Fabric MOQ, Colour Minimum and Sampling Explained
Minimum order quantities are among the first hurdles buyers meet when sourcing fabric, and from the outside they can look arbitrary. This guide explains why mills set total and per-colour minimums, how dyeing and printing methods change them, and where lab dips, strike-offs and sample yardage fit into development. It closes with practical ways to plan a colour range that meets minimums without leaving you overstocked.
Why Fabric Mills Set Minimums
A minimum is rarely about the profit on a single order. Much of the work in producing a fabric is fixed: setting up a run takes roughly the same effort whether it produces a few rolls or many. Minimums spread those fixed costs and keep quality under control.
- Knitting or weaving set-up: changing yarn, gauge or stitch settings takes machine time, and the first metres are often used for adjustment.
- Dye lots: each dyeing machine has an efficient load range; a very small lot wastes water, energy and chemicals and is harder to control for shade.
- Finishing: stenters and compactors must be set for each quality, and the waste at the start and end of a run is similar whatever the batch size.
- Print preparation: screens, colour separations and test prints must be ready before the first saleable metre is printed.
- Yarn sourcing: special yarns, such as certified organic yarns or specific blends, may carry their own minimums from the spinner.
Total Minimum vs Per-Colour Minimum
Fabric quotations often show two figures. The total minimum applies to the fabric quality as a whole and reflects the knitting or weaving set-up. The per-colour minimum applies to each shade and is usually linked to the dye lot, because every colour is dyed as a separate batch.
The two work together. Spreading an order across many colours can meet the total minimum while leaving each colour below its own threshold. For knitted fabrics, minimums are commonly expressed in kilograms; for woven fabrics, usually in metres.
Some mills accept smaller quantities against a small-lot surcharge, or by using an existing colour or base fabric. Whether this is possible depends on the quality and the process, so it is worth asking early rather than assuming.
How Dyeing and Printing Methods Affect Minimums
The colouring method has a strong influence on minimums because each method has a different set-up. The comparison below reflects typical industry practice; actual minimums vary by mill, fabric and design.
Digital printing removes screen costs, but not every minimum. The base fabric still has to be produced and prepared for print, so a minimum for the base quality usually remains, and on long runs the cost per metre is often higher than screen printing.
| Method | How it works | Main set-up | Typical effect on minimums | Often chosen for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plain dyeing | The fabric is dyed to a single shade in a dyeing machine | Lab dip and dye recipe for each shade | Minimum per colour, linked to dye lot size | Core colours, basics, trims |
| Reactive printing | Dyes bond chemically with cellulose fibres; fixed by steaming, then washed | Screens per colour, plus a strike-off | Typically higher minimums per design and colourway | Cotton prints that need a soft hand and good wash fastness |
| Pigment printing | Pigments are held on the surface by a binder and cured with heat; no wash-off | Screens per colour, plus a strike-off | Screen-related minimums, with simpler processing | Bold designs, blends, cost-sensitive runs |
| Digital printing | Inkjet heads print the design directly, using reactive or pigment inks | File preparation and colour calibration; no screens | Typically the smallest minimums per design | Many designs, short runs, detailed artwork, sampling |
Lab Dips, Strike-Offs and Sample Yardage
Sampling confirms colour, print and handle before bulk production. Each step adds time, so clear references at the start save weeks later.
Lab dips
A lab dip is a small swatch dyed to match your colour standard, such as a physical swatch or a colour-system reference. Mills usually submit a few options for each colour, and the approved dip becomes the reference for bulk. Send a physical standard where possible and agree the light source for assessment, since on-screen colours are not reliable.
Strike-offs
A strike-off is a printed sample of your design on the actual base fabric. It is used to check colours, scale, registration and hand feel before bulk printing. For digital printing, a test print plays the same role.
Sample yardage and bulk approval
Sample yardage is a length of fabric for prototypes, fit sessions and wash tests; its quantity and terms are agreed per project. When bulk is produced, its shade is checked against the approved lab dip within an agreed tolerance, and some buyers also ask for a shade band showing the variation between rolls.
How to Plan Colours to Meet Minimums
Good colour planning lets you offer variety without ordering more fabric than you can sell.
- 1Separate core and accent colours
Put most of the volume into a few core colours and add accent colours only where the quantity can meet the per-colour minimum.
- 2Use one quality across several styles
Using the same fabric for, say, bodysuits, leggings and pyjamas combines the quantity for each colour into one larger lot.
- 3Let prints carry the variety
Printing several designs on a white or ready-for-print base adds choice without multiplying dye lots, and digital printing keeps design minimums low.
- 4Carry colours across seasons
Repeating core shades from one season to the next makes reorders easier and keeps colour consistent across collections.
- 5Plan reorders with shade in mind
Separate lots of the same colour can differ slightly, so keep the approved lab dip as the reference and agree a shade tolerance for repeat orders.
- 6Share realistic volumes early
Telling the mill your expected quantity per colour at the start lets it suggest constructions, colour plans or print methods that fit.
Minimums and Sampling at DRU Textile
At DRU Textile, per-colour and total fabric minimums are confirmed with each quotation, because they depend on the fabric, composition, colour and finishing method. We produce knitted and woven fabrics in Denizli, Turkey, with plain dyeing and reactive, pigment and digital printing, so the method that best fits your quantities and design can be discussed from the start.
Every project follows a defined path: product brief, sourcing, sample, approval, production, quality control, packaging and export. Through Custom Fabric Development we sample the fabric for your approval before bulk production, and through Wholesale Roll Fabric Supply we deliver the approved specification by the roll. Sampling terms are agreed per project, and pricing is competitive and project-based, backed by more than 60 years of textile manufacturing experience and over 10 years of exports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Fabric Order with Us
Send your fabric details, colour list and expected quantity per colour, and we will confirm minimums, sampling steps and pricing in a project-based quotation.