25 checks to run on any factory — including us — before you place a first order. Factory or middleman, MOQ, samples, compliance, terms and the red flags that cost brands money. Free PDF, no email required.
Free PDF · No email required
Print it and take it into your next factory call.
A trustworthy factory answers every one of these without hesitation. If they dodge MOQ, samples or compliance — keep looking.
We mean it — run every check on Kiwi Giyim. We own our 22 flat-knit machines (Shima Seiki + Stoll), state MOQ 250 per colour up front, quote with a breakdown, source UFLPA-clean yarn with supplier documentation, and you deal directly with the founder. For the deeper how-to, read how to find a knitwear manufacturer and how US brands vet a factory. Planning budget? Use the cost calculator.
Confirm they own machines (not a middleman), get MOQ, sample cost and lead time in writing, check compliance documentation (UFLPA-clean yarn, FTC/CPSIA labelling), verify communication speed and references, and clarify payment terms. Our free 25-point checklist walks through each one.
Vague or shifting MOQs, refusal to provide a paid sample, a price that seems too good to be true, no verifiable factory floor, unclear yarn origin, and slow or evasive communication. A trustworthy factory answers every question in the checklist without hesitation.
Both work. A direct factory relationship removes agency markup and speeds decisions, but you do more of the vetting yourself — which is exactly what this checklist is for. Either way, run the same 25 checks before your first order.
Send a tech pack or a brief. We'll answer every question on your checklist — honestly — and tell you if your product isn't a fit for us.