Apparel Manufacturing Glossary & Comparisons
Plain-English answers to the terms apparel brand founders ask us about. Bookmark and share with your sourcing team. Updated as the industry evolves.
Glossary terms
What Is Cut and Sew Manufacturing?
Cut and sew is the apparel manufacturing model where a factory cuts fabric to pattern pieces and sews them into a finished garment. Inside: how it differs from print-on-demand, private label, and CMT, and when each is the right choice.
What Is GRS Certification?
GRS stands for Global Recycled Standard, the certification that verifies recycled-content claims in textiles. Inside: what it certifies, what 20 percent vs 50 percent vs 100 percent GRS means, and when brands actually need it.
What Is GSM in Fabric?
GSM stands for grams per square meter, the standard measure of fabric weight in apparel manufacturing. Inside: typical GSM by garment category and what GSM tells you about hand-feel, drape and cost.
What Is HTS Classification?
HTS is the Harmonized Tariff Schedule code that determines what duty rate applies to every apparel import. Inside: how codes are structured, why misclassification costs five-figure fines, and how to find the right code.
What Is MOQ?
MOQ is the minimum order quantity a factory will accept per style, color, or fabric run. Inside: typical apparel MOQs, how vertically integrated factories flex them, and the real cost drivers behind the floor.
What Is OEKO-TEX Certification?
OEKO-TEX is the leading global textile safety certification, testing fabric for chemical and dye residues that touch skin. Inside: what STANDARD 100 means, who needs it, and the cost of certification.
What Is Section 301?
Section 301 is the US trade tariff stack imposed on China-origin imports since 2018. Inside: what apparel categories it applies to, current rate ranges, and how it interacts with base HTS duty.
What Is UFLPA?
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act bans US import of any goods linked to Xinjiang region. Inside: how it applies to apparel, what documentation CBP requires, and how vertically integrated factories handle it.
What Is a Proto Sample?
A proto sample is the first physical garment a factory produces from a tech pack. Inside: how it differs from a fit sample and a PP sample, and what to check before approving for production.
What Is a Tech Pack?
A tech pack is the engineering blueprint a brand sends to a factory. It contains every spec needed to manufacture a garment. Inside: what to include and what gets you a 72-hour quote.
Comparisons
Apparel Sourcing Agent vs Direct Factory
A sourcing agent quotes you a factory's price plus 25 to 50 percent markup. Direct factory access removes the layer. Inside: what each model actually costs, what each one protects against, and where each one breaks.
China vs Vietnam for Apparel Manufacturing
Brands routinely consider relocating sourcing from China to Vietnam to escape Section 301 tariffs. Inside: where Vietnam wins, where China still beats Vietnam, and the post-tariff math.
Cotton vs Polyester for Apparel
Cotton and polyester sit at opposite ends of the apparel fiber spectrum. Inside: how each performs on hand-feel, durability, cost, sustainability, and care, and when each is the right choice for a brand.
FOB vs CIF vs DDP for Apparel Imports
Three Incoterms decide who pays for ocean freight, insurance, customs, and final delivery on apparel imports from China. Inside: which one protects your unit economics and which one quietly costs you 8 percent of landed cost.
Private Label vs White Label Clothing
Private label and white label both put your brand on a factory's garment, but the construction model and pricing differ. Inside: which one fits a $100K, $1M, and $10M apparel brand.
Sea Freight vs Air Freight for Apparel
Apparel imports use sea freight by default and air freight by emergency. Inside: what each costs per kilogram, when air freight actually makes financial sense, and the hybrid sea-air option most brands ignore.