Short answer
At Eco Vira the starting minimum is 30 pieces per style per colour. That is the entry point, not a promise that 30 pieces of anything is achievable — size range, colour count and whether you supply fabric all move the practical figure, and we confirm yours before you commit.
Key points
- The minimum is per style and per colour, not per order — two styles doubles it.
- Size range is usually what actually lifts your minimum above the headline figure.
- Custom fabric in a specific colourway carries a separate dye-lot minimum that is often higher.
- MOQ is separate from sampling: you can sample a single garment before committing to any run.
- Larger MOQs should reduce your unit cost, not increase it — if a quote goes up, ask why.
MOQ is the number buyers ask for first, and it is usually the wrong first number — because the headline minimum is not what you will actually order.
What our minimum means
**30 pieces per style, per colour.** The word that matters is "per". It is not 30 pieces per order. A style in two colours is 60. Two styles in one colour each is 60. The minimum is a floor on the smallest thing a factory can sensibly make, and a style-and-colour is that thing.
That floor exists because of setup. Making 30 t-shirts in one size and one colour with one print screen uses a fraction of the machinery and labour that 300 would. The per-garment cost is higher because the fixed work is the same.
What moves your real minimum
| Factor | Effect on your minimum | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Second colour on the same style | Doubles it | The minimum is per style **per colour** |
| Second style | Adds the minimum again | Setup repeats for every style |
| Wider size range | Raises the practical minimum | Constrains how efficiently one cutting lay is nested |
| Custom fabric colourway | Adds a mill minimum | Dye lots carry their own floor at the mill |
| Custom trims or embroidery | Usually no change to the garment minimum | Adds setup cost, not units |
| Custom decoration (print) | Adds per-screen setup | Charged once, then per garment |
**Size range.** This is the one that surprises people. If you want S, M, L, XL, XXL at 30 pieces total, that is 6 garments per size. It is possible, but it constrains how efficiently the fabric can be laid and cut, and it raises the chance of inconsistency between sizes. Four sizes is usually a more comfortable first run.
**Colour count.** Each colour is a separate minimum. Three colours is three times the floor, which is often why buyers consolidate their first run into one colour.
**Custom fabric.** If you want a specific colourway that no mill currently holds, it has to be dyed, and dye lots carry their own minimum at the mill. That figure is separate from ours and we confirm it before you commit.
**Private label specifics.** Custom trims, hardware, embroidery and packaging add setup of their own, but rarely change the garment minimum.
MOQ is not the same as sampling
You can produce a single sample garment before committing to any run. Sampling is quoted per style and depends on how many rounds you want and whether we source the fabric. It is a much smaller commitment than a production minimum, and it exists precisely so you can evaluate before you commit.
A minimum should cost you less per garment, not more
If you order 30 and then 300 of the same garment at the same spec, the second run should be cheaper per unit. The fixed costs — pattern, setup, screens, digitising — are already paid.
If a larger quote comes back at a higher unit price than a smaller one, that is worth questioning. It usually means the specification changed, not that volume works against you.
How to work out your own minimum
- 01Decide how many styles you are launching
- 02Decide how many colours each style needs
- 03Decide your size range
- 04Multiply: styles × colours × per-colour minimum
- 05Then add the practical uplift your size range imposes
If the number that comes out is larger than you wanted, the levers are fewer styles, fewer colours, or a narrower size range. All three are usually better decisions at a first run than pushing a minimum that the production will struggle to hit consistently.
Where to go next
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order quantity?
30 pieces per style per colour as a starting point. Split sizes and additional colours raise the practical minimum, and we confirm the real figure once we know your size range and colour count.
Can I order just one style?
Yes. Most first orders are a single style, and that is usually the best way to test a design before committing to a range.
Does MOQ apply per colour?
Yes — the minimum is per style and per colour, so a style in three colours has three times the minimum of the same style in one.
Can I mix sizes within my minimum?
Yes, sizes are split within the total for the style and colour. Very wide size ranges at low volume are where cutting becomes difficult, so we flag it early.
Do you have a higher minimum for custom fabric?
Custom fabric in a specific colourway usually carries a minimum tied to the dye lot at the mill. We confirm that figure when we source, so the mill minimum is never a surprise on your invoice.