MOQ Explained — Why 30 Pieces Is the Magic Number

Walk into any factory directory and the MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) hits you like a brick wall. "Minimum 500 pieces." "Minimum 1,000 pieces." Some factories won't even quote below 2,000.

At Qadri Sports our minimum is 30 pieces per style, per colourway. One of the lowest in the industry. Here's why it matters and how we make it work.

The Real Reason MOQs Exist

MOQ isn't arbitrary cruelty. It's economics. Every garment style needs:

• Pattern making (one-time cost per style)
• Sample development (one-time cost)
• Fabric minimum order from the mill (usually 100-300 meters)
• Setup time on the cutting and sewing line
• Custom labels, hang tags, packaging

These fixed costs get spread across the order. At 1,000 pieces, the setup cost per piece is tiny. At 30 pieces, it's significant — but still manageable if the factory is set up for it.

How We Make 30 Pieces Work

We're built for it. Three structural choices make low MOQ possible:

1. We hold fabric stock

Most of our common fabrics (Ripstop, Oxford, fleece, softshell) are kept in stock. You don't pay the mill minimum — you pay per meter we use.

2. Modular cutting lines

Our cutting room handles small batches efficiently. We don't need to dedicate a full line for a week to make 30 pieces — we batch multiple small orders together.

3. In-house labels and packaging

Woven labels, hang tags and poly bags — we source in bulk for ourselves and pass the access on. You don't need to find a label supplier for 30 pieces.

The Cost Tradeoff (Honest Version)

Yes — 30 pieces costs more per piece than 1,000 pieces. Typical breaks:

• 30 pieces: base price (1.0×)
• 100 pieces: ~0.85× per piece
• 500 pieces: ~0.72× per piece
• 1,000 pieces: ~0.65× per piece
• 5,000+ pieces: ~0.55× per piece

So a jacket that costs $42 at 30 pieces drops to ~$28 at 1,000 pieces. The savings are real — but only matter once you've validated the design.

Who Should Order 30 Pieces?

• First-time brands testing the market
• Established brands testing a new product line or country
• Crowdfunding campaigns producing for backer rewards
• Retailers ordering a small-batch capsule collection
• Sample programs for trade shows

The Bottom Line

30 pieces isn't about being cheap. It's about removing the risk barrier that kills new brands. You can launch a real product, test the demand, refine the design, then scale to 500 or 5,000 with confidence.