What Questions to Ask a Clothing Manufacturer Before You Order

The right questions, asked early, save you from a bad first order. Here's exactly what to ask any clothing manufacturer before you commit — and what their answers tell you.

The questions that matter

• What's your real MOQ — per style, per colour? The number that actually affects your cost.
• What does your sampling process look like? You should always approve a physical sample before bulk.
• Who runs quality control, and will I get photos during production? Transparency vs. a black box.
• Which certifications do you hold, and can I see them? (GOTS, OEKO-TEX, audits.)
• Do you ship DDP? So you get one clear landed cost with no surprise customs bills.
• What's the realistic lead time? From sign-off to delivery.
• Can I visit the factory? A confident factory welcomes it.

How a factory answers your first questions tells you almost everything about how they'll treat your order.

Red flags in the answers

• Vague or shifting MOQs, or pressure to over-order.
• No sampling step, or reluctance to send production photos.
• Evasiveness about certifications or who does QC.
• Slow, unclear replies — it rarely improves after you've paid.

Ask us any of these and you'll get straight answers. Start a conversation, or read our fuller guide on how to find a clothing manufacturer.