Quantity planning · Switzerland
Low-MOQ Clothing Manufacturing for Swiss Brands
A smaller garment run still has to cover the right quantities, material choices, development work and delivery responsibilities. Fenalt coordinates managed apparel production with specialist partners. The right minimum depends on the product brief and supplier terms, so compare the whole order before deciding whether a proposed run fits your budget and launch plan.
Fenalt’s standard planning reference is 50 pieces per style. It is not a guarantee that every material, colour, trim or construction can be made at that quantity. Production partners and location depend on the specification, available capacity and conditions confirmed for the project. Fenalt does not own a manufacturing facility.
Set a useful quantity
Count by style, then check each component
A total unit count can hide several different commitments. List units by style, colour and size, and identify whether each material or process is stock or custom. Fabric, colour, print, embroidery, trims and packaging can have separate supplier minimums or development costs. One combined order total does not prove that quantities can be pooled to meet every minimum.
Use the 50-pieces-per-style reference to begin a conversation, then ask Fenalt to confirm feasibility against the actual product, material route and supplier conditions. The right quantity may depend on size distribution, fabric construction, dyeing, decoration and whether a later reorder can use the same specification. Do not treat an unconfirmed reorder, stock option or grouping as available.
Small batches can carry higher unit costs because development, setup and material purchasing are spread across fewer pieces. A quotation should make one-time sample or development charges visible separately from recurring unit costs. Compare that full commitment with expected demand and the amount of inventory risk the brand is willing to carry.
Compare like for like
Make the order breakdown explicit
Ask each supplier to quote the same scope and delivery basis. A low unit price is not a comparable offer if sample, materials, packing, inspection or transport assumptions differ.
| Quote input | Ask the supplier to state | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Units by style, colour and size, and every separate minimum. | Shows whether a size curve or colour split changes the quoted terms. |
| Materials and trims | Stock or custom status, material minimums, lead assumptions and trim availability. | A small garment order can still require a larger material commitment. |
| Development and approval | Sample scope, revisions, pattern or specification work and approval steps. | Separates one-time development from bulk production. |
| Quality and delivery | Inspection criteria, packing, documents, freight route and named place or port. | Makes responsibilities and total order economics easier to compare. |
Record which assumptions need confirmation before a reorder. Materials, capacity, price, timing and delivery terms can differ on a later run even when the product name is unchanged.
Prepare the brief
Separate confirmed details from open choices
A current tech pack helps keep requirements specific. If it is incomplete, send what is available and mark estimates, preferred options and unresolved decisions clearly.
- Product type, intended use, construction, fit and reference images or sample.
- Quantity by style, colour and size, plus any possible variants.
- Known fibre composition, fabric weight, colour, finishes and sourcing status.
- Drawings, measurement chart, tolerances, seams, closures, print or embroidery.
- Labels, hangtags, packaging, barcode requirements and available artwork.
- Critical measurements, appearance criteria, requested tests and inspection decision owner.
- Sample needs, desired production window, approval steps and delivery destination.
- Proposed importer, known origin information and customs representative, if appointed.
A reference photo does not establish fibre composition, performance, tolerance or construction. State important properties as checks that can be evaluated. Material, colour, finish, certification and trims are not confirmed until reviewed and agreed for the actual project.
From brief to dispatch
Agree the technical and commercial gates
Fenalt can coordinate agreed parts of overseas apparel production. Identify the buyer’s, Fenalt’s, supplier’s and importer’s responsibilities before work begins.
Brief and technical review
Share the available product files, quantities, materials and target. Confirm any pattern, grading or specification work and who approves changes.
Material and supplier checks
Check sourcing options, capacity and separate minimums for the specified product. Availability and terms require confirmation.
Sample and fit approval
Agree the sample scope and review fit, measurements, fabric, seams, hardware and finish against the written brief. Record comments and revisions.
Pre-production confirmation
Before bulk cutting, align the approved sample, current specification, responsibility list and quality plan.
Production, inspection and dispatch
Follow the agreed production and inspection scope, then confirm packing, documents, route and handover responsibilities for the order.
Fenalt’s planning references are 10–15 days for sample production, with 3–5 days for courier shipping as a separate estimate, and 15–20 days for bulk production from pre-production sample sign-off to export dispatch. These are not guaranteed arrival times. Scope, materials, approvals, revisions, capacity and shipping arrangements affect a project schedule.
Quality scope
Agree what will be checked
Fenalt’s approved inspection reference is AQL 2.5 under ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 Level II. This is a sampling and acceptance method, not a promise that every garment is inspected or that a shipment will be defect-free. Set out the inspection point, sample size, defect definitions, tolerances and acceptance criteria before production.
A quality plan may identify material checks, measurements, print or embroidery alignment, packing and requested tests. Confirm which methods apply to the order and who performs or reviews them. A named inspection standard does not by itself define every check a buyer expects.
Swiss import planning
Check the actual goods and origin in Tares
The Swiss Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS/BAZG) publishes Switzerland’s working customs tariff in Tares. A lookup uses the relevant date, origin, direction of movement and tariff number; results can include duty rates, other charges, taxes and permit or restriction information. The applicable legal texts remain authoritative, and the importer or its broker should confirm classification for the actual goods.
Switzerland’s industrial-tariff abolition took effect on 1 January 2024 and covers goods in customs tariff chapters 25–97, with exceptions for some products in chapters 35 and 38 classified as agricultural products. That defined change is not a shipment cost calculation and does not itself settle import tax, origin, declarations, restrictions or other requirements. Check current treatment against the product and origin rather than assuming a general customs outcome.
Import tax is separate from customs classification. FOCBS says imported goods are subject to import tax and publishes general rates for different categories. This page does not calculate which rate, tax base or charges apply to a particular apparel shipment. Ask the Swiss importer or a qualified customs or tax adviser to confirm current treatment.
Customs origin cannot be inferred from the brand’s address, invoice address or dispatch route. Keep product description, composition, origin evidence and invoice details consistent. Do not promise preferential treatment until the applicable rule and evidence have been checked for the goods.
Product information
Confirm labeling for the product and sale
This page does not state a complete Swiss textile-label obligation. Before labels are printed, confirm which composition, care, origin, language or other information applies to the specific garment and sales channel with a qualified Swiss adviser. Separate legal requirements from retailer specifications and keep approved label artwork aligned with confirmed material information.
Use certificates, environmental claims and performance statements only when current evidence supports the exact wording. A supplier document or sample label alone does not establish that every requirement for a particular product and sale has been met.
Commercial delivery
Name the place and allocate responsibilities
Fenalt’s approved planning references are DAP (Delivered at Place) for small-batch courier shipments and FOB Chattogram for bulk sea freight. Production origin, destination, shipment size, route and agreed Incoterm affect practical arrangements. The quotation should name the delivery place or port, included transport legs, import-clearance roles and responsibility for applicable charges. Do not assume a DAP quotation includes Swiss import tax or other import costs.
For a Swiss shipment, the buyer and customs representative should confirm the goods description, quantities, origin and classification information used in commercial documents. No route, transit duration or total landed cost is promised here.
Common questions
Before confirming a small run
Does 50 pieces per style apply to every product?
It is Fenalt’s standard planning reference, not a guarantee for every product or material combination. Confirm supplier and material minimums against the exact specification and quantity split.
Does AQL 2.5 mean every garment is checked?
No. AQL 2.5 is a sampling and acceptance reference. Agree the inspection scope, sample size, defect criteria and corrective-action process for the order.
Can I calculate Swiss import charges from this page?
No. Classification, origin, goods details, current rates, import tax and declaration roles must be checked for the shipment. Use Tares and confirm the case with the importer or a qualified adviser.
What should I send for an initial review?
Send the product brief or tech pack, quantity by style, colour and size, known material details, sample and quality needs, target timing and delivery destination. Mark estimates and open decisions.
Next step
Scope a small-run discussion
Share your product brief, quantities by style and delivery destination. Fenalt can review the scope and identify supplier, quality and import decisions to confirm before a quotation or production plan.
Start a project briefOfficial Swiss sources for further checks
- FOCBS: Tares customs tariff
- FOCBS: Abolition of industrial tariffs
- FOCBS: Import tax and VAT
- FOCBS: Importation checklist
These are starting points for current checks, not a determination for a specific product, importer or transaction.