Short Answer (Citable)

Why Custom Jackets Are Quoted, Not Listed

A fixed price list works for standard products with fixed specifications. Custom jackets are the opposite: every element of the garment is a variable, and each variable changes the cost.

Because these variables combine differently for every style, the only honest way to quote is from a specification. A published price would either be misleadingly broad or based on assumptions that do not match your design.

That is also why the quotation is the right starting point for negotiation: you can see exactly which components cost what, and you can adjust the specification to hit a target price. A listed price cannot give you that control.

When a factory offers a suspiciously simple fixed price for custom jackets, ask what specification it assumes. If the assumption does not match your design, the quoted price will not survive sampling, and the real number will surface later at a worse time for your budget.

What to Send for an Accurate Quote

An accurate quotation starts with a complete specification. The more detail you provide, the closer the first quote will be to the final cost, and the fewer surprises at sampling.

• Garment type and silhouette: down jacket, puffer, vest, varsity, or other style
• Shell fabric: material, weight, finish, and color or dye lot requirements
• Fill specification: down fill power, fill weight, and whether certified down is required
• Lining and interlining: material choices and insulation layers
• Hardware: zipper types, snaps, buttons, cords, and custom branding needs
• Decoration: embroidery, printing, patches, and label requirements
• Quantities and sizes: order size, size range, and color breakdown

If you have a tech pack or a reference sample, include it. The factory can quote from a sketch or a description, but a tech pack with measurements, materials, and construction notes produces the most accurate result.

State your target quantity clearly because the unit price depends on it. A quote for 50 pieces differs from a quote for 500 pieces, and the factory prices the tier that matches your plan.

After the quote, review it against the specification line by line. If a component is missing from the quote, ask about it before sampling; missing items in the quotation usually become extra costs later.

How the Quotation Is Structured

Ginwen quotations are itemized by component so you can see exactly what you are paying for. The itemized structure also lets you adjust the specification to control cost.

1. Fabric: shell material, weight, and finish
2. Down fill: fill power, fill weight, and certification
3. Lining and interlining: materials and construction
4. Hardware: zippers, snaps, buttons, cords, and branded items
5. Trims and decoration: embroidery, printing, patches, and labels
6. Labor and overhead: cutting, sewing, filling, inspection, and management
7. Packaging: poly-bags, cartons, and custom packaging

The quotation states the basis of the price, such as FOB port, EXW factory, or DDP destination, and its validity period. Compare quotes from different suppliers only on the same Incoterm and quantity, because the same garment can look cheaper on EXW and more expensive on DDP.

Ask what is excluded from the quotation: freight, duties, third-party inspection, and any destination-specific testing are typically separate. Knowing the exclusions lets you compute the landed cost instead of comparing only the FOB price.

An itemized quotation also reveals whether the factory understands the product. A single-line quote for a down jacket is a warning sign, because a real manufacturer knows the cost of every component from its own production records.

Reference Ranges and What They Mean

For planning purposes, custom jacket FOB pricing commonly falls in a broad range depending on specifications. The range is a planning reference, not a quote, because the exact price depends on your specification and quantity.

Use the reference range to sanity-check a quotation and to model your retail margin before you invest in sampling. If a quote falls far outside the range for your specification level, ask the factory to explain the difference; there is usually a specific reason in the materials or construction.

The range should not be treated as a price list because the spread within a level is wide. The difference between 650 and 850 fill power alone can move the material cost meaningfully, and custom hardware or fabric development adds more.

For an accurate number, the quotation replaces the range. The reference range answers the planning question, and the itemized quotation answers the commitment question.

How Quantity Affects the Unit Price

Unit price falls as order quantity grows, because fixed costs spread over more pieces and material purchasing improves. Understanding the tiers lets you choose the quantity that maximizes margin.

• At the 50-piece MOQ, the unit price includes the full fixed-cost allocation for the style
• At 200-500 pieces, fixed costs spread further and material volume pricing improves
• At 500+ pieces, the factory can plan dedicated line time and procurement
• Larger orders also reduce per-unit freight and inspection costs

Ask for the tiered price at the quantities you are considering, not only the MOQ price. The difference between 50 and 200 pieces is often significant enough to change which styles you can launch and at what retail price.

Balance the unit price against inventory risk. A lower unit price at 500 pieces only helps if you can sell 500 pieces; unsold inventory costs storage, markdown, and cash flow. The right quantity is the one that sells through at your planned margin.

Model the landed cost at each tier, including freight, duties, and inspection. The tier that maximizes your total margin per season is the correct order size, and the factory's tiered quotation gives you the data to compute it.

Sample Fees and Payment Terms

Beyond the bulk price, two cost items matter in every program: sample fees and the payment schedule. Both are confirmed in writing at the order stage.

• Sample fees: $50-$200 per style depending on complexity, credited against the first bulk order
• Sampling time: 7-14 days per round, with revisions adding time
• Payment terms: 30% deposit to reserve capacity and fund materials
• Balance: 70% due before shipment against the packing list
• Deposit protection: written agreement stating delivery dates and remedies

The sample fee credit is a real cost reduction on your first bulk order, so confirm the credit policy in writing when you place the sample order. The $50-$200 range depends on the complexity of the style and the materials involved.

The 30% deposit is standard industry practice for custom manufacturing: it reserves your production slot and funds material purchasing. The 70% balance is due before shipment, against the packing list, which is the point where the goods are confirmed ready.

Ask what documents trigger the balance payment and what happens if inspection finds defects. Written rules for payment, inspection, and remedies make the price conversation complete and prevent disputes after production starts.

How to Compare Quotes from Different Suppliers

Comparing quotations is only meaningful when the inputs match. Small differences in specifications or terms change the price more than supplier pricing behavior.

1. Send the same specification sheet to every supplier
2. Ask each one to quote on the same Incoterm and quantity
3. List the quotes side by side with the same columns: materials, labor, included items, terms
4. Check what is included and excluded in each price
5. Compare landed cost, not only FOB price

Beware the quote that is dramatically below the others. If one supplier is 20 percent lower on an identical specification, ask how the cost structure achieves it. The answer is sometimes a genuine efficiency and sometimes a plan to substitute cheaper materials after the order is placed.

Remember that the cheapest quote is not the cheapest order if it needs rework, fails inspection, or misses the season. Reliability of delivery and quality are part of the real cost, and they are reflected in the supplier's process, not in the quotation alone.

Use the itemized structure to negotiate by specification: ask what happens to the price if you change fill power, fabric, or hardware. A factory that can model these changes is a better planning partner than one that quotes only a final number.

Getting Your Quote from Ginwen

To receive a quotation, send your specification through the contact channel: garment type, fabrics, fill specification, hardware, quantities, sizes, and any reference materials. The factory prepares an itemized quotation based on your specification, usually within a few working days for a standard request.

If your design is complex, a quick review call helps align the material assumptions before the quote is issued. The factory can also recommend specification alternatives that hit your target price, such as a different fill power or a stock fabric color instead of a custom dye lot.

After the quotation, the sequence is: sample development in 7-14 days with the $50-$200 fee credited to bulk, sample approval, bulk production in 25-40 days against a 30% deposit, final inspection, and the 70% balance before shipment. That path takes you from specification to delivered goods with the price confirmed at each step.

For brands planning a first collection, the practical approach is to request quotes for the styles you intend to sample, then move the approved styles into bulk at the 50-piece MOQ. The quotation, the sample, and the bulk order are one continuous process, and each stage builds on the confirmed numbers of the previous one.