Category Overview
China's apparel supply is a tale of two product types: commodity blanks (t-shirts, hoodies, leggings — where Guangzhou and Yiwu front export trade feeding Zhejiang/since-Guang-oing factories) and fashion/technical wear that requires deeper relationship development. Getting size grading right — and fiber/care labeling correct — is where entry-level sellers most often stumble.
Keqiao (Shaoxing) is the fabric capital that feeds everything: visit once, and you'll understand why MOQs are what they are — dye lots are the upstream physics that no downstream negotiation can repeal. Our guide translates that physics into practical MOQ strategy.
Key Products to Source
Production Cities in China
| City | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Guangzhou (Shisanhang/Baima) | Wholesale fashion district; trend-speed and mid-volume flexibility. |
| Hangzhou / Shaoxing (Keqiao) | The fabric capital: every fiber, print style, and dye-lot math lives here. |
| Yiwu | Socks, simple knitwear, basic cotton items and accessories in export volume. |
| Dongguan / Zhongshan | Cut-sew factories for fast turn-around on full-size runs. |
Cluster Walk-Through
Keqiao (Shaoxing) is the fabric brain — the textile index printed there is the physical benchmark traders argue from. But finished garments split east/west: Guangdong (Dongguan, Humen, Chaozhou's knitwear sweatscapes) cuts fast-volume jersey and swimwear with fabric from Keqiao next-day; Jiangsu (Changshu, Nantong) runs heavier knits and outerwear, and Xinjiang-adjacent cotton politics make fiber-origin declares a factory-manager conversation, not a tag line. Audit points concentrate at the needle: stitch-density sampling per carton, shrinkage-wash tests off your actual fabric roll, and grade-A vs grade-B zipper drawer tests which reveal factory tier instantly.
🗺 Plan the floor walk: the guangzhou wholesale markets walk-routes day plan shares how buyers sequence this category on site.
Quick Sourcing Data (2026)
| Vector | Typical range | Unit & terms |
|---|---|---|
| Typical MOQ | Blanks (in-stock colors): 100-300 pcs/design; custom color (dye lot): 300-1,000/color; leggings full custom: 500+ | per SKU · EXW unless noted |
| Price anchors | Blank tee $0.90-$2.80 · Hoodie $3.8-$9 · Leggings $2.6-$6.5 · Socks pair $0.12-$0.45 | USD · EXW factory/bulk tier |
| Best platforms | Alibaba, 1688, Guangzhou markets, Keqiao fabric city | channel · buyer protection varies |
| Sampling time | 2-5 days blanks; 12-20 days custom fit | calendar days · excludes shipping |
Anchors are ex-works (EXW) factory/bulk-tier bands in USD collected from buyer-side quotes, Sept 2026. Validate the exact HS-code duty swing and freight before comparing across cities.
🧭 Where to walk the floor: Baima + Shisanhang racks · Yiwu District 4 apparel
🧾 Don't forget duty: every price anchor above is ex-works — run the import duty & HS-code landed-cost formula before comparing quotes across cities.
Quality Inspection Checklist (Before Paying Balance)
Work through these in order during your PSI — each row maps to a real defect pattern for this category. Print or share with your third-party AQL inspector.
| # | Check | Pass? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fiber content verification (burn test on sample vs certificate — mislabeled poly/cotton is rampant) | |
| 2 | GSM (fabric weight) vs claimed: weigh 10cm² punch samples; ±5% spec tolerance | |
| 3 | Shrinkage test: 3× wash-dry cycles record % (aim <5% knits with documentation) | |
| 4 | Color-fastness: wash 4× (contrast white cloth), rub-wet test on prints | |
| 5 | Size-grade audit: measure 5 pcs per size against spec-sheet (not just S — check XXL for cycle-consistency) | |
| 6 | Stitching: armholes & side-seam SPI ≥ 8; bartacks at stress points | |
| 7 | Print: crack/stretch test after 10 stretch cycles (DTG vs screen needs checking) | |
| 8 | Label compliance: fiber % labels (US Textile Act/EU 1007) + care symbols + COO — inspection checks all three before packing |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MOQ for blank t-shirts from China?
In-stock color blank tees: 100-300 pcs per design (and sometimes 50-100 with agent consolidation). Custom colors mean custom dye lots: budget 300-1,000 pcs per color since mills have minimum dye-batch physics. Wholesale markets in Guangzhou break MOQs further, at retail-plus-20% pricing.
Where should I buy fabric or have garments produced?
Keqiao (Shaoxing) for fabric of every fiber and finish — it feeds the industry. Guangzhou for wholesale ready-to-brand blanks and trends; Dongguan/Zhongshan for cut-sew runs; Hangzhou for higher-end knits. Yiwu is fine for simple socks, hats, basics.
What compliance labels does apparel need for US/EU?
US: fiber-content labels (Textile Fiber Products Identification Act), care instructions, country of origin, and manufacturer ID (RN number optional but standard). EU: fiber composition per Regulation 1007/2011 (in official language(s) of sale). Children's sleepwear has extra flammability standards (16 CFR 1615/16) in the US — always confirm before sampling.
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