Inquiry to ship.21 days.No black box.
Seven steps. Each step has a deliverable, a deadline, and a person on our side who's accountable. You'll know exactly where your order is, every day, from quote to delivery.
Most factories won't tell you the process. We wrote it down.
The hardest part of working with a Chinese factory isn't the price or the quality. It's the uncertainty. You send a deposit, then you wait. You don't know if they're cutting yet, or sewing, or stuck on fabric, or held up in QC, or sitting on the factory floor because the shipping forwarder missed the booking.
We publish the process so you can plan around it. Seven steps, each with a day-count and a deliverable. You'll get an update at each gate — typically a photo or a milestone notification. If we slip, you'll know on day 8, not day 21.
The 21-day average assumes a 500-1,000 piece order with a pre-approved sample. Rush is faster (8-12 days). Larger bulk (5,000+ pieces) adds 5-7 days for line balancing and split production.
Step by step, day by day.
- Step 01Day 0
Inquiry & brief
You send the design (PNG / AI / PDF), quantity, target delivery date, and any spec. We confirm receipt within 4 business hours and assign a project manager.
- Step 02Day 1–2
Quote & tech-pack
We come back with: per-piece price (EXW / FOB / DDP), production timeline, fabric options, print method, mockup positioning, and a tech-pack PDF for sign-off.
- Step 03Day 2–3
Mockup & color approval
We generate a digital mockup at scale showing seam placement, print size, color profile. You approve colors via Pantone / fabric swatch. ICC profile per fabric matched.
- Step 04Day 3–7
Pre-production sample
Optional but recommended. We produce 1-3 sample pieces in the actual fabric, print, and construction. You receive photos, then a physical sample via DHL ($35-65 freight).
- Step 05Day 7–8
PO + deposit
You send the PO, we send the invoice (30/70 split typical). Deposit clears in 1-2 business days via T/T or Wise. Production starts the day after deposit clears.
- Step 06Day 8–18
Bulk production
Cutting → printing → sewing → heat-pressing → QC inline → finishing. 10-12 days for orders under 5,000 pieces. Three-shift capacity means no bottleneck during peak season.
- Step 07Day 18–21
Final QC + ship
AQL 2.5 final inspection, photo report, packed to spec. Loaded for sea, air, or express per your Incoterm. DDP routes include customs + last-mile.
The numbers, side by side.
| Inquiry | Same day |
| Quote + mockup | 1–2 days |
| Sample (optional) | 3–5 days |
| PO + deposit | 1–2 days |
| Bulk production | 10–12 days |
| Final QC + packing | 2–3 days |
| Ship + transit | 3–35 days |
| Total (sample) | 20–28 days |
| Total (no sample) | 15–22 days |
Six real order profiles.
Race event 1,000 pieces, 3-week deadline
Day 0 inquiry, Day 2 quote, Day 5 sample approval via photo, Day 7 deposit, Day 18 ship, Day 21 arrive at event. Realistic for 1K-piece orders.
POD platform weekly 500-piece run
Standing capacity, no per-order re-tooling. You send a CSV, we ship 7-10 days later under your platform's tracking.
School bulk 2,000 pieces, semester start
Plan 6 weeks ahead. Sample at 4 weeks, bulk at 2 weeks, ship 1 week before semester. Always have buffer for reorders.
Brand launch 5,000 pieces, 2 SKUs
Split across 4 production lines, parallel print, 14-day bulk. 2 SKUs at 2,500 pieces each is our sweet spot for 14-day turnaround.
Campaign merch 3,000 pieces, last-minute
Surge capacity with 24/7 shifts. 8-day rush available for 3K-piece orders with surcharge. We've done 5K in 8 days for political campaigns.
Reorder 200 pieces, US warehouse
If you've pre-stocked in our Fontana CA warehouse, reorder ships in 2-5 days. We pull from CA stock, no new production needed.
The timing questions.
What's the realistic rush turnaround?
200 pieces: 5-7 days. 500 pieces: 7-9 days. 1,000 pieces: 9-12 days. 2,000+ pieces: 12-18 days. Rush incurs a 15-25% surcharge but is available on most orders.
Can I skip the pre-production sample?
Yes, but you assume the risk. If colors shift or construction is off, bulk is wasted. For first-time orders or new fabric combinations, we strongly recommend a $35-65 sample before committing bulk.
What if my design has a lot of detail or color?
Sublimation handles unlimited color at no extra cost. Fine detail (1mm line weight) and gradients are fine. We render the design at 300 DPI minimum, separated per fabric.
Can you split a single order across multiple shipping methods?
Yes. Common: ship 20% rush via air (5-7 days), bulk 80% via sea (25-30 days). We split the packing list, bill cleanly, and you get two tracking numbers.
Send your design. Get a 21-day plan back.
We come back within 1 business day with a quote, a sample plan, and a production timeline that you can pin to your wall.