Home / Insights / Activewear MOQ: Style, Colour and Fabric Minimums

Sourcing & MOQ · 6 min read · 2026-09-07

Activewear MOQ: Style, Colour and Fabric Minimums

Stop treating MOQ as one number. Separate garment MOQ, colourway math and fabric MCQ before you brief the factory.

Stop treating MOQ as one number — and stop making buyers guess between conflicting pages. Separate garment MOQ, colourway math and fabric MCQ before you brief the factory.

Three minimums buyers must separate

Buyers often hear one number. Commercially you need three lines:

  • Style MOQ — minimum units for that silhouette to open production.
  • Colour MOQ — ZIESHINE’s standard floor is 150 pcs per style / colour; selected library trial programmes may start from 100.
  • Fabric / trim MCQ — mill dye lots, yarn and print minimums that can exceed garment MOQ (custom fabric typically 500 m+).

If those three are not written on the quote, colourway math will surprise you at PO stage.

Brand-Friendly MOQ ladder

We position MOQ as a growth path — not a hard gate. Read the ladder with the policy above first:

  • Standard programmes150 pcs / style / colour
  • Selected library trial — from 100 pcs / style / colour (qualifying styles only)
  • Emerging brands (planning band) — Trial from 100 · standard 150–300 pcs
  • Growing brands — 300–1,000 pcs
  • Established brands — 1,000+ pcs
  • Custom fabric programmes — Typically 500 m+ / colour

Standard MOQ is typically 150 pcs per style / colour. Selected library trial programmes may start from 100 pcs per colour, subject to fabric availability. Custom fabric typically ~500 m / colour. Below MOQ is subject to fabric availability and may carry a development surcharge.

Colourway planning that protects cash

PlanWhen it works
2–3 neutrals firstFirst brand drop / new channel
Fashion colour after sell-throughProtects dye-lot cash
Shared dye lot across set piecesBra + legging / dress + short

What to put in the first brief

  1. Styles and target colours (not “TBD palette”).
  2. Library fabric vs custom development.
  3. Size curve and expected reorder window.
  4. Whether standard 150 or selected-library trial from 100 applies for your construction.

Next steps

  1. Open the manufacture hub for OEM / private-label programmes.
  2. Browse related products in the library.
  3. Review the matching fabric path.
  4. Download buyer checklists (deal sheet / capacity / cert pack).
  5. Submit a development brief — Export desk replies within 12 h.

Submit development brief Browse products View fabrics Download checklists

FAQ

Is MOQ per style or per colour?

Ask explicitly. Typical activewear programmes quote per colour per style — each extra colour multiplies inventory.

What is ZIESHINE’s standard MOQ?

Standard MOQ is typically 150 pcs per style / colour. Selected library trial programmes may start from 100 pcs per colour; smaller trials may be possible depending on fabric, colour and construction.

Does custom fabric raise minimums?

Yes. Dye lots, yarn bookings and print MCQs often exceed garment MOQ — custom fabric programmes typically start around 500 m+.

How should a first order look?

1–2 styles × 2–3 colours on proven bases, clear size curve, then expand after sell-through.