How to Plan a Workwear Order Around a 100-Unit MOQ

What does "100 units per color and style" actually cover?

The 100-unit minimum is calculated separately for each color-style combination. It isn't a total you can spread across an entire order.

MOQ, short for minimum order quantity, is the smallest batch a manufacturer can produce economically for a given variant. A variant is defined mainly by cut and color; sizes can be split freely within one style once that variant is set.

An order of 100 navy scrub tops in a single cut clears the minimum on its own, whatever mix of sizes from XS to 3XL it contains. Add 100 white tops in the same cut, and that's a second color variant evaluated on its own terms. Split the same total into 50 navy and 50 white, though, and neither color reaches 100 units.

The same logic applies across cuts. A unisex tunic and a fitted women's tunic count as two separate styles even when the fabric and color match exactly. Deciding how many colors and cuts a project genuinely needs is worth doing before requesting a quote, not after.

Why do manufacturers set a minimum order at all?

Pattern prep, material planning, and machine setup are fixed costs on every production run; spreading them across at least 100 matched units is what keeps the per-unit price workable.

Before cutting starts, fabric and trim have to be sourced, pattern pieces drawn, sewing lines set up, and the workflow scheduled. Embroidered or printed styles add digitizing, print approval, labeling, and packaging steps on top of that, and that work happens whether the run is 20 pieces or 200.

Larger runs simply spread that setup work across more finished garments, which keeps costs and lead times more predictable and cuts down on constant changeovers between colors, threads, and machine settings. The minimum isn't a statement about the quality of any single garment; it's a production condition tied to how the factory schedules its lines.

Monthly capacity can reach up to 50,000 units depending on the product group, but that headline number doesn't mean an unlimited number of tiny variants can be combined economically. Material, pattern, and sign-off still have to stay clearly assigned to each individual variant.

Can different sizes be combined inside 100 units?

Sizes from XS through extended ranges can be distributed freely inside a single 100-unit variant, as long as the style, color, and base fabric stay fixed.

An even split across every size rarely reflects reality, since no workforce is made up of equal numbers of each size. A named headcount by size, or a fitting session with a sample size run, gives a far more reliable breakdown than guessing.

As one illustration, a 100-unit tunic order might land at 8 units in XS, 18 in S, 30 in M, 26 in L, and 18 in XL. That split is a worked example, not a general sizing formula. The real breakdown has to come from the actual workforce being outfitted.

It's also worth planning a small internal buffer stock. How large that buffer should be depends on staff turnover, wear, laundering cycles, and upcoming hiring plans; a flat reserve percentage without that data isn't a reliable number to build around.

What does a manufacturer need to quote accurately?

A workable quote needs, at minimum, the style, color, total quantity, size breakdown, fabric requirement, and logo method.

The more complete the request, the lower the risk of price or timeline changes later. A line like "100 work jackets with a logo" leaves too much open. A complete brief usually covers three areas:

1. Product: garment type, cut, pockets, closures, and the fit intended.
2. Material: fiber content, weight, color, care requirements, and any required certifications.
3. Branding: logo format, placement, dimensions, and whether it's embroidered or printed.

For chemically tested fabrics, the product class and certificate scope should be settled up front. The guide on OEKO-TEX certified workwear explains why a certified fabric doesn't automatically make the finished garment certified.

If a collection needs to distinguish between departments, color codes and style variants need to be spelled out too, since each additional combination can trigger its own minimum order.

How do logos and custom details affect the quantity?

A single, consistent logo usually doesn't change the 100-unit base quantity, but different artwork or different cuts can create separate production variants.

Embroidery and printing run through TB Uniform's own production line, and one logo file can go on multiple sizes of the same style without issue. Change the artwork, placement, dimensions, or thread color, though, and the technical approval has to be redone.

Custom details (extra pockets, contrast piping, name panels, an institution-specific collar) are part of the style definition too. Order two versions with different pocket configurations, and production no longer treats them as one variant.

That's why a sample is worth building before committing to a bulk run, typically ready in 5-7 business days. It should reflect the cut, fabric, color, and branding at minimum. The guide on company workwear programs covers how to prepare a collection across a whole organization.

How can reorders be planned without friction?

Reorders stay predictable when a company keeps an approved reference sample, clear item codes, and plans for another 100 units per variant.

A first order shouldn't be treated as a one-off. Staff turnover, new locations, changing sizes, and ordinary wear all generate demand later on. Small one-off top-ups can fall below the minimum again if they're treated as isolated production runs.

Three habits make reordering easier down the line:

• assign every variant a distinct item, color, and version code,
• keep the approved sample and the measurement chart on file,
• pool demand from multiple departments into planned ordering windows instead of one-off requests.

Even with an identical item code, different fabric lots can show slight color variation. Garments meant to be worn together should ideally come from one coordinated production batch. If the fabric itself is ever substituted, its composition, weight, color, and certifications need to be re-approved.

A quality system built on ISO 9001 supports documented process control and traceability across repeat orders. It doesn't replace product sign-off or fabric-specific testing on any individual run.

How long do sampling, production, and delivery take?

Sampling runs 5-7 business days, and a confirmed bulk order typically needs another 4-6 weeks for production and delivery.

That clock only starts once every product detail is locked. A missing size list, an unapproved logo file, or an open color decision pushes the start date back. The 4-6 week window applies from documented order and sample approval, not from the first inquiry.

Production runs out of Istanbul, with shipments exported from Turkey to international buyers. There's no local office, warehouse, or standing inventory outside Turkey, so shipping routes, import handling, and the receiving company's own requirements are worth confirming at the quoting stage rather than after the order is placed.

The 4-6 week window is a typical range once approvals are in, not a guarantee for every custom configuration. Material availability, order size, and product group still need to be confirmed on the actual quote.

Buy or rent: which makes more sense at a small headcount?

Buying suits custom styles once volume clears 100 units per variant; renting can bundle laundering, replacement, and circulating stock for smaller teams.

Buying lets a company set its own color, cut, and logo, but it also means organizing distribution, laundering, repair, returns, and replacement internally or through a separate service provider. That tradeoff pays off most when a style is used over the long term in quantities that can actually be planned.

A rental arrangement bundles the garments, ongoing care, and replacement into a single running contract, which can simplify inventory management for smaller teams. Worth checking before signing: contract length, minimum circulating stock, loss fees, size-change terms, logo options, and the certification scope actually covered. Mewa is one example of this kind of service model operating in the European market.

The manufacturer described here sells workwear and doesn't offer rental, laundering, or pickup services itself. That makes a total-cost comparison worthwhile: purchase price, expected garment lifespan, internal administration, laundering, and replacement needs. The guide on renting vs. buying workwear goes deeper into that comparison.

How do you get the most out of a 100-unit minimum?

The 100 units go furthest when sizes are pooled, variants stay limited, and sampling and reorder rules are documented in writing before production starts.

Splitting an order across too many colors or minor cut variations fragments the minimum unnecessarily. One consistent base style with a well-planned size breakdown is usually easier to source than several low-volume styles running in parallel.

Three documents make the sourcing decision easier to commit to: a variant list, a size matrix, and an approved sample. Fabric, care, certification, and branding requirements round that out. Once those pieces are settled, price and lead time both become far easier to pin down with confidence.

To start a sample or get pricing, request a quote directly from TB Uniform.

Frequently asked questions

What's the minimum order quantity for workwear?

The minimum is 100 units per color and style. Different sizes can be freely distributed within that variant as long as the cut, fabric, and finish stay the same. Two colors or two different cuts count as separate variants and each need their own 100-unit quantity plan.

Can I order multiple sizes within 100 units?

Yes. Multiple sizes can be combined within the same color and style. That breakdown should come from a staff headcount or fitting session, since an evenly split size run usually misses the real distribution across a workforce by a wide margin.

Can I order 50 units in blue and 50 in white?

That split doesn't meet the minimum, since blue and white count as two separate color variants that each require 100 units in that color and style. The alternative is concentrating the order on one color, or pooling the need with other departments into a shared ordering window.

How long does a bulk order take to produce?

A sample typically takes 5-7 business days. Once the order and sample are both approved, production including delivery usually runs 4-6 weeks. The exact date depends on product group, material availability, quantity, finishing, and the confirmed shipping route, and should be stated in writing on the quote.

Does an embroidered logo raise the minimum order?

A single logo applied to an existing variant usually doesn't change the 100-unit base quantity. Different artwork, placements, dimensions, or thread colors can trigger separate technical approvals and production variants, though, so logo details are worth locking in at the sample stage.

Is renting the better option under 100 staff?

Not automatically. Renting can bundle laundering, repair, and replacement, but it comes with fixed contract terms and less design freedom. Buying allows a fully custom style, but custom production still requires 100 units per color and style. What matters most is circulating stock, expected garment lifespan, care logistics, and how much staff turnover to expect.

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• Size breakdown planned within a 100-unit workwear minimum order quantity
• Approved sample showing fabric color, logo, and size chart ahead of bulk production
• Workwear variant matrix organized by style, color, and size
• Packaged workwear ready for a planned reorder shipment