How to get your first 50 custom pieces made and into the US
Start with one product in one or two colours, approve three samples, then order 50 pieces per colour. Since the US ended de minimis, most small brands import in bulk as the importer of record, using a customs broker and a US warehouse. Price your product on FOB plus freight, duty and broker fees, not FOB alone.
| Stage | Time | What you approve |
|---|---|---|
| Proto sample | 5–7 days | First read on fit and construction, from your tech pack |
| Fit sample | 3–5 days | Fit after your comments. More rounds add time. |
| Pre-production sample | 5–7 days | Bulk fabric and trims. Nothing is cut before you sign it. |
| Fabric booking | 10–15 days | Stock fabric is fastest. Custom dye adds time. |
| Whole path to ex-factory | 45–65 days | Then freight to the US |
Why a product of your own is worth it
A customer can find the same blank hoodie from hundreds of brands. A cut, fabric weight and label that only you sell gives them a reason to buy from you, and gives you room on price. You don't need custom fabric for that. Fit, weight and branding are enough to make a basic garment yours.
Why 50 pieces is possible
Small minimums come from stock fabric and simple knit products. With us the minimum is 50 pieces per style, per colour, spread across your size run. Custom dyeing or printing brings in the fabric mill's own minimum, which is higher, so keep your first order to stock colours.
What the price actually covers
Our prices are FOB: the garment, made and delivered to the Egyptian port. A private label hoodie is $8.90 at 50 pieces, $7.90 from 500 and $6.90 from 2,000. Your real cost per piece adds:
- Freight and insurance to the US
- US import duty: 0% on goods from QIZ-certified factories
- Customs broker and port fees
- Warehouse receiving and storage
Importing now that de minimis is gone
Parcels that used to enter the US duty-free under $800 now pay duty. That makes shipping single orders from overseas expensive. Most small brands now bring stock in as one shipment, as the importer of record, with a customs bond and a licensed customs broker filing the entry, then ship to customers from a US warehouse.
US duty on Egyptian clothing in 2026
Clothing made in QIZ-certified factories enters the United States duty-free, at 0%. We source only from QIZ-certified factories, and QIZ documentation ships with every US order. US tariffs on other countries changed three times in 2026, so confirm the rate for your HS code with your customs broker, and write down the date you checked.
How to protect your deposit
- Approve the proto, fit and pre-production samples in writing
- Keep the approved pre-production sample as the standard for bulk
- Ask for a pre-shipment inspection report with photos
- Get the quote per colour and per price break, in writing
Questions
Can I order fewer than 50?
Not per colour. The minimum is 50 pieces per style, per colour, on stock fabric, spread across your sizes.
Do I need a tech pack?
It gives the most accurate quote. If you don't have one, send a reference garment and your notes, and we'll tell you what's missing.
Is clothing from Egypt duty-free into the US?
Yes, when it is made in a QIZ-certified factory: it enters at 0% duty. We source only from QIZ-certified factories and ship the QIZ documentation with every US order.
Who ships it to the US?
We quote FOB at the Egyptian port. You or your freight forwarder handle freight from there.
Products in this guide
