Buyer Questions to Ask Before Signing a Sports Bra Programme

Most sourcing problems that surface in production were answerable at the enquiry stage. The buyer asked about price, lead time and minimum order quantity, got three confident answers, and never asked the questions that actually determine whether the program runs. The following set is not exhaustive, but it is the set whose answers predict the outcome. Ask them in writing and keep the answers with the style file.

Capability and capacity

How many sports bra styles does the factory currently run, and what proportion of its capacity is stretch product? Which fabric mill does it use for four-way stretch knits, and is that mill on your approved list? Who patterns in-house? What is the realistic booking lead time in your peak season, not the average? And what happens to your order if a larger customer takes the line in the same month? Factories that answer the last question honestly are usually the ones worth signing.

Quality evidence

Ask for the wash test reports they hold for a comparable bra, including stretch recovery and color fastness results, and check the dates and the garment they refer to. Ask what their in-line inspection checks are, how defects are recorded, and whether you can see a defect log from a recent order. Ask how they handle a failed final inspection on a completed order. A supplier that has never had one is either very new or not telling you something.

Construction specifics

For a medium impact bra, ask which closure hardware they specify and how many hook rows, what elastic width and weight they use in the underband, how they finish the edges of a cut-out panel, and whether pads are removable and how they are retained. These are the components that generate complaints, and the answers tell you whether the factory understands the product or is simply sewing to a picture.

Commercial terms

Clarify the minimum per style and per color, whether the sampling cost is credited against bulk, what the price validity period is, what happens to price if fabric costs move, and the payment terms including the deposit structure. Ask what a repeat order of the same style costs versus the first, and what the price is at double the quantity. Ambiguity here becomes a renegotiation later, usually at the worst possible moment.

Logistics and accountability

Who handles export documentation, what is the standard carton specification, can they meet your labeling and barcode requirements, and who is the named contact with authority to fix a problem? Finally, ask for two references from customers running a comparable program, and actually call them. The answers to everything above are worth less than one candid conversation with someone who has shipped with this factory for three seasons.