You're launching a brand. Your first order isn't 500 pieces — it's 50. You want to test three colourways, not commit 300 pieces to one colour that might not sell. Most Chinese knitwear factories can't help you. Their minimums start at 300 per style, sometimes 500. Ours don't. We produce custom knitwear from 50 pieces per style per colour — the lowest MOQ you will find from a direct manufacturer in Dalang, Dongguan.
The MOQ landscape — what you hear when you ask 10 Chinese factories
When you message "what's your minimum order?" to Chinese knitwear suppliers, here's what typically comes back:
| Supplier type | Typical MOQ | Reality |
|---|---|---|
| Alibaba wholesale seller | 300–500+ pcs | Usually a trading company, not the factory |
| Large Chinese sweater factory | 300 pcs per style | Setup cost amortised across bigger runs |
| Mid-size trading company | 100 pcs per style | Adds 20–30% markup on factory cost |
| Lin Sweater Factory (direct) | 50 pcs per style per colour | Direct factory, no middleman markup |
If you have been asking around and hearing "300 minimum" from everyone, you've been hitting the same tier. Talking directly to a factory that's set up for small-batch work gives you a different answer. Our trading company vs real factory guide explains how to tell them apart.
Why 50 pieces actually works economically for us
Every factory's MOQ is dictated by three costs: yarn minimum purchase (most yarn mills sell by the kilogram with 5–10 kg minimums), pattern and sample development (one-time cost per new design), and machine setup and program loading (each new style needs knitting-machine re-programming plus linking-machine tooling).
Low MOQs don't work for most factories because their yarn partners require bigger minimums, their sampling studios are slower, and their program-change workflow wasn't designed for small-batch. What we do differently: we aggregate yarn purchases across multiple brand orders sharing the same yarn spec, we run a dedicated sampling studio that completes one sample round in 7–10 days, and our 14G–16G flat knitting machines (STOLL and Shima Seiki generations) switch programs in under 40 minutes.
The result: 50 pieces is economically viable for us, while staying at 300+ pieces is economically necessary for competitors. Our full manufacturing cost breakdown shows exactly where each dollar goes in a 50-piece run.
Who orders at 50 MOQ
Most of our 50-piece customers fall into one of four profiles. If you recognise yourself below, we're probably the right factory for you.
Testing an ASIN without burning cash
Launching a new product listing needs 50–100 units to prove demand before reorder. Pay $300–500 for PPC tests with inventory that matches, not a 300-unit commitment. See our Amazon private label page.
Launching a new colour or seasonal SKU
You already have a winning style but want to test 3 new colours. Each colour at 50 pieces = a controlled test, not a gamble. Our colour/size splitting guide covers the arithmetic.
Curated seasonal drops, small footprint
Independent retailers running 2–3 stores rarely need 300 units per SKU per season. 50 pieces per style, six styles a season = a complete curated capsule without dead stock risk.
Pre-seed, seed, or bootstrapped
You haven't raised the Series A. Sinking $25K into 500 units of one style is a business-ending move. 50 pieces × $10 = $500 in inventory. Our startup brand guide is written for you.
What 50 pieces looks like in practice
You get to choose how to split your 50 units across sizes and colours. Here are the three most common configurations our customers use:
Option A — Single colour, full size range (most common)
Black × 50 pcs — split XS×5 · S×10 · M×15 · L×12 · XL×6 · XXL×2
Best for: first production run to validate fit + fabric before scaling colour range.
Option B — Three colourways, one size run
Black × 17 · Camel × 17 · Sage × 16 — each in size run S×4 · M×5 · L×5 · XL×3
Best for: Shopify DTC brand launching a seasonal capsule. Photograph three colours, convert on site.
Option C — One size, two colours (Amazon pattern)
Navy × 25 · Grey × 25 — all size M (Amazon's best-selling women's size)
Best for: Amazon ASIN testing. Spin up two separate listings, run PPC, keep the winner.
Pricing snapshot at 50 MOQ (ex-factory, USD per piece)
Ex-factory pricing in Dalang, at 50 pieces per style per colour, by yarn tier:
| Yarn tier | Typical blend | Gauge | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Acrylic blend / poly blend | 3G–7G | $6–$8 |
| Core | Cotton / cotton-modal / cotton-acrylic | 7G–12G | $9–$13 |
| Premium | Wool blend / 100% wool | 5G–12G | $12–$18 |
| Luxury | Merino / cashmere blend / pure cashmere | 7G–14G | $16–$22+ |
Add sea freight ($1.50–$3 per piece to US/EU in a small container), import duty (10–15% depending on country and HS code), and FBA prep fees if relevant ($0.50–$1.50 per unit). For a complete line-by-line cost model, read our cost drivers guide.
Sample-to-bulk timeline for a 50-piece order
Here is the realistic calendar from first contact to shipping your first 50 pieces:
You send us your design spec (tech pack, yarn preference, target price). We reply within 24 hours with yarn recommendation and indicative quote.
7–10 working days to produce the first sample. Flat sampling fee $80–$150 depending on yarn tier. Read our tech pack guide to avoid revision rounds.
Usually 1 revision round plus a pre-production (PP) sample for final approval. Most orders reach PP approval by Day 18.
18–25 working days depending on yarn availability and knit complexity. Your 50 pieces run on the same line as our larger orders — same quality, same QC.
Sea freight to US/EU typically 18–25 days. For Amazon FBA prep, we can pre-label and polybag per your requirements before shipment.
Products we regularly run at 50 MOQ
Our current 50-piece MOQ applies across every category we produce. Some of the most frequently ordered styles at this minimum:
See the factory: 150+ styles in active production
Our Dalang facility runs across three production floors — 120+ skilled workers, 40+ flat knitting machines from 3G to 14G, plus linking, steaming, and packing. Here is a walk-through of our fifth-floor showroom:
Our 5th-floor showroom — 150+ styles currently in production across brand clients in 30+ countries.
Get a 50-piece quote within 24 hours
Send us your tech pack (or a reference photo + spec list), colour count, and target retail price. We will reply within 24 hours with yarn recommendation, gauge spec, and indicative quote for a 50-piece order.