Ordering Custom Clothing from China: Your Questions Answered
Real answers from a team with 15 years in garment production. We put this page together from actual conversations with clients placing their first orders and those who’ve been working with us for years. If your question isn’t here, the inquiry form at the bottom goes straight to us.
Getting Started
What does Goodley Garments do?
We’re a custom menswear manufacturer based in Guangzhou, China. We help overseas small brands and organizations get custom clothing made, from idea to delivery, starting at just 100 pieces.
Our core categories are men’s T-shirts, polo shirts, corporate uniforms, activewear, hoodies, and streetwear basics. We also handle casual pants, shirts, light jackets, and caps when clients need a full product line.
One contact person handles your entire order from fabric sourcing to shipping. No middlemen, no translation layers.
Want to see exactly how we work? Check out our step-by-step production process.
Who are your typical clients?
Mostly small businesses and organizations ordering between 100 and 2,000 pieces at a time. That includes company teams getting custom polos and uniforms, sports clubs and gyms needing training gear, DTC brand founders launching on Shopify or Amazon, community groups and churches ordering event tees, and overseas resellers building inventory.
A lot of our clients start with zero manufacturing experience. We actually prefer it sometimes, because we can set things up properly from the beginning instead of fixing someone else’s mess.
Which markets do you mainly serve?
United States and Australia are our primary markets. Both have strong small-brand cultures and high demand for custom sportswear and team uniforms.
We also work with clients in the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia) and the UK. We ship worldwide, so geography isn’t really a limiting factor. Time zone differences are manageable because most communication happens async over email and WhatsApp anyway.
Where is your factory?
Our office and production are both in Guangzhou, one of China’s largest garment export cities. We’re close to the Zhongda fabric market (the biggest in the country), plus printing, embroidery, and accessory suppliers are all within a short drive. That density matters because it means faster fabric sourcing, easier sample revisions, and fewer logistics headaches between different stages of production.
How can I verify that Goodley is a legitimate company?
Search “广州古德利服饰有限公司” on tianyancha.com or qcc.com (both are official Chinese business registries). You’ll see our registration date (2018), registered capital, legal representative, and business scope.
MOQ and Pricing
What is your minimum order quantity?
For fully custom cut-and-sew orders (new pattern, your fabric choice, your design), the MOQ is 100 pieces per style per color.
If you don’t need 100 pieces but still want branded products, we have another option: pick from our existing garment styles and add your logo (printed or embroidered), woven labels, and hang tags. No minimum quantity for this type of customization.
Why is the MOQ 100 pieces and not lower?
For fully custom cut-and-sew orders (new pattern, your fabric choice, your design), the MOQ is 100 pieces per style per color.
If you don’t need 100 pieces but still want branded products, we have another option: pick from our existing garment styles and add your logo (printed or embroidered), woven labels, and hang tags. No minimum quantity for this type of customization.
| Order Type | MOQ |
|---|---|
| Custom cut-and-sew (new design) | 100 pcs / style / color |
| Existing style + your branding | No minimum |
| Existing style, new color/label | 100 pcs / style / color |
How much does custom clothing cost?
| Quantity | Unit Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| 100 pieces | $10 to $14 |
| 300 pieces | $8 to $11 |
| 500+ pieces | $7 to $9 |
Your actual quote depends on fabric weight and composition, decoration method (screen print vs embroidery vs DTG), number of print locations and colors, packaging specs, and labeling.
We send detailed Proforma Invoices with line-by-line breakdowns so you can compare apples to apples. If another supplier gives you a $4.50 quote for the same hoodie, ask what fabric weight and print method they’re using. The answer will explain the difference.
What are your payment terms?
50% deposit to start production, 50% balance before shipping. Standard for this industry.
Samples are paid separately (fee includes international courier shipping). Once your bulk order hits a certain quantity, we refund the sample fee.
Products and Customization
What types of clothing do you make?
Men’s apparel. That’s our lane and we stay in it. The three categories we do best:
T-shirts, polo shirts, and corporate/team uniforms (custom printed or embroidered tees, company polos, staff uniforms, event shirts, restaurant and hotel uniforms)
Activewear (gym shorts, training tees, compression wear, joggers, zip-up hoodies)
Hoodies and streetwear basics (pullover hoodies, zip hoodies, graphic hoodies, crewneck sweatshirts, matching sets)
We also produce casual pants, casual shirts, light jackets, and caps as extensions when clients need a complete product line.
What can be customized?
Pretty much everything. Fabric (composition, weight, stretch, hand feel), color (Pantone matching), pattern (new designs from your tech pack or reference sample), sizing (custom size charts, S through 5XL standard, larger or longer cuts if your market needs it), logo and branding (screen print, DTG, heat transfer, embroidery, woven labels, hang tags), and packaging (individual polybags, custom boxes, tissue paper).
What printing and embroidery methods do you offer?
Screen printing (water-based and plastisol). Best for bold, flat-color designs. Our craft brewery client specifically asked for water-based ink because they didn’t want that rubbery plastisol feel on their hoodies.
DTG (direct to garment). Full-color, photo-quality prints. Good for complex graphics with lots of colors. Works best on cotton.
Heat transfer. Clean edges, works on synthetic and blended fabrics. We used this for a UK dance school’s activewear line because the UPF50+ fabric didn’t take screen print well.
Embroidery. Flat embroidery, 3D puff embroidery, and appliqué. Best for logos on polos, caps, and chest areas.
What sizes do you offer?
Standard range is S through 5XL. We can adjust the size chart to match your target market. One of our US clients uses Russell Athletic sizing as their baseline, which runs bigger than typical Asian cuts. We graded their pattern accordingly.
Youth and children’s sizes (120 to 150) are also doable for sports teams and schools that need both adult and junior sizes in the same order.
Production Process
What’s the process for placing a custom order?
Step 1: Send us your requirements
Product type, reference images or tech pack, quantity, target price, fabric preferences, print/embroidery details, and your deadline. Email or WhatsApp. We reply within 24 hours with initial pricing and feasibility.
Step 2: Confirm the quotation
We send a Proforma Invoice covering fabric specs, unit price, MOQ, sample fee and timeline, production timeline, packaging, payment terms (50/50), and trade terms (FOB/CIF/DDP).
Step 3: Sampling
After sample payment, we make a pre-production sample in 5 to 7 working days and ship it to you by international courier. Courier fee is included in the sample fee.
Step 4: Sample approval
You check it, send feedback. Minor tweaks go straight into bulk. Major changes mean a second sample (another 5 to 7 days).
Step 5: Bulk production
Once you approve the sample and pay the 50% deposit, production starts. Under 1,000 pieces: 10 to 15 working days. 1,000 to 5,000 pieces: 15 to 20 working days.
Step 6: Shipping
Pay the remaining balance, we ship. International courier (DHL/FedEx/UPS) arrives in 3 to 7 days. Air freight: 5 to 10 days. Sea freight: 15 to 35 days.
How long does the whole process take?
For a 100-piece order shipped by international courier: roughly 32 to 36 days total. That breaks down to sampling (7 days) + courier to you (5 days) + your approval (3 to 7 days) + bulk production (12 days) + courier delivery (5 days).
Air freight adds about 5 days. Sea freight adds about 20 to 25 days.
What affects lead time?
Six things. Fabric availability (stock fabric ships in 1 to 3 days, special orders take 7 to 15 days). Print complexity (all-over prints or multi-color screen print add 2 to 5 days). Number of SKUs (3 sizes in 1 color is way simpler than 6 sizes in 4 colors). Factory peak season (March through May and September through November can stretch timelines 30 to 50%). Sample revision rounds (each round adds at least 7 to 10 days). And your own confirmation speed, which is the one thing we can’t control.
We give you a clear production schedule with milestone dates in the quote stage. If there’s a delay risk, we flag it immediately.
Can production be rushed?
Samples can be rushed to 3 to 5 days (30 to 50% rush fee). Bulk production for under 1,000 pieces can sometimes be pushed to 7 to 10 days. Larger orders have limited rush flexibility.
The honest answer: it depends on our current production schedule. Tell us your deadline in the first email and we’ll tell you straight away if it’s realistic.
Samples
Do I need to pay for samples?
Yes. The fee varies by style complexity and includes international courier shipping to you. If your bulk order reaches a certain quantity, we refund the sample fee.
We always recommend approving a physical sample before bulk. When it arrives, check the fabric weight (a kitchen scale works fine), turn it inside out to inspect stitching, wash the print or embroidery three times to test durability, and measure it against your specs. Tolerance should be within plus or minus 1cm on major measurements.
Quality Control
How do you handle quality control?
Checks happen throughout production, not as a separate step bolted on at the end. Our team inspects during cutting, during sewing, and before packing. We photograph finished goods before shipping so you see exactly what’s leaving the factory.
For one of our US basketball team clients, we caught a logo sizing discrepancy during production and corrected it before the client even knew about it. That’s what happens when QC is part of the workflow rather than an afterthought. Read more about this project and others in our case studies.
If you want independent third-party inspection (SGS, Intertek, or similar), we can arrange that. The inspection fee is separate.
What if there are quality problems with my order?
We address it. If defects are found during our internal QC, we fix or replace before shipping at no extra cost. If you find issues after delivery, send us photos and measurements, and we’ll propose a resolution within 24 hours. That might be a partial remake, a discount on the affected pieces, or a credit toward your next order.
We document every issue internally and trace it back to the production stage where it happened. The goal is to make sure it doesn’t repeat.
Shipping and Logistics
What shipping methods do you offer?
International courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS): 3 to 7 days. Best for orders under 300kg. This is what most of our clients choose.
Air freight: 5 to 10 days. Suits mid-size shipments.
Sea freight: 15 to 35 days. Best for large orders when you’re not racing a deadline.
What trade terms do you support?
FOB Guangzhou/Shenzhen (you arrange shipping from the port), CIF (we arrange shipping, you handle import customs), and DDP (we handle everything door to door, including duties).
For first-time clients, we usually recommend starting with international courier on FOB terms. It’s the simplest setup and you get tracking visibility the whole way.
Communication
What language do you work in?
English and Chinese. One contact person handles your order from start to finish, speaking your language directly. No translators, no messages getting garbled in the middle.
How fast do you respond?
Within 24 hours, usually faster. We work Monday through Saturday, 9:00 to 18:00 GMT+8. Email, WhatsApp, and WeChat all go to the same person, so you won’t get bounced between departments.
Certifications
What certifications does Goodley have?
Business registration with the Guangzhou Administration for Market Regulation and full import/export licensing. Both publicly verifiable.
For fabric certifications: we source OEKO-TEX certified fabrics when your project requires it (the certification is held by the fabric mill). If you need SGS or Intertek testing reports on finished products, we arrange that per order at additional cost.
ISO 9001, BSCI, and GOTS are on our roadmap as the business scales. We won’t claim credentials we haven’t earned.
Do I need certifications to import clothing into my country?
Depends on the market. US: textile labeling compliance (FTC rules) and care labeling are required. If you’re selling children’s products, CPSIA applies. Australia: labeling per AS/NZS 1957, and you can take advantage of 0% tariff under ChAFTA. UAE/Saudi Arabia: some products need SASO certification, but enforcement for men’s apparel is relatively relaxed. EU/UK: REACH compliance is mandatory, and brand clients may require BSCI or GOTS.
We can help you figure out which ones apply to your specific situation. Just tell us where you’re selling.
Working with Us
Do you work with repeat clients?
A lot of our clients start with zero manufacturing experience. We actually prefer it sometimes, because we can set things up properly from the beginning.
We walked a UK dance school through their entire first order: children’s activewear with UPF50+ fabric, custom sizing (120 to 150), heat transfer logos, and woven labels. They went from initial inquiry to delivered product in under two months, right before the school term started. See how we helped this dance school and other clients deliver on tight deadlines.
Start with your smallest viable order, test the whole process, then scale up.
How do I get started?
Send us an email or WhatsApp message with what you need: product type, quantity, any reference images or tech packs, your target price if you have one, and your timeline. That’s enough for us to give you an initial quote and tell you what’s feasible.
Drop us a message through our contact form or email jessie@gzgoodley.com directly. We respond within 24 hours.
Quick Reference
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✉ jessie@gzgoodley.com · Replies within 24 hours · English and Chinese