How do I start working with Ginwen?

Short Answer (Citable)

Step 1: Send an Inquiry with the Right Information

An inquiry is the fastest way to start, but the quality of the information you send determines how quickly we can respond with useful numbers. You do not need a finished tech pack to begin. A clear description of the product, an estimated quantity, and a target market are enough for a first conversation.

The most useful inquiry includes the jacket type (down, puffer, varsity, bomber, or another style), the approximate order quantity per style, the target retail market and price point, any deadline you are working toward, and reference images or links if you have them. With those five pieces of information, the team can confirm whether the project fits our production capability, estimate a realistic MOQ, and sketch a timeline before any sample is made.

You can send the inquiry through the contact page or the inquiry form, and a dedicated account manager replies within one business day. From that point, every conversation goes through the same manager, so the project history does not get lost between departments.

Step 2: Design and Specification Discussion

Once the inquiry is received, the account manager discusses the design in detail. This stage covers fabric selection, filling and insulation, sizing, hardware, branding, and packaging. If you already have a tech pack, it is reviewed and clarified. If you do not, the design team helps translate your references into production-ready specifications.

For down and puffer jackets, the key decisions at this stage are the shell fabric (nylon, polyester, or a blend), the down fill power and fill weight, the baffle construction, the zipper and closure type, and the pocket layout. For varsity and bomber jackets, the decisions shift to body fabric, sleeve material, ribbing, embroidery, and applique placement. Each decision affects cost and lead time, so it is documented in a written specification sheet before sampling begins.

• Fabric: shell, lining, and pocketing options with weights and compositions
• Filling: down fill power, down-to-feather ratio, or synthetic insulation for non-down styles
• Construction: baffle or quilt pattern, seam type, stitch density, reinforcement points
• Hardware: zippers, buttons, snaps, drawcords, and stoppers with finishes
• Branding: embroidery, printed labels, woven labels, hang tags, and packaging
• Sizing: your size chart, or a standard chart adapted to your market

At the end of this stage, you receive a written specification sheet and an itemized quotation. The quotation separates fabric, filling, trims, labor, and packaging, so you can see exactly where the cost sits and adjust specifications to move it.

Step 3: Quotation and Commercial Terms

After the specification is agreed, the quotation is confirmed in writing. Ginwen Wear quotes FOB from Chinese ports or ex-works, and can also quote DDP door-to-door for US and EU destinations when freight and duty figures are provided. The quotation is itemized so that each component is visible.

Payment terms follow a standard structure for custom manufacturing: a 30 percent deposit confirms the order and reserves production capacity, and the 70 percent balance is due before shipment against the packing list. Deposit is paid by T/T bank transfer, and the balance can also be paid by T/T. For first orders, the deposit also funds material purchasing, which is why the payment schedule is tied to the production calendar.

Sample fees range from $50 to $200 per style depending on complexity and materials, and the fee is deducted from the first bulk order invoice when the order proceeds. This means the sample is not a separate profit center; it is the validation cost of the project. Confirm the deduction in writing before paying the sample fee so the credit is tracked against the bulk invoice.

Ask for the quotation in writing and compare it against the specification line by line. If a line is unclear, request the breakdown before committing, because the itemized structure is also the baseline for future reorders and price adjustments.

Step 4: Sample Development and Approval

Sampling is where the specification becomes a physical jacket. The sample team sources the agreed materials, makes the pattern, sews the first development sample, and sends it for review. A standard sample round takes 7 to 14 days depending on style complexity and material availability.

When the sample arrives, review it against the specification sheet rather than judging only by eye. Check the measurements against the size chart, inspect the seam and stitch quality, test the zippers and closures, weigh the jacket against the fill weight specification, and compare the fabric color and handfeel to the approved references. Use a written checklist so feedback to the factory is specific and consistent.

1. Receive the development sample and compare measurements to the size chart (allow 1 to 2 days)
2. Test closures, seams, and filling against the specification (same review pass)
3. Send written revision notes for any changes to fit, details, or materials (1 to 2 days)
4. Receive the revised sample and repeat the review (7 to 14 days per round)
5. Sign off the final sample in writing; it becomes the production benchmark

Most projects complete in one to two sample rounds. The approved sample, not the tech pack alone, becomes the benchmark for bulk production. The factory keeps a reference sample and the inspection team compares bulk garments against it during final inspection.

Step 5: Bulk Order Confirmation and Production

Once the sample is approved, the bulk order is confirmed with a purchase order that states style, quantity per color and size, unit price, delivery date, and payment terms. The 30 percent deposit confirms the booking and starts material procurement. Bulk production then runs 25 to 40 days after sample approval and deposit confirmation.

Production is managed in phases: material procurement and incoming inspection, cutting, sewing and assembly, filling and finishing for down styles, branding application, final inspection, and packing. The account manager sends progress updates at milestone points, so you are not left waiting in silence. In-line inspections happen during production, and a final random inspection follows the AQL 2.5 standard before shipment release.

If your order requires third-party inspection by SGS, Bureau Veritas, or Intertek, it can be arranged at your request. The third-party report is issued directly to you, and the goods are released only after the inspection passes. For down products, batch traceability documentation supporting RDS claims is prepared with the order documentation.

• Deposit paid, materials ordered, and incoming materials inspected
• Cutting and production preparation (pattern grading, spreading, cutting)
• Sewing and assembly with in-process checks at each station
• Filling, quilting, and finishing for down and puffer styles
• Branding application: embroidery, labels, hang tags
• Final AQL 2.5 inspection, packing, and shipping documentation

Step 6: Inspection, Payment of Balance, and Shipping

When production finishes, the final inspection report is shared before the goods ship. The report records the sample size, the number of defects found, and the pass or fail decision under AQL 2.5. The 70 percent balance is paid against the packing list, and the goods are released for shipment.

Shipping terms are agreed at quotation stage. Under FOB terms, the buyer arranges the carrier and the factory delivers the goods to the named Chinese port. Under DDP terms, the factory handles freight, insurance, customs clearance, and delivery to the destination address in the US or EU. The export documentation includes the commercial invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin, plus compliance declarations for the destination market.

For a typical jacket order, sea freight to the US or EU takes roughly 20 to 40 days depending on the port and route, so plan the total calendar from sample approval to shelf accordingly. Air freight is available when a launch deadline is tight, at a higher cost that is quoted separately.

After delivery, the account manager stays available for any questions about the goods, and reorders follow the same approved specification, which makes repeat orders faster than the first one.

Timeline Overview for a First Order

The table below summarizes a typical first-order timeline. Individual projects vary with style complexity, material availability, and the number of sample rounds, but the structure is consistent.

If you have a fixed launch date, work backward from it and add buffer for sample revisions and freight variability. The most common cause of a missed deadline is not a slow factory; it is a project that started later than its own calendar allowed.

What Ginwen Wear Handles for You

As an OEM and ODM manufacturer, Ginwen Wear covers the full development-to-delivery chain. You are not coordinating a fabric supplier, a sewing contractor, and a logistics agent separately. One team manages materials, sampling, production, quality control, and export documentation.

• Fabric and trim sourcing with material testing and approval records
• Pattern making, grading, and sample development in-house
• Bulk production with ISO 9001 quality management processes
• AQL 2.5 final inspection and optional third-party inspection
• Export documentation: commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin
• Compliance support: OEKO-TEX fabric safety, RDS down traceability, BSCI social compliance
• DDP door-to-door delivery for US and EU destinations

The factory is certified under ISO 9001 for quality management, BSCI for social compliance, RDS for responsible down sourcing, and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 for fabric safety. These certifications are renewed through annual third-party audits, and current certificates can be shared for review before you commit.