Step 1: Decide who it is for and how it will be sold
Name the customer in one sentence and choose the sales channel before you choose a style. A direct-to-consumer store, an online marketplace and a retail wholesale account each ask for different packaging, barcodes, sizing language and return policies. Fit and size accuracy matter more where returns are costly, which pushes you toward fewer styles and more careful size charts.
- Customer: age group, activity, what they currently wear and what annoys them about it.
- Channel: your own store, a marketplace, retail accounts or a mix.
- Position: everyday value, soft-touch premium, sport and anti-chafe, or a niche such as travel.
Step 2: Pick a small first range
A first range of two to four styles is easier to sample, test and sell than a full catalogue. Pick one hero style and one to three supporting styles, then decide fabric and colours. Each combination of style, fabric and colour is a separate line in the quotation and a separate item to inventory.
| Decision | What it changes | How to keep it under control |
|---|---|---|
| Number of styles | Sampling rounds, pattern work, quantity per style | Start with a hero style and one companion. |
| Number of colours | Fabric lots, minimums per colour, inventory | Begin with a few core colours. |
| Custom waistband | Elastic development, sampling time, minimums | Compare a printed waistband with a woven or jacquard one. |
| Packaging format | Packing labour, carton size, shipping volume | Decide single piece or multipack before quoting. |
| Fabric choice | Cost, feel, shrinkage, test needs | Use the fabric comparison guide and test a washed sample. |
The style pages describe the specification choices for each silhouette: boxer briefs, trunks, briefs, boxer shorts, seamless and performance.
Step 3: Benchmark with real garments
Buy three to five garments from brands your customer already buys. Measure them flat, record the fabric, waistband, labels and packaging, and note what you would change. These become the reference for your brief.
Step 4: Write the brief and request quotations
Send every supplier the same brief: reference garments or sketches, target measurements, fabric direction, branding, packaging, quantity by style, colour and size, and destination. The RFQ and supplier comparison workbook on the OEM page gives you an editable structure for this and a sheet to compare replies.
- Compare quotations only when they cover the same garment, quantity, pack and delivery terms.
- Ask how the minimum order is counted: per style, per colour, per size or per order.
- Ask what is included: samples, labels, packaging, testing and inspection.
- Ask when the sample clock starts and which approvals it waits for.
Step 5: Sample, fit-test and revise
Treat each sample as an experiment with one question. The first sample tests silhouette and fabric feel. The fit sample tests measurements against the spec and fit on real wearers. A wear-and-wash test shows how the garment behaves after cleaning. The sample development guide describes each stage and what to record.
- Give feedback as one consolidated list per round, tied to measurements or photos.
- Separate must-fix items from preferences.
- Wash the sample according to the care label and re-measure it.
Step 6: Branding, labels and packaging
Decide where the brand appears: waistband, sewn or printed label, hangtag, polybag, header card or box. Provide vector artwork with colour references and sizes. Required label content depends on where the garment is sold; see the US/EU compliance guide and confirm wording with your importer or adviser before artwork is final.
- Waistband: printed, woven or jacquard logo, or a plain covered band.
- Labels: brand label, size and care label, and any content or origin labelling your market requires.
- Barcodes: retail and marketplace channels usually need a barcode on the pack; check which standard (for example UPC or EAN) your channel expects.
- Packaging: single polybag, header card, retail box or multipack.
Step 7: Plan sizes, colours and quantities
Build the first order from a size curve and a colour split, not from a single total. The size-curve and assortment guide shows how to count quantities and how a per-colour minimum interacts with a size curve. Start narrower than you think you need; you can reorder what sells.
Step 8: Approve production and plan inspection
Before bulk starts, approve a pre-production sample made with the bulk materials and keep it as the reference. Agree how the goods will be inspected: who inspects, when (during production and at the end), and against which acceptance standard. Many buyers specify an acceptable quality limit in the purchase order using a published sampling standard such as ISO 2859-1 or ANSI/ASQ Z1.4, and define which defects count as critical, major or minor. Agree these terms in writing before production.
Step 9: Ship and prepare to sell
Name the trade term and the place it applies to, and decide who handles export documents, freight and import clearance. Tell your broker or importer which documents they need before dispatch. The import handoff guide covers how to reconcile the approved order with the shipment papers.
Cost lines to budget
The amounts depend on your fabric, quantity and market, so ask each supplier to price these lines separately rather than relying on a single unit price.
- Development samples and sample freight
- Custom elastic, labels, hangtags or other trims set up for your brand
- Packaging and artwork
- Laboratory testing you require
- Production
- Inspection
- Freight, insurance, duty and taxes
- Warehousing or marketplace preparation
Common questions
How many styles should a first range have?
Two to four is a practical start: one hero style and one to three companions. Add styles after you see what sells.
Do I need my own designs to start?
No. You can start from a reference garment and agree changes to the fit, fabric and branding. A fully custom pattern needs more development.
Is private label the same as OEM?
Private label focuses on selling the garment under your brand; OEM focuses on manufacturing to your specifications. A project can include both. See the private label and OEM pages for the checklists.
What should I send first?
A reference garment or sketches, your target quantity by style and colour, your branding ideas and your destination. Use the contact form and mention the styles you are considering.
Ready to brief a style?
Send a reference garment or sketch, the quantities you are considering and your destination. The quotation will state what is included and how minimums are counted.