Sourcing guide
How to Source Clothing from Bangladesh
Sourcing clothing from Bangladesh takes six stages: send a tech pack to a supplier, receive a quotation, approve a physical sample, place the bulk order, monitor quality during production, and inspect before shipment. From first enquiry to goods on the water is typically 90–120 days for a first order, and 60–80 days for repeat orders once your patterns and fits are established.
Below is each stage in detail, including what you need to prepare, what can go wrong, and what it costs.
Assemble a flat sketch, measurement chart, fabric spec, trims and colourways — or send a reference garment instead.
Ask for FOB pricing broken down into fabric, trim, CM and margin. We quote within 48 hours.
Two or three rounds: development, fit, then the pre-production sample the bulk is judged against.
Place the Order and Agree Terms
Settle price, delivery date, Incoterm and payment terms in writing before production starts.
Quality Control During Production
Pre-production meeting, inline at 20%, midline at 50–60%, and final inspection to AQL 2.5.
Inspection, Shipment and Documents
Packing, booking, and the full export documentation set. Sea freight runs 20–30 days.
Step 1
Prepare Your Tech Pack
A tech pack is the specification document a factory works from. Without one, any quote you receive is a guess.
At minimum it should contain:
- A flat sketch of the garment
- Measurement chart with tolerances
- Fabric composition and weight (GSM)
- Trim and accessory details
- Colourways with Pantone references
- Label and packaging instructions
If you do not have a tech pack, send a physical reference sample instead. We can reverse-engineer a spec from a garment you already own, which is often faster and more accurate for a first order.
See which factories we would match it toStep 2
Get a Quotation
Ask for FOB pricing, and ask for it broken down. A quote that is a single number tells you nothing about whether the price is fair or whether it will hold.
A proper breakdown separates fabric cost, trim cost, CM (cut and make) charge, and margin.
Give the supplier three things when you ask: the quantity, the target price you have in mind, and your delivery deadline. Buyers often withhold the target price believing it weakens their position. It does the opposite — it lets the supplier tell you immediately whether it is achievable, instead of quoting high and negotiating for three weeks.
Step 3
Approve a Sample
Never place a bulk order from a photograph. The sampling stage exists to catch fit, fabric hand-feel and construction problems while they cost nothing to fix.
Expect two or three sample rounds:
- Development sampleConfirms the pattern.
- Fit sampleConfirms grading across sizes.
- Pre-production sampleThe one you approve, and against which the bulk is judged.
Sampling takes 10–14 days per round, plus 3–5 days international courier.
Sample charges are normal and usually refunded against the bulk order. A supplier offering free samples with no order commitment is either subsidising them from the bulk price or not making them properly.
Step 4
Place the Order and Agree Terms
Settle four things in writing before production starts: the final FOB price, the delivery date, the Incoterm, and the payment terms.
For Bangladesh, the standard payment structure is either an irrevocable letter of credit at sight, or a telegraphic transfer with 30% deposit and 70% against shipping documents. First-time buyers are usually offered TT; LC becomes practical once order values justify the bank charges.
FOB is the normal Incoterm here, meaning the price covers goods loaded onto the vessel at Chittagong. Freight, insurance and import duty at your end are yours.
Step 5
Quality Control During Production
This is the stage most first-time importers skip, and it is the stage that determines whether the shipment is usable.
Final inspection alone is too late — by the time goods are finished, a fabric or fit problem affects the entire order.
Pre-production meeting
Confirm the approved sample, fabric and trims with the factory before cutting.
Inline inspection at 20% completion
Catches construction faults while only a fraction of the order is affected.
Midline inspection at 50–60%
Confirms measurement consistency across the run.
Final random inspection to AQL 2.5
Statistical sampling of the finished, packed order.
We run all four stages as standard and send photographic reports at each one.
Step 6
Inspection, Shipment and Documents
After final inspection passes, goods are packed, the shipment is booked, and export documentation is prepared.
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of origin
- Any buyer-specific compliance certificates
Sea freight to the US East Coast or Northern Europe runs 20–30 days from Chittagong. Air freight is 5–7 days at roughly 8–10× the cost, and is normally used only to recover a missed deadline.
Indicative pricing
What It Costs
Indicative FOB ranges for our main woven categories at 1,000 pieces.
Prices vary with fabric, quantity and finish — these are indicative ranges, not quotations.
Learn from other buyers
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Five errors that account for most failed first orders out of Bangladesh.
- Ordering bulk without an approved pre-production sample
- Choosing a supplier on price alone without checking audit status
- Leaving quality control until final inspection
- Not confirming fabric availability before agreeing a delivery date
- Assuming the quoted lead time includes shipping — it does not
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
A first order typically takes 90–120 days end to end: 10–14 days sampling per round, 45–60 days production, and 20–30 days sea freight. Repeat orders run 60–80 days because sampling is shorter.
Not necessarily. A physical reference sample works, and so does a detailed sketch with measurements. But a quote given without either is an estimate, and it will change once real specifications arrive.
Either an irrevocable letter of credit at sight, or telegraphic transfer with a 30% advance and 70% against shipping documents. First-time buyers are generally offered TT terms.
Yes, and we arrange it for buyers travelling to Dhaka. If you cannot travel, we provide video walkthroughs and photographic audit reports of the production unit.
Our MOQ starts at 1,000 pieces per style per colour, with some styles available at 500.
Start at step one.
Send your tech pack or reference sample, and we will quote within 48 hours.