Gym Apparel Supplier for D2C Brands: Workflow, Pricing & Reorder Planning

# Gym Apparel Supplier for D2C Brands: Sourcing Workflow, Price Breaks & Reorder Planning You’re a D2C brand founder. You’ve designed a gym tank top, have a Shopify store ready, and need 300 units with your logo on the label. The first question that keeps you up at night: “How do I choose a **gym apparel supplier for d2c brands** without blowing my budget on MOQ or losing weeks on sampling?” We hear that exact worry every week. On our factory floor in Zhejiang, we’ve been turning sketches into shipments for 20+ years. We’re not a trading company—we own the machines, the QC team, and the cutting tables. That means we can give you straight answers on sourcing workflow, price breaks, and reorder planning. No fluff, no hidden minimums. Let’s walk through the process step by step, with real numbers and timelines you can use to forecast your next collection. --- ## Sourcing workflow Every D2C brand hits the same wall: “I only need a small batch to test, but factories want 500+ pieces per style.” Our workflow is built around that exact problem. Here’s how it works from your first email to delivery. **Step 1 – Inquiry & design review (Day 0–1)** You send us your artwork, tech pack, or even a photo of a sample you like. We reply within 24 hours (often faster). We’ll ask for: fabric preference (polyester is our core, nylon available), garment type (compression shirt, tank, crop top, etc.), and quantity. No minimum—1 piece counts. **Step 2 – Sampling (Day 1–7)** We produce a sample for you. Timeline: 3–7 days to ship. Need a fit sample? We’ll adjust based on your size chart. Want a logo printed, embroidered, or heat-pressed? We do all three. For a typical 300-piece order, the sample is free or low-cost depending on complexity. We’ll send you photos and a video of the sample before shipping. **Step 3 – Order confirmation (Day 7–10)** You approve the sample. We send a proforma invoice with pricing, lead time, and shipping method. Payment terms: we work with bank transfer or PayPal. For first-time clients, we usually ask 50% deposit, 50% before shipment. **Step 4 – Production (Day 10–42)** For a mid-size order of 300 pieces, production takes 4–6 weeks after sample approval. Larger orders (1,000+ pieces) can be compressed to 5–6 weeks. Our cutting, sewing, and finishing lines are dedicated to custom runs. We do not batch orders with other clients—your production date is yours. **Step 5 – QC & shipment (Day 42–48)** Our QC team inspects every garment for stitching, color consistency (Pantone-matched), label placement, and packaging. We can pre-label for FBA (Amazon), attach hang tags, and pack in poly bags or boxes. Then we ship via air or sea. Typical air freight to the US takes 5–7 days; sea freight 20–30 days. **Workflow checklist** | Stage | Timeline | Key actions | |-------|----------|-------------| | Inquiry | 0–1 day | Send design, get quote | | Sample | 3–7 days | Receive physical sample | | Order | 1–2 days | Confirm, pay deposit | | Production | 4–6 weeks (300 pcs) | Fabric cutting, sewing, finishing | | QC & Ship | 2–4 days | Inspection, labeling, loading | This workflow is the same for a 1-piece sample order or a 5,000-piece bulk run. The only difference is the number of cutting tables we use. --- ## Price breaks D2C brands need to understand landed cost, not just unit price. Here’s a breakdown of our typical pricing tiers for a standard polyester gym tank top (180 GSM, flatlock seams, size S–3XL, no custom labels yet). | Order quantity | Unit price (USD) | Shipping cost per unit (air, US) | Total landed cost per unit | |----------------|------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------| | 1–50 pcs | $12.50 – $15.00 | $3.50 – $5.00 | $16.00 – $20.00 | | 51–200 pcs | $8.00 – $10.50 | $2.00 – $3.50 | $10.00 – $14.00 | | 201–500 pcs | $6.50 – $8.00 | $1.50 – $2.50 | $8.00 – $10.50 | | 501–1000 pcs | $5.50 – $6.50 | $1.00 – $1.50 | $6.50 – $8.00 | | 1000+ pcs | $4.80 – $5.50 | $0.80 – $1.20 | $5.60 – $6.70 | *Prices are indicative based on a simple design with no custom labels. Add $0.50–$1.50 per piece for logo embroidery or woven labels.* **Why the price drop at 200+ pieces?** Our fabric cutting and sewing setup time is the same for 50 pieces as for 500. The cost per minute of machine time gets spread over more units. For a D2C brand testing a new style, we recommend starting with 200–300 pieces. That gives you enough inventory to run a Facebook ad campaign, test sizes, and gather reviews—without committing to a full container. **GSM matters.** Lighter fabric (160 GSM) can reduce unit cost by $0.50–$1.00. Heavier fabric (220 GSM) adds $0.80–$1.50. We can match almost any Pantone color, and we keep a stock of common polyester blends (80% polyester / 20% spandex) to speed up production. --- ## Private label at supplier tier We’ve been a private label manufacturer for 20+ years. That means we don’t just sew a blank shirt and ship it. We build your brand into the garment from the inside out. Here’s what we cover: - **Labels & tags**: We can sew your own neck label, care label, and size label. We also print custom hang tags with your logo, UPC barcode, or sustainability message. - **Logo application**: Embroidery, screen printing, heat transfer, or silicone patches. $0.30–$1.20 per piece depending on method and size. - **Packaging**: Poly bags, poly mailers, or boxes printed with your brand. We can also do biodegradable packaging. - **FBA readiness**: We pre-label each garment with Amazon FNSKU, prep the poly bag with suffocation warnings, and ship directly to Amazon warehouses. No third-party repackaging needed. - **Fabric options**: Polyester, nylon, recycled polyester, and blends. We can source tricot, mesh, or interlock. For a D2C brand targeting premium pricing, we recommend 190 GSM recycled polyester with flatlock stitching—that’s a $7.50–$8.50 unit at 300 pieces. **Why “supplier tier” matters.** Many factories offer private label, but they require a minimum of 500–1000 pieces per style. We’ve structured our production lines to handle small runs efficiently. This is why we’re a preferred **gym apparel supplier for d2c brands** launching their first collection. You can order 1 piece to test, then scale to 300, then 2000—all within the same order system. If you want to see examples of our private label work, check out our [custom sportswear page](/custom-sportswear) for hoodies, joggers, and leggings. --- ## Reorder planning Once you’ve sold out your first 300 pieces, the hardest part is avoiding stockouts while keeping cash flow healthy. Here’s how we work with D2C brands on reorder cadence. **Lead time buffer.** Our production lead time is 4–6 weeks for orders under 500 pieces. If you’re selling 100 units a month, you need to place a reorder when you have 150–200 units left. That gives you a 4-week safety net. We recommend setting a reorder point at 60% of your initial order quantity. **Price breaks on reorders.** If you reorder the same style within 6 months, we keep the same unit price. If you increase the quantity (e.g., from 300 to 600), you’ll move to the next price tier (see table above). For recurring orders, we can also lock in a price for 12 months, as long as fabric and labor costs don’t spike. **MOQ flexibility.** We have no minimum order quantity. You can reorder 1 piece if you need to test a new color. But realistically, for a reorder of a proven style, we suggest 200–500 pieces to keep shipping costs low. For a 200-piece reorder, the unit price is around $8.00–$10.50, and air freight is $2.00–$3.50 per unit. **FBA reorder sync.** If you’re using Amazon FBA, we can set up a reorder schedule that matches your inventory velocity. We’ll notify you when you hit 90 days of stock, based on your sales data. We can also hold finished goods in our warehouse for up to 30 days at no charge, so you can consolidate shipments and save on freight. **Sample reorder.** Don’t want to guess the next color? Order a sample of the new color first. We’ll send it in 3–7 days. Then you can place the bulk order with confidence. For a deeper dive into how to plan your inventory cycles, read our [low MOQ sportswear guide](/low-moq-sportswear). It covers exactly how to scale from 1 piece to 10,000. --- ## FAQ **What is the MOQ?** Our MOQ is 1 piece. You can order one sample or one unit for a personal test. There is no minimum order quantity for bulk production either. We have clients who start with 1 piece, then 50, then 300, then 3000. We’re a **gym apparel supplier for d2c brands** that treats every order size equally. **Sampling timeline?** Sample production takes 3–7 days. We ship the sample via express courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) and it arrives in 3–5 days depending on your location. So from the moment you send us your design, you can have a physical sample in hand in about 10 days. For complex designs (multiple colors, heavy embroidery), add 2–3 days. **Can I get a sample for free?** We offer free samples for orders of 300+ pieces. For smaller orders, we charge a nominal fee (usually $20–$50) which is refunded if you place the bulk order. **What payment methods do you accept?** Bank transfer (T/T), PayPal, or Western Union. For first-time clients, we request 50% deposit, 50% before shipment. **Do you ship to Amazon FBA directly?** Yes. We can prep and label each garment with FNSKU, apply suffocation warnings, and ship directly to Amazon warehouses. We handle the paperwork and customs clearance. **Can you match a specific Pantone color?** Yes. We can match almost any Pantone color. We ask you to provide the Pantone code, and we’ll send a swatch for approval before production. --- **Ready to start your first order?** We’re a 20+ year factory, not a middleman. Send us your designs, your tech pack, or just a photo. We’ll reply within 24 hours with a price, lead time, and sample timeline. [Request a Quote](mailto:support@alpinario.com) For more details on our production capabilities, visit our [wholesale sportswear page](/wholesale-sportswear) or [private label activewear page](/private-label-activewear).