Clothing Manufacturing Glossary
Every term you’ll meet when making clothes — in plain English.
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) — The smallest number of units a factory will make in one run — usually counted per style, per colour. The number that most affects your upfront cost and risk.
GSM (Grams per Square Metre) — The weight of a fabric. Higher GSM = heavier, thicker, more premium-feeling. The quickest way to describe a garment's feel.
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) — A shipping term where the manufacturer handles customs, duties, and freight, so you receive one clear landed cost with no surprise bills at the border.
Tech Pack — The blueprint for your garment — sketches, measurements, materials, trims, colours, and branding — that tells a manufacturer exactly how to make it.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) — Full custom manufacturing — the factory makes your design from the ground up (your patterns, fabric, and construction).
ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) — The factory offers existing designs you can customise and put your label on — faster than building from scratch.
Private label — Taking a manufacturer's base products and customising them with your fabrics, fit, and branding so they're sold as your own brand.
White label — A ready-made, generic product that many brands can buy and put their own label on — fastest to launch, least unique.
CMT (Cut, Make, Trim) — A service where you supply the fabric and design, and the factory cuts, sews, and finishes the garment.
Sampling — Making a physical sample of your garment for you to approve — for fit, fabric, and finish — before any bulk production.
Lab dip — A small fabric swatch dyed to a target colour for you to approve before bulk dyeing, ensuring the colour is right.
Grading — Scaling a base size up and down to create the full size range, so each size fits correctly.
Lead time — How long production takes — typically around 40–50 days from sign-off to delivery for a small knitwear run.
GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) — The leading certification for organic textiles, covering organic fibres, banned chemicals, environmental management, and fair working conditions across the supply chain.
OEKO-TEX — A certification confirming a textile has been tested for harmful substances and is safe for skin contact.
Pantone — A standardised colour-matching system. Giving a Pantone code lets a factory match your exact colour.
Still have a question? Just ask us — we explain everything in plain language. Or read our guides for new brands.
Frequently asked questions
What does CMT mean in clothing manufacturing?
CMT stands for Cut, Make, Trim — a service where you supply the fabric and design, and the factory cuts, sews and finishes the garment.
What is a lab dip?
A lab dip is a small fabric swatch dyed to your target colour for approval before bulk dyeing, so the colour is confirmed right before production.
What is the difference between OEM and ODM?
OEM means the factory makes your design from scratch (your patterns and specs). ODM means the factory offers existing designs you customise and put your own label on.
What does grading mean in clothing?
Grading is scaling a base size up and down to create the full size range, so every size fits correctly.