This comprehensive FAQ covers all common inquiries raised by global fabric buyers, including minimum order quantity, production lead time, fabric quality control, custom solutions, payment terms, logistics, after-sales service, cross-border export requirements and more. All questions are categorized clearly for quick lookup. As a professional Custom Fabric Supplier, we have compiled a complete procurement guide to help global buyers efficiently and smoothly complete all links of fabric orders.
This document contains 10 chapters in total. This is Part 1 (Chapters 1–4). Click here to view Part 2 (Chapters 5–10).
Chapter 1: Basic Procurement Consultation
What fabrics do you mainly supply, and which industries can they be applied to?
We specialize in all types of woven fabrics. By raw material composition, our products are divided into chemical fiber fabrics (nylon, polyester, spandex) and regenerated synthetic fiber fabrics (viscose, rayon, cupro, modal). Our core competitive products are high-stretch spandex stretch fabrics. Our fabrics are compatible with full-range apparel production, covering tops such as down jackets, outdoor jackets and softshell jackets; bottoms including fashion dresses, casual trousers and workwear pants.
What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for fabrics? Do you support small-batch purchases?
The MOQ for solid-color custom dyed fabrics is 950 meters per single color, and buyers can enjoy bulk factory prices once the MOQ is met. Sample orders have no minimum order threshold; small trial orders ranging from 3 to 800 meters are all acceptable with tiered quotations corresponding to different meterages. As a reliable Custom Fabric Supplier, we fully support small-batch sampling and small repeat orders to meet trial order demands of small and medium-sized clients.
Can you provide free fabric swatches? Who bears the shipping cost for samples?
We offer free fabric swatches. New clients shall bear the courier freight for initial sample delivery. After clients place their first formal order, they will be upgraded to VIP customers automatically. All subsequent fabric swatches and color card shipments will be covered by our company, and we will regularly send free new fabric catalogs to support clients’ new product development and material selection.
How long does sample making take? Is sample making chargeable?
The lead time for regular dyeing and basic finishing samples is 4–7 working days. Sample making for 95% of conventional fabrics is completely free of charge.As a reliable Custom Fabric Supplier Fees for special craft or customized development fabrics will be notified to clients in advance with no hidden charges.
What stock fabrics are available? How soon can stock fabrics be delivered?
Our in-stock core woven stretch fabrics are nylon 4-way stretch and polyester 4-way stretch. Stock fabrics with sufficient inventory can be shipped within 48 hours upon order placement. In case of temporary stock shortage, restocking and delivery will be completed within 5 working days.
What is the standard production lead time for custom dyed fabrics? Can orders be rushed?
The regular production lead time for solid-color basic dyed bulk fabrics is 15 working days. If additional functional finishes such as waterproofing, anti-static treatment or printing are required, the production cycle will be extended based on process complexity. We As a reliable Custom Fabric Supplier support expedited production schedules customized to clients’ delivery deadlines, with expediting fees confirmed in advance.
What is the production lead time for non-stock custom woven fabrics?
The standard lead time for non-stock custom woven fabrics ranges from 25 to 40 working days. The final delivery date will be determined comprehensively by weaving process difficulty, order quantity and additional finishing treatments. As a reliable Custom Fabric Supplier A formal written delivery schedule will be issued before order confirmation.
Do you support mixed batch ordering? Can fabrics of different styles be combined into one order?
Mixed batch consolidation is allowed for fabrics with the same width and identical finishing processes. Unified bulk pricing applies when the combined total meets the MOQ threshold. Fabrics with different crafting or finishing processes cannot be combined to avoid production conflicts that compromise fabric quality and delivery schedules.
Do Custom Fabric Supplier carry seasonal trending fabrics? Can you provide fabric trend references?
We update trending fabrics popular in European, American and Southeast Asian apparel markets monthly, and release exclusive trend reports for spring/summer outdoor wear, autumn/winter down garments and fashion workwear regularly. These reports are shared free of charge with cooperative clients, a key service advantage of our Custom Fabric Supplier team to help buyers capture overseas hit product demands accurately.
Can I get free color cards? How often are color cards updated?
Free physical general color cards are available, with shipping rules identical to fabric swatches. Industry trend color cards are updated twice yearly for spring/summer and autumn/winter seasons. New color cards will be sent free of charge to existing clients immediately after launch to help them lock in new color palettes in advance.
Can you issue an official delivery delay letter if order shipment is postponed?
Yes. In cases of reasonable delays caused by force majeure, we can provide formal Chinese-English bilingual delay confirmation letters. These documents help clients communicate with overseas buyers, handle customer complaints and avoid breach-of-contract risks in foreign trade.
Do you support OEM private labeling or neutral shipment without factory information?
Neutral unbranded shipment is available. All packaging and documents can omit our factory information, and custom woven labels and tags printed per client requirements are supported. As a reliable Custom Fabric Supplier, We fully protect clients’ supply chain data to prevent cross-selling and source leakage.
Chapter 2: Fabric Parameters & Quality Specifications
Can fabric composition, yarn count, density, weight and width be customized?
Full personalized customization of all fabric parameters is supported, including fiber composition ratio, yarn count, warp & weft density, gram weight and fabric width. Each client will be assigned a dedicated technical specialist for one-on-one communication, who will issue a complete customized process plan and confirmation sample to ensure bulk goods meet client standards—one of the core strengths of our professional Custom Fabric Supplier service.
Is pre-shrinking treatment available for fabrics? What is the shrinkage standard of finished fabrics?
Pre-shrinking treatment is included free of charge for all orders with no extra cost to buyers. The shrinkage rate of our core stretch fabrics is strictly controlled within 3%, effectively preventing dimensional deformation during cutting and garment making and stabilizing finished apparel sizing.
What color fastness grade can the fabrics reach? Are they resistant to washing and rubbing?
Conventional fabrics achieve a color fastness grade of 3.5, meeting requirements for regular apparel and most basic foreign trade orders. For high-end export orders with strict laundering standards, an upgraded high color fastness dyeing process is available with two pricing options listed separately for clients to choose. Our fabrics deliver excellent resistance to washing, dry rubbing and wet rubbing.
What stretch range and recovery performance do stretch fabrics have?
As a reliable Custom Fabric Supplier,Our regular stretch fabrics feature stable warp elongation. Under standard testing, a 50cm fabric strip can stretch to 62cm with zero slack or deformation after recovery. Ultra-high stretch fabrics can be customized for high-elastic apparel, sportswear and other special scenarios to satisfy differentiated elasticity demands.
Do fabrics come with environmental test reports? Can they pass overseas commodity inspections?
All fabrics adopt eco-friendly dyeing processes free of azo carcinogens. As a reliable Custom Fabric Supplier Official test reports are provided for every batch, and third-party authoritative testing by SGS, ITS and other global institutions is fully supported, complying with all export inspection standards worldwide.
Are functional finishes such as waterproofing, anti-pilling and anti-static available?
A full range of functional finishing treatments can be applied, including water & oil repellent, anti-static, UV protection, moisture-wicking quick-dry, breathable moisture-permeable and other mainstream processes. Multiple functional treatments can be combined according to end-product usage scenarios.
Will there be color difference or batch shade variation between different fabric lots?
Due to inherent textile industry characteristics, slight negligible batch shade variation may exist between different dye lots. For clients with extremely strict color consistency requirements, we will send bulk fabric samples for confirmation before full shipment. If the color fails inspection, re-dyeing will be conducted unconditionally with no additional fees charged by our Custom Fabric Supplier factory.
Are the fabrics prone to pilling, snagging, lint shedding or color bleeding?
We supply high-density woven fabrics with tight weave structures, resisting pilling, snagging and lint shedding under normal use conditions. Multiple color fixing processes are applied before factory delivery to eliminate color bleeding during washing and daily wear. If clients’ products face extreme usage environments, we will adjust fabric processes accordingly upon advance notice.
Are fabrics UV-resistant? What UPF rating can be achieved?
Our As a Custom Fabric Supplier standard outdoor fabrics reach UPF50+, blocking over 98% of ultraviolet rays and meeting sun protection standards for outdoor apparel in Australia and Europe. Regular fashion fabrics have no inherent UV resistance, but anti-UV finishing can be added without compromising fabric hand feel or air permeability.
Will stretch fabrics loosen or lose elasticity after repeated washing?
Our stretch fabrics are produced with high-tenacity spandex yarn and reinforced setting technology. After 50 standard washing cycles, elasticity retention remains above 90%. No slackening, elasticity loss or garment shape distortion occurs after long-term washing and wear, satisfying long-term quality inspection standards for export apparel.
Do fabrics contain fluorescent agents? Are they suitable for infant clothing?
As a reliable Custom Fabric Supplier,Our regular adult fabrics contain no harmful fluorescent agents. For infant close-fitting garments, exclusive zero-fluorescent fabrics compliant with OEKO-TEX Baby Standard can be customized, which are non-toxic and non-irritating for strict maternity and baby export order standards.
Chapter 3: Color & Customization Services
Can fabrics be dyed per Pantone color numbers or physical reference swatches?
Color matching based on international Pantone codes and client physical samples is fully supported. Minor color deviation may occur when matching solely via Pantone numbers due to printing lot differences of color cards. To guarantee precise color matching, we recommend clients provide physical reference swatches for bulk production, a standard practice of our Custom Fabric Supplier team.
Can solid color, stripe, jacquard and printed fabrics all be customized?
Solid plain colors, regular stripes, textured jacquards and roll printing fabrics are all available for customization. We As a reliable Custom Fabric Supplier operate full independent production lines covering grey fabric weaving, dyeing and finishing, with years of experience in apparel fabric customization to undertake complex pattern and process orders.
Will dark-colored fabrics cause color staining or cross-staining?
All dark fabrics adopt enhanced color fixing technology to eliminate color transfer and cross-staining risks during garment washing and stacked storage. Premium extra-strength color fixing treatment can be upgraded for undergarments and close-fitting apparel with ultra-strict anti-staining requirements.
What is the color confirmation process? Are bulk fabrics produced only after sample approval?
Standard color confirmation workflow:
① We produce 3 reference color swatches (Version A/B/C) and send them to clients for final confirmation;
② Bulk production proceeds per the confirmed color sample;
③ After bulk fabric completion, bulk swatches are cut for secondary review, and shipment is arranged only after client approval.
Clients may also entrust us with full color control, and we will manage color quality per high-standard foreign trade specifications.
Can color and fabric specifications be modified after order production starts?
Once bulk production commences, core fabric specifications (width, gram weight, composition, density) cannot be altered. Only light-colored fabrics can be re-dyed to dark shades, which incurs extra processing fees and extended lead time. Re-dyeing dark fabrics to light shades is not feasible.
Chapter 4: Pricing & Cost Terms
Are fabrics priced by meter or by kilogram?
All woven fabrics are quoted and sold by meter with full meterage delivery to avoid short-meter fraud. A detailed meterage list is attached to every shipment document.
Does the quotation cover grey fabric or finished dyed fabric? Is the price tax-inclusive?
All quotations are tax-inclusive factory prices with official special VAT invoices available upon request. Two quotation modes are offered: raw grey fabric and finished dyed fabric, accommodating clients who process grey fabric independently and those purchasing finished fabrics directly from our Custom Fabric Supplier workshop.
Are volume discounts available for large-quantity purchases?
Tiered volume pricing applies, with lower unit prices for larger meterage orders. Long-term recurring clients and annual framework cooperation partners enjoy exclusive annual bottom prices. Custom discount plans can be calculated one-on-one by our sales specialists.
Does the quotation cover shipping fees? How are delivery charges calculated?
As a reliable Custom Fabric Supplier Domestic bulk orders include free door-to-door delivery with no shipping cost borne by clients. For export sea freight orders, freight fees follow real-time quotations from cooperating freight forwarders. We recommend clients utilize their own freight agents for smoother coordination and lower logistics costs.
How is fabric wastage calculated for orders? What is the standard wastage ratio?
All process wastage generated during weaving and dyeing is fully covered by our factory, with a 100% full-quantity genuine fabric delivery commitment. As a reliable Custom Fabric Supplier Our fabrics feature excellent flatness and stability, delivering up to 99% cutting utilization rate to minimize clients’ production costs.
How long is the quotation valid? Will prices be adjusted unilaterally if raw material costs rise?
All written quotations remain valid for 30 days. Within the quotation lock-in period, we will never raise unit prices unilaterally even if grey fabric and dye raw material prices surge. Once the validity period expires, updated prices will be recalculated based on real-time raw material market conditions and notified to clients in advance.
Can credit terms be applied for foreign trade orders?
No credit terms are offered to new clients, who must follow standard prepayment clauses. Long-term high-quality foreign trade clients with over 1 year of cooperative history and good performance records may apply for short-term controllable credit, with credit limits and repayment cycles negotiated individually.
Which party bears export tariffs? Can you assist with tariff cost calculation?
Rights and liabilities are divided per trade terms: under EXW and FOB terms, import tariffs and customs clearance fees are borne by buyers. Based on destination countries and fabric HS codes, our Custom Fabric Supplier team provides free tariff and anti-dumping duty inquiry services to help clients calculate full landed procurement costs in advance.
Can Proforma Invoices (PI) be issued? Does PI hold contractual legal effect?
Formal Chinese-English bilingual Proforma Invoices are provided free of charge. All PIs carry legal contractual validity, clearly stating unit prices, delivery schedules, quality standards and compensation clauses, and can be directly used by overseas buyers for foreign exchange application and bank settlement.
Can handling fees or sample shipping fees be waived for small sample orders?
Existing clients with a minimum of 3 sample orders per month can apply for full exemption of all monthly sample shipping fees. No freight waivers apply to new clients, but sample shipping costs can be fully deducted from bulk order payments after formal placement to lower trial order expenses.
