Fabric Supplier Checklist

Quality Standards

Quality is the most important dimension to evaluate before committing to a supplier. Poor quality at the fabric stage creates downstream problems that are expensive to fix.

• Request a sample swatch before any commercial order
• Evaluate hand feel, weight, and color consistency against your spec
• Ask for the supplier's defect rate on recent orders and how they handle claims

MOQ Requirements

Minimum order quantities determine whether a supplier is realistic for your current stage. Many fabric suppliers have MOQs of 300–500 meters per colorway.

• MOQ of 100m or under: small-batch friendly (expect higher price per meter)
• MOQ of 300–500m: typical for mid-scale brands or consolidated orders
• MOQ of 1,000m+: volume suppliers — viable once you have consistent reorder cycles

Certifications & Compliance

If your brand has sustainability claims or retail partners require certifications, you must source from certified suppliers — not self-reported ones.

• GOTS: organic fiber, entire supply chain audited
• OEKO-TEX Standard 100: fabric free from harmful substances
• bluesign: resource-efficient, low-impact manufacturing
• Ask for certificate numbers — you can verify them on the certifying body's website

Lead Times

Lead time is how long from order confirmation to fabric on your doorstep. This directly determines your production timeline and when you can deliver to customers.

• Stock fabrics: 1–3 weeks
• Mill-direct orders: 6–14 weeks from PO
• Custom dyeing or printing: add 2–4 weeks on top of standard lead time
• Always build in a 2-week buffer for delays

Communication & Reliability

A great fabric is useless if the supplier is unreliable. Evaluate communication quality during your initial inquiry — it's a preview of your working relationship.

• Responds to inquiries within 3 business days
• Provides detailed tech sheets, not just marketing descriptions
• Has a dedicated account manager or point of contact
• Can provide references from brands at your scale

Pricing & Payment Terms

Price is important but should be evaluated relative to quality and reliability. The cheapest fabric supplier is rarely the best value.

• Get quotes from at least 3 suppliers for each fabric you're sourcing
• Ask about volume pricing tiers — the jump from 100m to 300m can be significant
• Standard payment terms: 30% deposit, 70% before shipment
• Net 30/60 terms are sometimes available for established accounts

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