You've proven demand online — now you need product that's good, UK-compliant and doesn't drown your cash flow. Here's the path, in order.
For a UK direct-to-consumer brand, your own cash funds the inventory — there's no wholesale order de-risking the run, no guaranteed sell-through before you've spent the money. That makes MOQ, lead time and reorder consistency matter far more than saving the last penny on unit price. The good news: the UK–Türkiye FTA's duty-free entry, Turkey's low MOQ and short transit lane are all built for the way DTC brands need to operate. Here is how to navigate the sourcing process from your first style to a working reorder programme.
| Factor | Turkey | China |
|---|---|---|
| MOQ per colour, per size | 250 pieces | 500–1,000+ pieces |
| UK import duty (qualifying knitwear) | 0% (FTA) | ~8–12% |
| Ocean transit to Felixstowe | ~10–14 days | ~4–6 weeks |
| Cash tied up in transit | Lower (shorter pipeline) | Higher (longer pipeline) |
| Supply chain transparency | Single-site, visitable | Often multi-tier |
| Reorder turnaround | ~8–10 weeks (repeat style) | ~14–20 weeks |
For a DTC brand running a pre-order model, a drop strategy or a reactive reorder programme, Turkey's 10–14 day transit and 250-piece MOQ are structural advantages — they allow you to hold less stock, commit smaller inventory and respond to demand faster than a Far-East programme allows.
A precise tech pack — gauge, yarn specification, construction, measurement chart, colourway, label instructions — is the document that turns your design into a manufacturable garment. A vague brief produces a factory's interpretation, not your vision. Invest time in the tech pack before approaching any factory; it signals professionalism and produces a first sample that is actually close to what you intended. See our tech pack guide for detail.
Before paying for samples, get indicative FOB pricing from your shortlist of factories. This confirms the style is within your budget before you invest sample cost and time. For us: send your tech pack or a clear reference and we will return indicative FOB pricing within 48 hours. No commitment at this stage.
Most knitwear styles require 2–3 sample rounds before the specification is locked: initial sample, comments and revisions, revised sample, potentially a third pass. Budget for this in your timeline (add 4–6 weeks for the sample stage) and cost (£60–150 per round per style to receive samples by DHL to UK). The approved sample is the binding reference for bulk production — rushing sample approval is the most common cause of bulk problems.
The right first order size is not the smallest you can place — it's the minimum that tests the product properly without leaving you with unshiftable stock. For a new style with no demand history: 250 units across your size run is a serious market test. For a proven bestseller from a different fabric: you might go to 500 or 750. Don't over-order on a first style just because the unit economics look better — unsold stock at 500 units is a worse outcome than a small margin at 250.
UK textile labelling, UK REACH-compliant yarn, care instructions and country of origin are all most efficiently handled at the manufacturing stage in Turkey. Tell the factory your label spec before sampling begins; have the label approved on the sample. If you need OEKO-TEX certified yarns for your product story or a retail-channel requirement, specify that in the tech pack. Fixing compliance issues at the UK warehouse — relabelling, re-boxing — is expensive.
We provide the EUR.1 origin certificate with every shipment from Turkey. Your customs broker uses this to claim the preferential 0% rate under the UK–Türkiye FTA. This is effectively free money — on a 250-unit order of $28 FOB merino jumpers, the 12% China-equivalent duty would be ~$840 on the batch. The EUR.1 costs nothing extra; your broker needs to know to claim preference.
FOB (Free On Board, Mersin) is the standard starting point — you arrange the freight from Turkey, UK customs clearance, and final delivery. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) to your UK warehouse or 3PL gives you a single landed-cost figure and eliminates the freight admin from your side. For DTC brands new to international freight, DDP is simpler; for brands with an established forwarder relationship, FOB gives more control and transparency over freight cost.
The biggest cash-flow protection in a DTC programme is knowing at what inventory level to trigger the reorder, and doing it before you run out. For a 250-unit first order with a 60-day production lead time and 14-day transit: if you sell 10 units per week, you'll sell out in 25 weeks. Reorder at week 10 or earlier to maintain continuity. Build the reorder timeline into your initial buy plan, not as a reactive afterthought when you're out of stock.
For a self-funded UK DTC brand, the timing of cash out versus cash in is the most important variable in the sourcing decision. Here's how a typical Turkey knitwear programme compares for cash flow:
| Cash event | Turkey timeline | China equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit (30%) | Week 1 of bulk order | Week 1 of bulk order |
| Balance (70%) | Week 8–9 (against B/L) | Week 10–12 (against B/L) |
| Goods arrive UK | Week 10–11 | Week 16–18 |
| First sale revenue | Week 11–12 (pre-order possible) | Week 17–18 |
| Cash-out to first revenue | ~10–12 weeks | ~17–19 weeks |
A 7-week shorter pipeline to first revenue represents meaningful working capital saving for a brand that is self-funding inventory. Combined with the lower MOQ (less capital at risk per style), Turkey's cash-flow profile is structurally better for UK DTC brands than China at equivalent quality.
Before any knitwear goes live on your UK site, confirm these are in place:
Standardised fibre names, percentage by weight, in English, sewn into the garment. Confirmed against the yarn mill certificate. Non-negotiable under UK Textile Products Regulations.
ISO 3758 care symbols appropriate for the yarn and construction. Approved on the sample. The correct care instruction for lambswool at 40° machine wash is different from fine cashmere at hand-wash only — confirm on sample testing.
OEKO-TEX yarn certificate held on file. Available to produce if a customer or retail partner asks for chemical compliance evidence. For brands making sustainability claims about yarn (organic, recycled, certified), the certificate is also the basis for those marketing claims.
Confirm with your customs broker that the EUR.1 was presented and preference was claimed on the import entry. Check the cleared duty rate on the import declaration — it should show 0%. Occasionally brokers miss the preference claim on the first shipment from a new origin.
UK Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations require that product descriptions — "100% cashmere", "hand-knitted", "sustainably made" — are accurate and substantiated. Any claim you make about the product on your website must be true, backed by documentation if challenged. "Made in Turkey" should appear if used, and is supported by your EUR.1 and label.
UK online retail is subject to the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 — minimum 14-day right to return online purchases for any reason. Knitwear is not exempt. Your returns policy must comply, and your buying plan should include a forecast for returns (typically 8–20% for fashion, lower for premium knitwear with accurate sizing information).
The value of a well-established manufacturing relationship compounds over time. After your first successful order, subsequent reorders on the same style are significantly faster and lower-risk:
The approved bulk-production sample from your first order is the standing specification. Reorders run to that spec without new sampling — production can begin within days of order confirmation and deposit receipt.
Without sampling, a reorder on a proven style typically takes 45–55 days production plus ~12 days freight — roughly 8–10 weeks door to door from order confirmation to UK warehouse, compared to 16–18 weeks for a first-time style.
After the first order, we know your size distribution and your quality standard. Reorders on proven styles can be discussed at smaller quantities than the initial 250-unit run — talk to us about your specific volume needs for reorders.
A factory's limited machine capacity is the scarcest resource in knitwear. Brands with a track record of reliable orders, prompt payment and clean specifications are prioritised in capacity allocation. Building a dependable relationship over 2–3 orders opens access to capacity that new enquiries compete for.
Send a tech pack or a reference jumper. We'll come back within a business day with indicative pricing and a sample timeline — straight from the founder, no agent, no guessing.
Manufacturer Pages