To compare undershirt quotations, ask suppliers to price the same garment and identify any alternative separately. Stock fabric and custom development can change colour choice, material commitment, sampling and reorder continuity. A cheaper quote is not comparable if it quietly substitutes a different neckline, fabric recovery or pack configuration.
Define two quoting routes without changing the baseline
The baseline should contain the intended wearer, neckline, size chart, body length, fabric requirements, colours, care conditions, labels and pack-out. Ask for a compliant quotation against that baseline first. If the supplier proposes stock fabric as an alternative, require a list of deviations and evidence that the alternative can meet the critical product requirements.
Stock fabric may already exist in finished form, but available quantity, colour, lot consistency and reorder continuity still need confirmation. Custom development may offer more specification control, while requiring material commitments and approvals before garment production. Neither label establishes a fixed MOQ, cost or lead time.
A same-spec RFQ table
| RFQ line | Stock-fabric route | Custom-development route |
|---|---|---|
| Material identity | Exact stock code, composition, structure, weight, width and available lot | Proposed construction, target specification and development steps |
| Shade | Available colour reference and physical approval | Colour target, lab-dip process and bulk shade approval |
| Material commitment | Quantity available, reservation conditions and replacement rules | Minimum knitting/dyeing quantity and ownership of unused balance |
| Garment minimum | Minimum by style, colour and size; permitted size mix | Same garment breakdown, separate from fabric minimum |
| Development charges | Sample, pattern adaptation, labels and testing | Pattern, material development, sample rounds, testing and tooling if relevant |
| Unit price | Included fabric, trims, labels, packing and inspection scope | Same inclusions, with any amortized development costs identified |
| Timing | Stock verification, sampling, approval and production dependencies | Material development, approvals and production dependencies |
| Reorder | Continuity of the same material and conditions for replacement | Repeat material minimum, retained references and development ownership |
Ask suppliers to answer unknown fields explicitly rather than leaving them blank. A quotation stating “subject to fabric availability” should identify when availability will be confirmed and what happens if it changes before commitment.
Normalize garments, packs and material quantities
State purchase quantities in garments and retail packs, with the component breakdown. A three-piece same-size pack is not three sizes. If the fabric commitment is quoted in kilograms or metres, ask the supplier to show its consumption and yield assumptions, including finished width, size mix and allowance for waste.
Do not convert a material minimum into a garment minimum using a generic consumption figure. Pattern shape, length, size distribution, width and cutting efficiency affect that conversion. Ask who owns surplus fabric, how it will be stored and whether storage or future use has additional charges.
Compare cost on the delivered configuration
Separate one-time charges from recurring unit costs. Confirm whether prices include neckbands, printed or sewn labels, packaging, test costs and the agreed inspection. Record currency, price validity, payment terms, delivery term and the named place associated with that term.
For planning, calculate total order cost as recurring product cost plus included or separately quoted development, packaging and other applicable charges. Add freight, duty and inbound costs on a consistent basis before comparing landed options. Do not double-count packaging or testing already included in the unit price.
Compare approval paths as well as calendar dates
Ask what starts each timing estimate: deposit, fabric confirmation, artwork approval or approval of the pre-production sample. Record sample rounds and responsibility for feedback. A short production window can still follow a long material-development stage. Obtain dates against the actual project rather than applying a general website estimate.
Require critical fit, visibility and washed measurements to pass on the proposed material. An inexpensive stocked fabric may be unsuitable if it changes the approved neckline or length; a custom fabric is not automatically better without evidence.
Choose with deviations visible
Use a comparison sheet with a compliant baseline price, alternative price, deviations, approval evidence, quantity exposure and unresolved questions. Do not award solely on a low number while the material, pack or delivery scope remains open.
The private-label versus cut-and-sew guide explains development scope; the per-colour minimum guide explains material drivers. Use the undershirt quantity plan to set demand before sending the completed RFQ through Knitwear Base. All MOQ, pricing and timing remain subject to project confirmation.
