Insights

Sourcing intelligence

Practical guidance from inside the merino wool and knitwear supply chain — written for the brands we serve.

October 21, 20267 min read

What Does a Knitwear Sample Fee Include—and Is It Credited to Bulk?

A practical breakdown of pattern work, yarn, one-off making, trims and courier charges, plus when the development fee is credited to a later production order.

October 9, 202610 min read

Designer, Pattern Maker, Knit Programmer: Why One Photo Stalls a Sweater Sample

Most new-style inquiries arrive as a single picture. The pattern maker sends it back and asks for a designer. Here is what each of the three roles decides, what a photo cannot tell a factory, and how to plan a sample so it does not sit waiting for answers.

September 29, 20266 min read

Custom-Dyed Merino Yarn: What Grey Scale Grade 4 Means

A shade that is not on the stock colour card can be dyed to order. The dyed yarn is accepted against the approved shade at grey scale grade 4. On the standard card that step is about ΔE 1.7, a smaller difference than ΔE 4.0.

September 24, 20268 min read

What Determines a Custom Merino Sweater Price?

Two factories quote the same 100% merino sweater and the numbers are far apart. Here is what sits inside a merino sweater unit cost — yarn weight, count, colour minimums, linking, washing, pressing, trims — and why a sample is priced differently from bulk.

September 13, 20267 min read

Who Pays Import VAT and Duty on a Small Knitwear Order from China?

A 30-piece sweater run shipped by courier is not one all-in price. Here is how garment cost, freight, duty and VAT split between factory and buyer — and why a first small order is garment value plus DHL freight, with duty and VAT paid by the buyer, not DDP.

August 25, 20268 min read

How to Brief a Knitwear Factory for Your First Custom Sweater

A sketch and a retail price are not a brief. Here is what a factory needs to quote, sample, and run a first 30-piece sweater without wasting a development cycle.

August 11, 20269 min read

OEM vs ODM vs Private Label Knitwear: Which Model Fits Your Brand?

The three terms get used interchangeably, and the confusion costs brands time and margin. Here is what each model actually means in knitwear — who owns the design, and how MOQ, lead time, and unit cost change.

July 13, 20266 min read

A Guide to Sustainable Merino Wool Traceability

How to check origin claims, certification scope, yarn-lot documents and transaction certificates before sampling.

July 5, 202610 min read

Machine-Washable vs Mercerized Merino: Which Finish Fits Your Line?

Fine merino is available in machine-washable and mercerized silk-finish options. Here is how the finishes differ in hand-feel, care, cost and suitable styles.

June 17, 20267 min read

Merino Sweater OEM MOQ: What DTC Brands Should Expect

Minimum order quantities confuse many merino knitwear buyers. Here is how MOQ, sampling, and lead times actually work — and what to ask before you commit to a factory.

June 10, 20268 min read

How to Choose Merino Wool Sourcing Partners in China

Sourcing merino in China rewards buyers who know what to audit. Here is the framework we use to evaluate fiber quality, traceability, and reliability.

June 10, 20267 min read

Puyuan Knitwear QC Standards Explained

Puyuan produces a large share of the world's sweaters. Here's how serious QC works there — and what to demand from your knitwear manufacturing partner.