Why factories set minimums
Every production run has fixed costs that are the same whether you make 20 pieces or 2,000:
- buying and preparing fabric, often sold by the roll;
- making patterns and grading them across sizes;
- setting up cutting, printing or embroidery machines;
- sampling and quality checks.
Below a certain quantity, those fixed costs make the price per piece unworkable. That threshold is the MOQ.
What affects the MOQ
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Stock fabric allows lower minimums than custom-dyed fabric |
| Colours | Each extra colourway usually has its own minimum |
| Decoration | Sublimation and embroidery have different set-ups |
| Complexity | More panels, trims and details raise minimums |
| Product | Simple tees differ from jackets with many components |
How to work within MOQs
- Use stock fabric colours.
- Keep to fewer colourways on your first order.
- Combine sizes under one design.
- Use one decoration method across products.
- Plan reorders rather than over-ordering at the start.
Team orders and MOQs
For team kits, the MOQ is usually per design, so a squad of different names and numbers on one design counts together. Leagues ordering several team designs should ask how each design is counted.
Ask before you design
Tell us your quantity early. We can suggest choices that fit your numbers. See how ordering works or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is MOQ per size or per design?
Usually per design and colour, spread across sizes. Ask your supplier how they count it.
What is Vanguard Uniforms' MOQ?
It depends on the product and decoration. Tell us the product and quantity and we confirm the minimum in your quote.