Shortlist 10–20 factories, then verify three things before discussing price: business licence and audit scope, a sample sewn on the line that will run your order, and written MOQ and lead times. Connect5 publishes 450–500 pcs MOQ, 7–10 day samples and 35–50 day production as a comparison baseline.
Verify the supplier before you compare quotes
Start with 2 questions: which building are the sewing lines in, and who signs the export documents? A factory answers both in a single reply. An agent needs to check with someone else first, and that 1-day delay is the cheapest signal you will get all week.
Ask for 3 things in writing: the business licence, the audit scope if one exists, and photographs of a line running a product in your category rather than a showroom shelf. Our factory proof pack sets out what that evidence looks like, so you can request the same from every supplier you shortlist.
Judge the sample, not the sample photo
Pay for a sample, and require that it be sewn on the production line. Sample-room work is done by the most experienced operators in the building, and it routinely comes back one grade above what 500 pcs will look like.
Expect 7–10 days for sample development and 35–50 days for production, which is the range Connect5 publishes by category and quantity. A supplier promising a 3-day sample on a new pattern is either reusing an existing mould or replying before reading the spec.
Send a tech pack, not a reference photo
Skip the photo-only enquiry: it is the single largest cause of a wrong first sample. A tech pack removes the guesswork across 5 areas — material weight, hardware spec, stitch density, label placement and carton dimensions.
Use our bag tech pack template if you do not have one, because it lists the fields a factory needs before it can quote accurately. Buyers who send one usually get a usable first sample; buyers who send a photo usually pay for 2 rounds.
Read MOQ as a materials constraint
Expect 450–500 pcs for a custom colourway, and understand why. MOQ is not a policy number: it is set by the minimum fabric roll and the minimum order for zips, buckles and webbing in your chosen colour.
Ask the factory to split its MOQ into 2 parts, fabric minimum and hardware minimum. A supplier that cannot break the number down is quoting a preference rather than a constraint, and the same factory will often accept far less in a stock colour.
What a complete first enquiry contains
Send 6 things and most factories can quote without a follow-up round:
- Bag category and intended use
- Quantity target, and whether it repeats
- Destination market and required certifications
- Material direction or a reference product
- Logo method and placement
- Packing and carton expectations
Public buyer guidance such as the ITC's supplier assessment material covers the same verification ground from a trade-body perspective, and is worth reading alongside any single supplier's own documentation.
What this guide does not cover
This guide covers supplier verification, not pricing. It does not compare landed cost across regions, and it does not cover customs classification — not covered here, and it varies by destination and by bag construction. Duty on a textile bag and on a moulded EVA case are not the same line, and no supplier can answer that for you.
Two caveats worth stating plainly: MOQ and lead-time figures here are the ranges Connect5 publishes for its own categories, not an industry average; and the verification steps assume an export-oriented factory, not a domestic-market workshop.
FAQ
How do I tell a factory from a trading company?
Ask which building the sewing lines are in, who signs the export documents, and for line photographs of a product in your category. A factory answers all 3 immediately; an agent checks with someone else first.
What is a realistic MOQ for custom bags?
Expect 450–500 pcs for a custom colourway, because the number is driven by fabric roll and hardware minimums rather than by policy. Stock colours can go considerably lower.
How long does sampling take?
Connect5 publishes 7–10 days for sample development. A quoted 3-day sample on a new pattern usually means an existing mould is being reused rather than your pattern being made.
Should I visit the factory before the first order?
Not necessarily. A paid line sample plus a documented audit scope tells you most of what a 1-day visit would, at a fraction of the travel cost.
What should I send with my first enquiry?
Category, quantity, destination market, material direction, logo method and packing expectation. A tech pack covers all 6; a reference photo covers none of them.
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Questions about a specific programme can go to the Connect5 factory desk at [email protected], or through the RFQ form. Company identity, sampling route, production route, QC and packing evidence are set out in the factory proof pack; public verification guidance is also published by the International Trade Centre and the US Commercial Service.