Questions to ask sweaters & cardigans manufacturers
Where brands usually get this wrong
- Asking for ‘your MOQ?’ once instead of per style, colour, and sampling path.
- Skipping who sources fabric and who owns mistakes on yield or colour variance.
- Letting quotes assume different specs—then arguing about price later.
How to use this guide
- Copy each section into supplier threads in order.
- Note which answers use numbers vs hand-waving.
- Pair with the MOQ guide for this category when you need range benchmarks.
MOQ and materials
What is your MOQ per style, per colour, and for sampling versus bulk?
Listen for 100-500 pieces-style bands in Europe, but treat them as conversational until tied to your spec. Confirm size ratios and whether each colourway stands alone.
What fabrics and weights do you run regularly—and can we supply greige or finished fabric?
Factories move faster on materials they stock. If you supply fabric, clarify who pays for shrink tests, inspection, and cutting loss.
How do you handle colour standards and lab dips?
Ask number of dips included, who approves bulk dye, and what happens if bulk shifts from the signed sample.
What is included in your sampling quote (pairs, sizes, revisions)?
Clarify rounds of revision, courier, and whether sample construction matches bulk line.
Construction, capacity, and timeline
What steps do you run in-house vs subcontract?
Subcontracted steps add handoffs and calendar risk. Ask who holds quality liability for each step.
What is realistic ex-factory timing from approved sample?
Push for week-by-week milestones: material buy, cutting, sewing, finishing, QC, pack—not a single date.
How do you gate new projects during peak season?
Good partners explain capacity honestly. Ask what deposit or confirmation locks line time.
Quality and compliance
What inline and final QC checks do you perform for this category?
Listen for measurement tolerances, seam strength, and visual standards relevant to your product—not generic ‘we check quality’.
Which standards or tests do you support for our target market (REACH, CPSIA-relevant, etc.)?
Match tests to retail or marketplace rules. Ask who books labs, typical cost, and remake policy on failure.
What is your defect allowance and rework process?
Define AQL or equivalent, who pays freight on returns, and how root cause is documented.
