Tech pack template
The one our team uses.
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Your first drop, step by step
Not started yet? That's fine. This page is for people who have an idea and no factory. Read it, then message us.
To start a clothing brand you need a design, a sample, a minimum order and a way to sell. With Gen-Z Fashion Apparel the minimum is 50 pieces, a sample costs $40–120, and a first drop takes about 8–10 weeks from brief to delivery.
The founder roadmap
Idea
One product, one story. Do not start with a collection. Time: as long as you need. Cost: 0.
Design
Sketch it. Collect references. Decide fit and fabric weight. Cost: 0, or $75 per style if we draw it.
Tech pack
Skip it for private label. For cut and sew, use our template or our service. Time: 5 working days.
Sample
$40–120, 7 to 15 days. Hold it. Wear it. Wash it.
MOQ and budget
Minimum 50 pieces. Use the table below to estimate.
Production
Deposit 50%, then 15 to 25 days.
Launch
Shoot the sample while bulk is in production. Pre-order if you can. Ship from your home or a 3PL.
Choose your route
| Print on demand | Private label (us) | Cut & sew (us) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 1 | 50 | 100 per style |
| Your own fit or fabric | No | No (our blanks) | Yes |
| Labels and packaging | Limited | Full | Full |
| Cost per piece | Highest | Middle | Lowest at volume |
| Sample | Order one unit | 7 days | 15 days |
| Good for | Testing a design | First drop, merch | A real label |
What a first drop roughly costs
| Pieces | Blanks + branding | Cut & sew |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $1,050 | Minimum is 100 |
| 100 | $1,905 | $2,400 |
| 250 | $4,240 | $5,250 |
Estimates from the Pricing page, hoodie as the example, one print and a woven label. Excludes shipping and duties.
Free tools
Drop planner
Back-count from your launch date.
Open the plannerFounder questions
Do I need a registered company to order?
No. We invoice individuals. You will need a company later for some marketplaces and for importing larger quantities into some countries, but not to sample or place a first order with us.
How much money do I need to start?
A sample costs $40–120. A first run of 50 branded blanks lands around $1,050 before shipping. Add photography and a basic store. Many founders pre-sell the drop to fund the balance payment.
Private label or cut and sew for my first drop?
Private label if your brand is about the artwork, the story or the community. Cut and sew if it is about the fit or the fabric. Most first drops are private label; most second drops add one cut and sew piece.
What is MOQ and why do you have one?
MOQ is minimum order quantity, the smallest run a factory can set up without losing money. Cutting, line setup and label orders cost the same whether we make 10 pieces or 100. Ours is 50, lower than most factories, because we batch small brands together.
How long until I can launch?
About 8–10 weeks from your first message to boxes at your door, for a private label order with no surprises. Cut and sew adds tech pack and pattern time. Plan the launch date from the How It Works planner, not from hope.
Will you actually talk to me if I have nothing yet?
Yes. Pick "Not started yet" on the form or send a photo of your sketch. Your account manager replies within 24 hours on working days with what it would cost and what to do next.
Still unsure? Email us. A real person answers.