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ZIESHINE

Sourcing · 7 min read · 2026-09-22

How to Develop an Activewear Collection with Your Manufacturer

A collection is an assortment system — not a moodboard. Lock fabric, SKU count, colour math and sample gates before you spend on hero designs.

A collection is an assortment system — not a moodboard. Lock fabric, SKU count, colour math and sample gates before you spend on hero designs.

Collection roadmap

  1. Positioning + category (yoga / tennis / swim / knit).
  2. One named fabric hand.
  3. Assortment: core + 1 hero.
  4. Samples → fit → PPS.
  5. MOQ / colour math on the quote.
  6. Bulk + reorder plan.

Factory process map

Detail stages in custom development process. Startups: first-order checklist.

ZIESHINE path

Manufacture · Private label path · Develop a product.

Recommended stack

  1. Fabric Selector — lock hand / GSM / sustainability intent
  2. Open the matching manufacture deep page (not a keyword shell)
  3. Sample → PPS on private-label terms (MOQ 150 / trial from 100)

FAQ

How many styles should a first collection include?

Often 1–2 silhouettes × 2–3 colours on one fabric hand beats a wide untested range.

When do I open custom fabric?

After sell-through on library hands — fabric MCQ is higher than garment MOQ.

What documents start development?

Brief, NDA if exclusive, size chart targets, and fabric preference.

What locks the season?

PPS + fabric lot + colour approvals before bulk cut.