20 Questions to Ask a Sportswear Factory Before You Order

A first conversation with a factory tells you a lot, if you ask the right questions. Here are twenty, grouped by topic, with notes on what to listen for.

Products and capability

1. What proportion of your production is products like mine? You want a factory that makes your product type regularly, not occasionally.

2. Can you show photos of finished products similar to mine? Real photos of finished goods, ideally close-ups of seams and prints.

3. Which decoration methods do you do in-house, and which are outsourced? Outsourcing is not bad, but it adds time and another point where things can go wrong.

4. Which fabrics would you recommend for this product, and why? A good answer explains trade-offs rather than naming the cheapest option.

Minimums

5. What is your MOQ — per design, per colour or per style? The unit matters more than the number.

6. Can sizes be mixed within the minimum? For teamwear, the answer should be yes.

7. How does the price change if I order below or above the minimum? See understanding sportswear MOQ.

Sampling

8. How much does a sample cost, and how long does it take?

9. Is the sample made in the real fabric and decoration? It should be. A sample in a different fabric tells you very little.

10. How many rounds of changes are included?

11. Does the approved sample become the standard for bulk production? The answer should be an unambiguous yes.

Quality

12. What do you check during production, and what do you check at the end? Listen for specific checks: fabric, measurements, seams, print, packing.

13. What happens if pieces fail inspection?

14. Can I see photos or video of my order before it ships?

Timelines and communication

15. What is the realistic timeline from approval to shipping for my order size?

16. Who will be my contact, and how quickly do they usually reply?

17. How will I know where my order is during production? A customer portal or regular status updates are both good answers.

Pricing, payment and shipping

18. What exactly is included in the quoted price? Fabric and GSM, decoration, labels, packaging, shipping, duties.

19. What are your payment terms? Understand deposits and when the balance is due.

20. How do you handle repeat orders? Your specification and artwork should be stored so the next order matches.

Reading the answers

Be wary of answers that are vague, overly confident or that promise the shortest timeline and lowest price at the same time. A manufacturer that asks you questions back, explains trade-offs and is honest about what will take longer is usually the one that delivers.

For the bigger picture, read how to choose a sportswear manufacturer.