A manufacturing quote may look straightforward: quantity, unit price, total, and delivery date. But two quotes with the same garment description are often not comparable until you know what each supplier included. One might cover fabric, decoration, labels, inspection, and shipping. Another might quote only cutting and sewing after materials are supplied.
Learning to read the quote protects your budget and makes communication with factories much easier.
Start with the production scope
Check the style code, design version, fabric specification, quantity, color breakdown, and size ratio. The quote should match the approved request, not an early sketch. If you requested 150 custom shorts with an external drawcord and a specific pocket construction, a price based on generic blank shorts does not answer your question.
Look for these production terms:
CMT (cut, make, trim): Often refers to manufacturing labor and agreed sewing-related work; clarify who supplies materials.
Full-package production: May include sourcing and materials as well as manufacturing, but exact inclusions vary.
MOQ: Minimum order quantity. Confirm whether it applies by style, color, material, or total order.
Unit price: The amount charged per garment for the defined scope and quantity.
Development fee: Work such as pattern making, grading, and sample production, sometimes quoted separately.
Never assume a term means identical services across different factories.
Identify one-time and recurring costs
Pattern development, fitting, grading, printing setup, and custom dye development may have one-time charges. Fabric, labels, trims, sewing, and packaging usually scale with quantity. Some setups may repeat when artwork or colorways change.
Ask the supplier to list line items so you know what can be reused for a reorder. If a revised order is larger or smaller, ask for a new unit price rather than multiplying the original quote blindly.
Ask exactly which fabric is included
A quote that says '100% cotton' is incomplete. The material could be light jersey, heavyweight jersey, French terry, twill, canvas, or a completely different construction. Ask for composition, GSM, width, finish, color standard, and a swatch reference.
The quoted material should match the sample you approved. Substituting a lower-cost material without permission may change drape, durability, or the visual appearance of your design.
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Decoration and finishing deserve their own lines
Embroidery price depends on design area, stitch count, placement, and number of locations. Printing costs depend on method, colors, artwork size, coverage, preparation, and quantity. Washing, distressing, garment dyeing, heat setting, and special finishes may be separate processes.
Confirm whether decoration is applied before or after sewing and how defects are handled. For a washed graphic garment, the sequence of printing and washing can affect the result.
Understand shipping terms and dates
A 'delivered' price is meaningful only if the destination, shipping mode, and responsibilities are clear. Ask whether the quote uses EXW, FOB, DDP, or another named term and location. Under DDP, for example, a seller generally takes on more import-related delivery obligations than under EXW, but written details still matter.
Also ask whether the quoted date is a factory completion date, departure date, or expected arrival date. Shipping by air and sea can have substantially different costs and timelines. Clarify whether customs duties, brokerage, destination charges, and final delivery are included.
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Sample comparison table
This is a structure for comparing quotations, not a statement about any actual supplier:
Question Quote A Quote B Approved material specified? Yes Unclear Labels and packaging included? Yes Separate Inspection included? In-line and final Final only Freight mode stated? Sea Not stated Destination and duties defined? Yes Unclear Sample and grading fee? Separate Included
Even if Quote B has a lower unit price, its total landed cost and production risk may be higher. Fill in the missing cells before deciding.
Watch for vague clauses and missing protections
Ask how the factory handles failed inspections, shortages, measurement deviations, color differences, delayed materials, and shipment damage. Confirm deposit and balance terms, revision fees, and whether artwork or patterns remain available for reorders.
For U.S.-bound apparel, product labels may need fiber content, country of origin, responsible business information, and care instructions, depending on the garment. Verify applicable rules for your specific product rather than relying on a factory's standard label format.
Send a better request for quotation
Share a current tech pack, sample photos, fabric references, artwork files, order breakdown, target destination, and required in-hand date. Ask suppliers to mark any assumptions. Then compare the quotes on equal terms.
SeamLink helps brands organize quote requests and understand the difference between factory price and the complete cost of getting a sellable garment ready for launch.
