apparel importers.
-
Duty-free · How to
How to verify a supplier’s REX number (and what the result tells you)
Check a supplier’s REX number on the European Commission’s free validation page before you pay a deposit. The steps, what the result shows, and the red flags.
24 September 2026 · 5 min read
-
Duty-free · How to
Statement on origin wording, explained line by line
The exact EU GSP statement on origin text from Annex 22-07, what goes in each gap for Nepal-made garments, and the mistakes that cost you 0% duty.
24 September 2026 · 6 min read
-
Duty-free · How to
UK DCTS origin declaration vs EU REX: what’s different for garment importers
The UK uses its own DCTS origin declaration, not the EU REX statement on origin. The UK wording, key differences, and what we supply for each market.
24 September 2026 · 5 min read
-
Duty-free · How to
What is a REX number? A plain guide for EU importers
A REX number is the EU registration an exporter needs to certify origin for 0% GSP/EBA duty. What it looks like, who registers, and what it means for you.
24 September 2026 · 6 min read
-
Trust · How to
30/70 payment terms explained: deposits, balances, and what “against B/L” means
The standard payment structure of garment sourcing decoded: why factories ask 30% upfront, what the 70% balance is actually released against, the safe and unsafe variants, and how to negotiate terms that protect both sides.
26 August 2026 · 2 min read
-
Sourcing · How to
CMT vs FPP: which garment manufacturing model fits your brand?
The two ways factories work: CMT (you supply fabric, they cut-make-trim) versus FPP full-package production (the factory sources everything). What each costs, who owns which risk, why quotes aren’t comparable across models, and which fits your stage.
26 August 2026 · 2 min read
-
Quality · How to
Combed vs carded cotton: why it decides print quality and pilling
Combing is the fibre-preparation step that separates premium tees from budget ones: what it removes, why combed cotton prints sharper and pills less, how it pairs with ring spinning, and when carded cotton is honestly good enough.
26 August 2026 · 2 min read
-
Quality · How to
How much do cotton t-shirts shrink? Shrinkage, compacting, and the spec that prevents it
Why cotton knits shrink (spinning and knitting tension, not magic), how much shrinkage is normal, what compacting does at the mill, the tolerance to put in your tech pack, and how to wash-test a sample before approving bulk.
26 August 2026 · 2 min read
-
Pricing · How to
Garment costing sheets explained, with a real cost breakdown from our factory
How a factory builds your price: the costing sheet line by line, fabric consumption and price, trims, CMT, overheads, margin, with a worked t-shirt example, the levers that actually move cost, and how to read a quote like an insider.
26 August 2026 · 2 min read
-
How to · Logistics
Proforma vs commercial invoice, and every other document in your garment shipment
The paper trail of a garment import, in the order it actually arrives: proforma invoice, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, origin documents, what each is for, who issues it, and the errors that hold cargo at customs.
26 August 2026 · 2 min read
-
Quality · How to
Hoodie GSM guide: fleece weights from 250 to 450+, from the factory floor
What hoodie GSM actually means, the weight bands (250–300 everyday, 300–350 standard, 350–450 heavyweight, 450+ ultra), how much hoodies weigh in grams, brushed vs loopback at each weight, and which GSM to order for your market.
26 August 2026 · 2 min read
-
How to · Logistics
How much does a t-shirt weigh? Real numbers for shipping and freight
Actual t-shirt weights by size and GSM — from a factory that weighs them: singles, dozens, and cartons, with packaging included, plus a GSM-to-grams method for estimating any garment’s shipping weight before you order.
26 August 2026 · 2 min read
-
Duty-free · How to
HS codes for knitwear imports: 6109, 6110 & 6105 explained, with duty rates by market
The commodity codes every knitwear importer needs, t-shirts 6109, sweatshirts and hoodies 6110, polos 6105 — what classifies where, the cotton-vs-synthetic split that changes US duty, and the current duty rates into the UK, EU, US, Canada and Japan by origin.
26 August 2026 · 2 min read
-
Quality · How to
The pre-shipment inspection checklist for garment orders (use it or lose it)
What a final inspection actually checks before your garments ship: quantity and assortment, AQL workmanship sampling, measurements, labels and compliance, packing, the complete checklist, who should inspect, and what to do when a lot fails.
26 August 2026 · 2 min read
-
Quality · How to
Ring-spun vs open-end cotton: the yarn decision that decides your tee
The single yarn choice behind why two “100% cotton” t-shirts feel completely different: how ring-spun and open-end cotton are made, what each does to softness, printing, pilling and price, and which to specify for your programme.
26 August 2026 · 2 min read
-
Sourcing · How to
Choosing a school uniform manufacturer: the buyer’s guide
What separates a good school uniform manufacturer from a risky one — colour continuity across years, the right fabrics and constructions, childrenswear safety built in at design stage, realistic minimums, and the questions that reveal everything before you order.
26 August 2026 · 3 min read
-
How to · Quality
Size charts and grading: what your factory actually needs from you
How garment sizing really works between brand and factory: the base-size spec, grade rules, points of measure and tolerances, what to send, what happens if you send nothing, and the sizing traps (unisex, UK vs US, kids’ heights) that cause returns.
26 August 2026 · 2 min read
-
Sourcing · How to
Buying agents, buying houses & sourcing offices: how apparel middlemen work
Who actually sits between a brand and a garment factory — and what it costs. Agent commissions, buying-house margins, hidden kickbacks, how agents vet factories, when a middleman earns their fee, and when factory-direct plus a $300 inspection day is the smarter structure.
5 August 2026 · 4 min read
-
Compliance · How to
Children’s clothing manufacturing: the safety rules that actually apply
Kidswear is the most regulated garment category — cords and drawstrings, small parts, chemical limits, flammability, and US CPSIA testing. What each rule actually requires, why they exist, and what a compliance-literate factory does at the design stage so your brand never learns any of this from a recall notice.
5 August 2026 · 5 min read
-
Sourcing · How to
Corporate uniform programmes: a sourcing guide for hotels, restaurants & fleets
Polos and tees are the modern corporate uniform — and the hardest part isn’t the rollout, it’s years of replenishment in matching colours and fragmented sizes. How uniform programmes are actually bought, the pain points that break them, and when factory-direct production fixes the maths.
5 August 2026 · 4 min read
-
Quality · How to
The most expensive email in apparel: “approved, go ahead”
Bulk production copies your sample — including its mistakes. Why buyers approve samples too fast (excitement, deadlines, sunk cost), and the disciplined checklist that catches problems while they still cost nothing: measure against spec, wash before approving, check the inside, archive the standard.
5 August 2026 · 3 min read
-
How to · Sourcing
FOB, CMT, MOQ, AQL: a plain-English garment sourcing glossary
The vocabulary of garment sourcing, translated: pricing and shipping terms, production and sampling terms, quality control, and the paperwork of international trade — each in one plain sentence, with links to deeper guides.
5 August 2026 · 4 min read
-
Trust · How to
How to verify a factory you’ll never visit: remote due diligence that actually works
The real barrier to overseas sourcing isn’t price or quality — it’s the fear of wiring money to strangers. How scammers actually exploit buyer psychology, why a live unscripted video walk is almost impossible to fake, and a triangulation method that settles trust without a plane ticket.
5 August 2026 · 4 min read
-
Compliance · How to
OEKO-TEX, GOTS, SMETA, BSCI: what apparel certifications actually cover
Every supplier waves certificates; few buyers know what each one actually certifies. The three questions a certification can answer — is the product safe, what is it made of, how is the factory run — and which to ask for in which situation. Including an honest note on where we stand.
5 August 2026 · 3 min read
-
Sourcing · How to
Apparel production lead time & buying calendar: when to place your order
How long does it really take to produce a garment order, and when should you place it? A count-back planner covering sampling, fabric, bulk, QC, and freight — so your knitwear lands in time for the season.
13 July 2026 · 2 min read
-
Compliance · How to
Clothing label & care-label requirements for the EU, UK, US & Canada
A buyer’s guide to garment labelling compliance across the EU, UK, US, and Canada — fibre composition, care symbols, country of origin, and manufacturer ID — so your imported knitwear clears customs and shelves cleanly.
13 July 2026 · 7 min read
-
Fabric · How to
Cotton vs. CVC vs. poly-cotton: which blend for your t-shirt?
The fabric blend changes your tee’s feel, price, durability, and print results. Here’s a plain guide to 100% cotton, CVC, and poly-cotton for brand owners.
13 July 2026 · 2 min read
-
How to · Startups
A first-time importer’s guide to working with a garment factory
New to importing garments? Here’s how to communicate with an overseas factory, what MOQ / lead time / payment terms to expect, and how to avoid the common first-timer mistakes.
13 July 2026 · 2 min read
-
How to · Quality
Garment QC and AQL inspection: an importer’s guide
How garment quality control and AQL inspection actually work — defect classes, inspection stages, a copy-and-use QC checklist, and how to inspect an order before it ships.
13 July 2026 · 2 min read
-
Fabric · How to
GSM explained: how to choose t-shirt and polo fabric weight
GSM is the number that most affects how your garment feels and drapes. Here’s what GSM means and which weights work best for t-shirts, polos, and knit basics.
13 July 2026 · 2 min read
-
Sourcing · How to
How to import clothing from Nepal: a step-by-step buyer’s guide
Considering Nepal for your knit basics? A practical, step-by-step guide to importing garments from Nepal — from first inquiry to delivery, including duty-free access, export paperwork, freight, and payment.
13 July 2026 · 3 min read
-
Startups · How to
How to start a clothing brand: from idea to your first production run
A practical roadmap for turning a clothing idea into real, sellable product — designs, tech packs, finding a manufacturer, MOQ, samples, and your first order.
13 July 2026 · 2 min read
-
Logistics · How to
Incoterms for apparel imports: EXW, FOB & CIF from Nepal explained
Incoterms decide who pays for freight and who carries the risk at each stage. Here’s what EXW, FOB, and CIF mean for importing garments — and how landlocked Nepal ships.
13 July 2026 · 2 min read
-
Private label · How to
Private-label branding & retail-ready packaging for your knitwear
How a blank tee becomes your brand: woven vs printed labels, neck prints, hang tags, poly bags, barcodes, and retail-ready packaging — plus the artwork a factory needs and how custom trims affect MOQ and lead time.
13 July 2026 · 2 min read
-
How to · Sourcing
Private label vs. white label vs. OEM vs. ODM: which do you actually need?
These four terms confuse every new brand. Here’s what each manufacturing model means in plain English, and which fits your product and stage.
13 July 2026 · 2 min read
-
How to · Startups
Sample to bulk: what to expect on your first clothing production order
The step-by-step of a garment order — from tech pack to sample approval to bulk production, QC, and shipping — so you know what happens and when.
13 July 2026 · 2 min read
-
How to · Fabric
Screen print vs. DTG vs. embroidery: decorating your apparel
The three main ways to brand a garment — screen printing, DTG, and embroidery — compared on cost, quantity, detail, and durability, so you pick the right one.
13 July 2026 · 2 min read
-
Duty-free · How to
Single vs. double transformation rules of origin, explained for apparel importers
Rules of origin decide whether your garment qualifies for duty-free import. Here’s the difference between single and double transformation — and why it matters when the fabric is imported.
13 July 2026 · 2 min read
-
How to · Startups
What is a tech pack — and what your factory needs to quote your order
A tech pack is the blueprint your manufacturer builds from. Here’s what goes in one, why it matters, and the minimum info a factory needs to quote your garment accurately.
13 July 2026 · 2 min read
Namaste — let’s talk
Tell us what you want to make.
Send a tech pack, a photo or just an idea. You’ll hear back from the people who run the floor — usually within 24 hours, Nepal time.