MOQ & Order Tiers Guide: From 50-Piece Trials to 3,000+ Production Runs
How order quantities work across custom bag categories
We work with brands at every stage — from a first 50-piece trial to production runs in the thousands. This page explains how order tiers work across our bag categories, why the minimum varies by product type, and how to plan an order that fits where your brand actually is right now.
The tier structure
| Tier | What it's for |
|---|---|
| 50 pcs | Trial run — validate a product before committing |
| 100 pcs | Small launch, event or pilot batch |
| 300 pcs | Established reorder for a growing brand |
| 500 pcs | Volume where deeper customization becomes viable |
| 1,000 pcs | Full production run, better terms |
| 3,000+ pcs | Scaled production, best per-unit efficiency |
Final MOQ depends on category, style, fabric and logo method. Anna will confirm the exact figure in your quotation.
MOQ varies by category — here's why
Not every bag has the same entry point, because not every bag takes the same work to set up.
Simpler constructions start lower. A slim waist bag or a basic drawstring bag has fewer panels, fewer components and a simpler pattern. Setup is lighter, so the viable minimum is lower.
Structured bags sit higher. A laptop backpack has padded compartments, multiple pockets, reinforced panels, structured foam, and often a dozen or more separate components. Each one is part of the setup, so the economics need more units.
Specialist constructions higher still. Anything with unusual hardware, technical fabric, or a construction we'd need to pattern from scratch carries a higher entry point on the first run.
As a rough guide across our categories:
- Waist bags, chest bags, drawstring bags → lowest entry tiers
- Crossbody bags, sling bags, gym bags → low to mid
- Backpacks, laptop backpacks, mommy bags → mid, rising with structure and features
- Fully custom patterns in any category → higher on the first run, lower on reorder once the pattern exists
The single most useful thing you can do is ask for the MOQ for your specific product, not a generic number.
What raises the minimum within a category
Beyond the product type itself, these are the levers:
- Custom colorways — dyeing a batch of fabric has its own minimum
- Pantone-matched dyeing — a dedicated dye run, higher again
- Woven labels, custom zipper pulls, metal badges — separately produced components, each with its own setup
- Custom packaging — carries a minimum on the packaging side
- A fully custom pattern — new pattern development on run one
None of these are barriers — they're just choices with a volume implication. Knowing which ones matter to your brand helps you spend your first order budget where it counts.
Scaling: how brands actually grow with us
The pattern we see repeatedly across long-term customers:
Run one — prove it. Start at or near an entry tier with a simple spec. Stock fabric, stock or near-stock color, printed logo. The goal is learning whether the product sells, not perfecting every detail.
Run two — refine it. Reorder with the adjustments you learned from run one: a color change, a strap tweak, an added pocket. This is also where a woven label or a contrast detail starts making the bag feel like yours.
Run three and beyond — own it. At several hundred to a thousand-plus units, deeper customization opens up: custom hardware, Pantone dyeing, bespoke packaging. Terms improve, and the product becomes unmistakably your brand.
One of our long-running customers began with a 300-piece order years ago and now orders in the thousands annually with everything customized — zipper pulls, webbing, hangtags, wash labels, packaging. That path took years, and it started small.
What it costs
We quote per project rather than publishing prices, because the same category covers very different products. The variables that move cost:
Quantity (the biggest lever) · Fabric and denier · Construction complexity — panels, pockets, padding, reinforcement · Hardware — zippers, buckles, hooks · Branding method · Color — stock vs Pantone · Packaging · Lead time
Send your spec and target quantity and we'll quote it accurately for your exact product.
Sampling and lead time
Sampling runs 7–15 days; bulk production 15–30 days after the sample and order details are approved. Sample fees are refundable on orders of 1,000+, negotiable between 500–1,000.
We also provide a free logo mockup before sampling, so you can check placement and scale at no cost.
FAQ
What is your minimum order quantity? Orders start from 50 pcs for straightforward products in stock fabric and colors. The exact minimum depends on the category, style, fabric and logo method — a simple waist bag starts lower than a structured laptop backpack. Ask for the figure tied to your specific product.
Why is the MOQ higher for backpacks than for waist bags? Backpacks have far more components — padded compartments, multiple pockets, structured panels, more hardware — and each is part of the production setup. More setup means more units are needed for the run to make sense.
Can I mix styles to reach the minimum? Minimums generally apply per style, because each style is its own production setup. If you're planning multiple styles, send the full list and we'll advise on the most practical way to structure the order.
Do I get better pricing at higher quantities? Yes. Fixed setup costs spread over more units, so per-unit cost improves as you move up the tiers, and deeper customization becomes viable.
Can I start small and scale later? That's the normal path, and the one we'd recommend. Prove the product with a trial run, reorder what sells, and scale from there. We support the whole range from 50-piece trials to 3,000+ production runs.
Do you publish price lists? No — we quote per project. The same category covers very different products, so a list price would be misleading. Send your spec and quantity for an accurate quote.
Planning your first order? Send the bag category, target quantity and logo method, and we'll come back with MOQ, sampling terms and lead time for your exact product.