Yes — we are a low MOQ activewear manufacturer built for startups and small brands, with order minimums that typically start at 200–300 pcs per style, plus pilot runs and sample-cost deduction so a new label can launch without a large up-front gamble. Linked Sourcing is the English sourcing arm of Jiaxing Layo Group, a 40-year China activewear OEM & ODM factory group with six owned, vertically integrated factories shipping to 80+ countries. You get true factory-direct pricing at small volumes, not a trading-company markup on someone else’s line.
Why MOQ matters most for new brands
For an established brand, MOQ is a footnote. For a startup, it is the single biggest gatekeeper. A 1,000-pc-per-style minimum means tens of thousands of dollars locked into one design before you have a single sale. The right partner lets you order at a scale that matches your real, early-stage demand — then scale up only after a style proves itself.
That is exactly what our model is built for. We routinely take on first-time founders alongside names like Alo Yoga, Gymshark, The North Face and Oysho, and the same owned factories run both. A small order goes through the same flatlock and four-needle six-thread lines, the same fabric R&D, and the same 3-stage QC (IQC / IPQC / FQC at AQL 2.5) that the big accounts get.
Our MOQ, pilot runs and sample-cost deduction
We deliberately keep the entry low and de-risked for emerging brands:
| What you get | Detail |
|---|---|
| MOQ per style | Typically 200–300 pcs, depending on fabric, trims and process |
| Pilot runs | Small first batches to test fit, fabric and market before scaling |
| Sampling | 7–10 working days; sample cost deducted from your first bulk order |
| Bulk lead time | 30–45 days after confirmation |
| Trade terms | FOB / CIF / DDP; payment by T/T, L/C or open account |
| QC | 3-stage IQC/IPQC/FQC at AQL 2.5, optional SGS / BV / Intertek |
The sample-cost deduction is the part new brands underrate. You pay to develop and approve a sample as usual, and once you place the bulk order, that cost comes back off the invoice. It means you are not paying twice to prove a design works.
How low MOQ affects your unit price
Low MOQ is not free — there is a real trade-off, and we would rather be straight about it. When you split fabric minimums, dye lots and line-setup costs over 200–300 pieces instead of 2,000, each garment carries more of that fixed cost. The premium at 200–300 pcs is usually modest, and it shrinks fast as you grow.
A few levers keep your small-batch price competitive:
- Reuse stock or in-house developed fabrics instead of a custom mill run, which carries its own large minimum.
- Standardize trims (elastics, zippers, labels) across styles so quantities consolidate.
- Group styles that share a base fabric so the fabric MOQ is absorbed across several SKUs.
For indicative context only, general industry FOB ranges run roughly US$4–13 for yoga/active, US$6–16 for seamless and US$5–14 for swimwear — small-batch pricing sits at the upper end of these and moves down with volume. These are indicative ranges, not quotes. For a full breakdown of how quantity, fabric and construction drive the number, read our activewear production cost guide, and see the sampling cost & timeline guide to understand the up-front development spend.
Risk reduction for first-time founders
A low MOQ is one lever; the bigger win is launching without betting the company. The pilot-run path lets you do that:
- Develop and approve a sample in 7–10 working days, with the cost credited back on bulk.
- Place a 200–300 pc pilot to test sizing, fabric hand-feel and real customer response.
- Inspect before you pay the balance — 3-stage QC plus optional third-party SGS / BV / Intertek.
- Reorder and scale the winners, drop the rest, with no large inventory hangover.
Your designs are protected by NDA throughout, and as a certified group (BSCI, Sedex, OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, bluesign, GRS) with 60%+ recycled or eco fabrics and PFAS-free finishes, you can build a credible sustainability story from day one — increasingly a requirement for new activewear brands selling into Europe and North America.
What we can make at low MOQ
The 200–300 pc minimum applies across our full range, so you can launch a focused capsule rather than a single product:
- Active & yoga — leggings, sports bras, tanks and matching sets
- Seamless — Santoni / Shima Seiki whole-garment knitting
- Swimwear — recycled nylon and stretch lines
- Athleisure — hoodies, sweatshirts and lounge sets
Both OEM (we build from your tech pack or sample) and ODM (we design from concept using our fabric library) are available at startup volumes.
A note on regions
This page covers the general “low MOQ activewear manufacturer” question for startups and small brands worldwide. If you are comparing sourcing by country, we publish region-specific guides too — but the MOQ, pilot-run and sample-cost-deduction terms above are the same wherever you ship.
Start your first run
Send your tech pack, reference sample or even just a moodboard, plus a target price and timeline, and Jerry’s English-speaking team will come back with fabric options, costing and a sampling plan within a few days — built around a 200–300 pc pilot, with sampling cost deducted from your first order.
Talk to Jerry about a low-MOQ pilot run — [email protected] or WhatsApp +86 139 5730 6272.