Fitness Apparel Supplier for D2C Brands: Sourcing & Reorder Guide

# Fitness Apparel Supplier for D2C Brands: Sourcing, Price Breaks & Reorder Planning You’ve spent weeks refining your brand identity, choosing Pantone colors, and testing fabric feel on a single sample. Now you need to place your first order. But you’re a D2C brand founder, not a sourcing veteran. The questions pile up: *What’s the landed cost per unit at 100 pieces versus 500? How long does sampling actually take? And if I sell out in two weeks, can I reorder without starting from scratch?* That’s exactly why we built Alpinario’s workflow around D2C realities. We’re a 20+ year Zhejiang factory — not a trading company — so every number I share below comes from our own floor, our own QC team, and dozens of brand launches from zero to repeat orders. --- ## Sourcing workflow Our sourcing workflow is designed to remove guesswork. Here’s the exact step sequence we follow with every D2C client, from first email to FBA delivery. **Step 1 – Inquiry & design submission** Send us a photo, sketch, or reference garment. Tell us the fabric you want (we work primarily with polyester, but nylon is available). Specify your Pantone color or let us match from our 200+ standard color library. We reply within 24 hours — guaranteed. **Step 2 – Sample production (3–7 days)** Once we have your design, we cut a single sample. No minimum. No sampling fee for standard styles (custom patterns may carry a small fee, but we’ll quote upfront). The sample ships in 3–7 days. For a compression shirt, we’ll send a size M with your logo embroidered or heat-pressed. **Step 3 – Sample approval** You receive the sample, test fit, stretch, and wash. If you want changes — different neckline, tighter waistband, higher GSM — we revise and send a second sample. Typically one round does it. **Step 4 – Bulk order & production** After sample approval, we build your order. For a medium-sized run of 300 pieces, lead time is 4–6 weeks. That includes fabric cutting, sewing, label attachment, and pre-shipment inspection. We can also apply FBA labels directly in our warehouse — no third-party repackaging needed. **Step 5 – Shipment** We ship via sea (30–40 days), air (7–10 days), or express (3–5 days). For FBA, we book the freight and send to the Amazon warehouse of your choice. Here’s a visual summary: | Step | What happens | Time | |------|--------------|------| | 1. Inquiry & design | You send artwork, Pantone, specs | 24-hour reply | | 2. Sample production | We cut & sew 1 piece | 3–7 days | | 3. Sample approval | You review, request changes | 1–3 days | | 4. Bulk production | 300 pcs (medium order) | 4–6 weeks | | 5. Shipment | Sea/air/express to your door | 3–40 days | We also offer [custom sportswear](/custom-sportswear) with full traceability — every batch has a QC report you can request. --- ## Price breaks D2C brands need to know unit cost at different quantities before committing to a first order. Our price breaks are transparent and factory-direct. Below is a typical pricing ladder for a 160 GSM polyester fitness tee (short sleeve, unisex, with your logo on chest). | Order quantity | Unit price (USD) | MOQ per style | |----------------|------------------|---------------| | 1–50 pcs | $12.50 | 1 pc | | 51–200 pcs | $9.80 | 1 pc | | 201–500 pcs | $7.20 | 1 pc | | 501–1,000 pcs | $5.90 | 1 pc | | 1,000+ pcs | $4.50 | 1 pc | *Prices are FOB Shanghai. Add ~$0.50–$1.00 for embroidered logos vs. heat transfer. Add $0.30 for hang tags with barcode.* Notice the MOQ column: **1 piece**. That’s not a typo. You can order 50 units to test a market, then reorder 500 at the lower price. No minimums, no forced first-run of 500 pieces. For compression leggings (220 GSM, nylon-spandex blend), the price ladder shifts up by about $2.00 per unit at each tier. For a lightweight running singlet (140 GSM), subtract $1.50. We can print a custom quote for your exact spec — just ask. Our [wholesale sportswear](/wholesale-sportswear) page gives more examples, but the key takeaway: **you control the batch size**. You’re not locked into a minimum that eats your cash flow. --- ## Private label at supplier tier “Private label” often means you pay a premium for small runs. Not with us. Because we are the factory, we can private label at any tier — from a single sample to a container. Here’s what we include in private label for D2C brands: - **Custom labels**: woven neck labels, satin care labels, hang tags, heat-transfer brand logos. We can do all three methods (embroidery, screen print, heat press) in-house. - **Custom packaging**: poly bags with your logo, tissue paper, or even small boxes (for subscription boxes or gift sets). - **FBA-ready**: we apply Amazon barcode labels, poly bag warnings, and ship directly to Amazon fulfillment centers. - **Fabric & color match**: you choose the GSM (120–300), the blend (100% polyester, polyester-nylon, polyester-spandex), and the Pantone. We match to within 1–2 delta E. Our [private label activewear](/private-label-activewear) service is used by gyms, online boutiques, and Amazon sellers who want their own brand without manufacturing headaches. We’ve done runs as small as 30 units for a yoga studio’s in-house line, and as large as 5,000 units for a national retailer. Because we’re not a middleman, your unit price stays low even at 100 pcs. And you own the design — we never resell your styles. --- ## Reorder planning The biggest operational mistake D2C brands make is treating reorders like first orders. You don’t need to re-sample. You don’t need to renegotiate every time. Here’s our reorder framework: **Lead time consistency** Once we have the approved sample on file, repeat orders take **4–6 weeks** from payment confirmation, same as the first bulk run. Fabric is always sourced from the same mills (we have long-term contracts), so color and hand feel are identical. **Minimum reorder quantity** You can reorder as few as 1 piece — but the price will be at the 1–50 tier. If you need 100 units, you get the 51–200 tier. No reorder fee, no new setup cost. **Inventory planning rule of thumb** If you sell 50 units per week, and lead time is 6 weeks, you need to reorder when your stock hits **300 units** (6 weeks × 50). That gives you a buffer. We’ve seen too many D2C brands run out and then scramble for air freight, which kills margins. Our advice: place your first reorder when you still have 2 months of stock left. **Batch stacking** You can combine multiple styles in one order to hit a higher quantity tier. For example, you order 200 leggings, 150 sports bras, and 150 tanks — total 500 units — you get the 501–1,000 price for all three. This is a common strategy for new brands. **FBA replenishment** If you sell on Amazon, we can set up a scheduled reorder: every 8 weeks, we ship the same quantity to your FBA warehouse. We handle labeling, palletization, and customs paperwork. No extra charge for the coordination. We also offer a [low MOQ sportswear](/low-moq-sportswear) program for brands that want to test new styles without committing to large volumes. --- ## FAQ **What is the MOQ?** Our MOQ is **1 piece**. You can order a single sample or a single bulk unit. For bulk pricing, the tier starts at 1–50 pieces. We have no minimum order quantity for any style or color. **What is the sampling timeline?** Sample production takes **3–7 days** from design approval. We ship via express (DHL, FedEx, UPS) so you receive it in 3–5 days. If you need a revised sample, that takes another 2–4 days. For a typical brand, the entire sampling process (first sample + approval + second sample if needed) takes about 10–14 days. **Can I get a custom logo on a single sample?** Yes. We can stitch a logo on a single sample for an additional $5–$10, depending on complexity. That way you can showcase the final product to investors or test on social media. **Do you ship to Amazon FBA?** Yes. We apply FBA labels, poly bag warnings, and ship to any Amazon warehouse in the US, EU, or UK. We also handle the customs clearance for FBA shipments. **What payment terms do you offer?** For first orders, we require 50% deposit, 50% before shipment. For repeat orders, we can offer 30% deposit, 70% before shipment. We accept bank transfer, PayPal, and Alibaba Trade Assurance. --- **Ready to start your first order?** We’ll send you a quote within 24 hours, including unit price at your volume, sample cost, and shipping estimate. No pressure, no minimums. [Request a Quote →](mailto:support@alpinario.com)