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What Is MOQ? A Guide for New Apparel Brands
The number that decides whether a manufacturer will talk to you — and why it needn’t be the barrier many founders expect.
What Does MOQ Mean?
MOQ means Minimum Order Quantity: the smallest number of units a manufacturer will produce in a single order.
Why Manufacturers Set a MOQ
Fixed setup costs, such as cutting patterns and threading machines for a fabric or colourway, are similar whether the run is 10 units or 1,000.
Why Apparel MOQs Are Often High
Many apparel manufacturers set minimums between 200 and 1,000 pieces per style around their standard production line, not around what a new brand can afford.
What a Low or No-Fixed MOQ Means
A manufacturer offering no fixed MOQ restructures pricing so small orders remain viable. Per-unit cost is higher on small runs and falls as quantity increases. RayoRise has no fixed minimum; orders can begin from 10 pieces per style.
How to Work With MOQ as a New Brand
Start with a sample, ask whether the minimum is per style or per order, expect a higher small-run unit price, and never confuse a low MOQ with a lower quality standard.
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