Me When They Ask for Low MOQ, High Quality, and Low Price. I Send Directions for Walmart.

(Start a Clothing Brand? You’ll Learn Fast That You Can’t Have All Three.)

There’s a moment in every sourcing journey where someone (bless them) asks for the holy trinity:

“Can we get super low MOQ, premium quality, and keep the cost under $4 per piece?”

That’s when I send them directions to Walmart. Or Temu. Or the magical factory in the sky where unicorns stitch hoodies in bulk for free.

Because here’s the truth: when you start a clothing brand, you’re entering the world of trade-offs. You don’t get Chanel quality at clearance rack pricing—and no factory is thrilled to fire up production for 30 pieces.

If you want to understand what’s realistic (and how to get as close to your dream as possible), Garment Sourcing 101 is where you start.

Start a Clothing Brand? Pick Two: MOQ, Price, or Quality

Here’s the sourcing triangle:

• Low MOQ

• High Quality

• Low Price

You get to pick two. Maybe.

Trying to squeeze all three? That’s how you end up with bad stitching, weird sizing, and ghosted by your factory.

Step 1: Understand What MOQ Actually Means

MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) isn’t just a random number. It’s how factories protect their efficiency. Low MOQs mean:

• More waste risk for them

• Higher per-unit setup cost

• Lower priority on the line

Want to start a clothing brand on low MOQs? Be ready to pay a little more or be flexible on timeline and fabric choices.

Step 2: Quality Comes at a Cost—Period

You want:

• Heavier GSM fabric

• Neat stitching

• Custom trims

• Durable dye and wash

That takes:

• Better raw materials

• Slower, more skilled labor

• QC oversight

Cheap + quality? Doesn’t compute.

Inside Garment Sourcing 101, I show you how to spot red flags in “too good to be true” quotes—and what good quality actually costs.

Step 3: Low Prices Are Built on Volume

Walmart doesn’t get $1 socks by magic. They buy:

• Huge quantities

• Predictable repeats

• With streamlined logistics

You want factory rates? You have to act like a factory client.

That doesn’t mean buying 10,000 units. But it does mean planning properly, communicating clearly, and understanding where savings actually come from.

Step 4: Know Where You Can Flex

Can’t have all three? Fine. But here’s what you can do:

• Use in-stock fabrics to reduce MOQ

• Stick to standard construction to control quality labor

• Simplify packaging or label specs to reduce cost

Small changes, big impact.

We cover all of this in the course, so your first order doesn’t turn into a pricey regret.

Step 5: Educate Your Team or Clients With Confidence

If you’re a startup founder, freelancer, or agency—chances are you get asked the “can we have everything?” question.

Here’s your new response:

“You can have two. If you want all three, I know a Walmart in Shenzhen.”

Then explain:

• What MOQ means

• How pricing structures work

• Why good production isn’t cheap

Be the voice of reason. It earns you respect.

TL;DR – No, You Can’t Have Low MOQ, High Quality,

and

Low Price

Start a clothing brand like a grown-up:

• Know what each request actually requires

• Build realistic targets

• Design within constraints

And remember: unicorn factories aren’t real.

Final Word: Don’t Beg for Miracles. Learn to Source Like a Pro.

If you’re done hoping, guessing, or playing email roulette with factories, Garment Sourcing 101 is for you.

You’ll learn:

• How to balance cost, quality, and MOQ

• What to expect (and what’s BS)

• How to speak supplier language like a local

👉 Take the course, get real about sourcing—and save yourself from chasing fairy tales in flip-flops.