1. Are You a Factory or a Trading Company?

This is the first question, and it changes everything.

• Factory (direct): You deal with the people who actually cut and sew. Better pricing, direct communication on quality issues, faster problem-solving.
• Trading company: They act as middleman between you and a factory. More expensive (they add margin), but sometimes useful if you need access to multiple factories or lack sourcing experience.

Red flag: A "factory" that won't let you visit, won't show you the production floor, or can't name the machines they use.

2. What Categories and Fabrics Do You Specialize In?

A factory that excels at heavy denim is not who you want for silk blouses. Ask specifically:

• Knit vs. woven — which do they run more of?
• Do they handle delicate fabrics (silk, chiffon, lace)?
• What's their experience with your category (activewear, womenswear, outerwear)?

What to look for: A factory that says "we do 70% women's woven" is more honest — and more capable — than one claiming "we make everything."

3. What Is Your Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ)?

MOQ isn't just a number — it's a reflection of how the factory sources fabric and plans production.

• Typical ranges: 50–100 pcs/style (small factory), 200–500 pcs/style (mid-size), 1,000+ (large scale)
• Ask if MOQ is per color, per size, or total
• Ask if they allow mixing colors/sizes within one style
• Ask if they can do a "first run" at lower quantity with price adjustment on reorder

Pro tip: If your first order is 30 pieces and they say 300 MOQ, ask about their "development run" policy. Some factories offer a one-time lower MOQ for new clients.

4. How Long Does Sampling Take — and What Does It Cost?

Sampling is where your design becomes real. The factory's sampling process tells you everything about their communication and capability.

• Proto sample timeline: 5–10 days is standard
• Fit sample timeline: 5–7 days
• Cost per sample: $50–$200 depending on complexity
• Is the sampling fee deductible from your first bulk order?
• How many rounds of revision are included?

Red flag: A factory that charges $30 for a proto sample of a lined jacket — they're cutting corners somewhere (probably pattern quality or fabric).

5. How Do You Source Fabrics — and Can I Use My Own?

This is critical if you care about fabric quality (and you should).

• Do they have an in-house fabric sourcing team?
• Do they work with a fixed set of mills, or can they source to spec?
• Can you send your own fabric (collect)?
• Do they charge a sourcing fee?
• Can they provide fabric swatches before you commit?

Why it matters: A factory with strong fabric sourcing (like our team in Guangzhou) saves you months of market navigation and ensures fabric quality is consistent with your brand positioning.
 

6. Can You Show Me Examples of Past Work?

Not just a catalog — actual photos of garments they produced, preferably for brands similar to yours.

• Ask for photos of bulk production (not just samples)
• Ask for references from existing clients (brands you can discreetly check)
• Ask if they've worked with brands in your target market (US, EU, AU)
• Look for consistency: same quality level across different styles

Red flag: Stock photos, heavily filtered images, or refusal to show anything "due to NDAs" (some NDAs are real, but if they can't show a single garment, be cautious).

7. What Is Your Quality Control Process?

A professional factory has QC built into every stage, not just a final inspection.

• Fabric inspection before cutting (4-point system?)
• In-line inspection during sewing (how often? every 10%? 20%?)
• Final inspection standard (AQL 2.5 is industry norm)
• Who does the inspection — factory QC or third-party?
• What happens if goods fail inspection?

Pro tip: Ask if they'll let you (or a third-party inspector) attend the final inspection. A confident factory says yes.

8. What Are Your Payment Terms?

Payment terms reveal a lot about a factory's cash flow and trust level.

• Standard: 30% deposit, 70% before shipment
• Some offer 50/50 or even net-30 for established clients
• Never pay 100% upfront to a new factory
• Ask about letter of credit (L/C) for large orders
• Ask about milestone payments (deposit → PP sample approved → balance)

Red flag: Demanding 100% upfront, or refusing any deposit/balance structure.

9. What Happens When Something Goes Wrong?

Murphy's Law applies to garment production. Fabric delays, color mismatches, stitching errors — they happen. The question is how the factory handles them.

• Do they have a written policy for defects?
• Who pays if fabric is cut incorrectly?
• What's the process for claiming quality issues after delivery?
• Do they offer replacement or credit?

What to look for: A factory that acknowledges problems happen and has a clear protocol — not one that promises "it will never happen."

10. Who Will Be My Day-to-Day Contact?

You're not dealing with a building — you're dealing with a person. That person's responsiveness determines your entire experience.

• Who is your dedicated contact? (not "our team")
• What language do they communicate in? (English fluency matters)
• Response time expectation (24 hours? 48 hours?)
• How are updates communicated — email, WeChat, project management tool?
• What happens when your contact is on leave?

Pro tip: Test responsiveness before you order. Send a detailed question and see how long it takes to get a thorough answer.

Your Next Step

Print this list. Keep it open when you're on calls with factories. If a factory can't answer these 10 questions clearly and confidently, keep looking.

At Sesiy, we're transparent about every one of these points. Here's the short version:

• We are a direct manufacturer with in-house pattern room and sampling team
• Specializing in women's wear and resort wear (woven & knit)
• MOQ from 5 pcs/style, mix colors and sizes
• Sampling: 5–7 days, fees deductible from first bulk order
• Fabric sourcing in Guangzhou — we handle it or you send your own
• AQL 2.5 final inspection, in-line QC at every stage
• Payment: 30% deposit, 70% before shipment
• Dedicated English-speaking account manager