When do you need to
start your order?
Pick your launch date. This tool works backwards through every stage — tech pack, sampling, bulk production, and freight — and tells you exactly when each step has to happen. Most brands miss their season not because the factory was slow, but because they started 30 to 60 days too late.
Pick a launch date or season preset to build your production timeline
Last updated: 13 June 2026
How Long Does Clothing Production Actually Take From Bangladesh?
New brands consistently underestimate this. A standard OEM order of 500 to 2,000 pieces from Bangladesh takes around 90 days from the point your tech pack is confirmed to the moment goods arrive in your warehouse by sea freight. That's not 90 days of the factory being busy — it's 90 days of specific, sequential steps where each one has to be done before the next can begin.
| Stage | Who acts | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tech pack review and order confirmation | Buyer and factory | 3–5 days |
| 30% deposit payment | Buyer | 1–2 days |
| Proto / first sample | Factory | 12–18 days |
| Buyer review and revision feedback | Buyer | 5–7 days |
| Pre-production sample (bulk fabric) | Factory | 7–10 days |
| PP sample sign-off | Buyer | 3–5 days |
| Bulk cut and sew production | Factory | 30–50 days |
| Final QC, packing, and export documents | Factory | 3–5 days |
| Sea freight (Chittagong to destination) | Freight forwarder | 38–45 days |
| Customs clearance | Buyer's broker | 3–7 days |
The Seasonal Deadlines That Catch Brands Out
Working backwards from common retail seasons — assuming one round of proto sample revisions. Add two to three weeks if you expect a second round.
The Two Things That Delay Most Orders
In practice, two issues cause the majority of missed deadlines — and both sit on the buyer's side. The first is an incomplete tech pack at the start. If the factory has to ask for missing measurements or construction details before cutting the sample, that back-and-forth adds one to two weeks before a single stitch is sewn. The second is slow sample approval. Each extra revision round adds 12 to 18 days. Brands that review samples promptly and send precise written comments consistently get their orders finished faster.
OEM, ODM, CMT, or Private Label — What's the Difference?
- OEM — you provide a complete tech pack; the factory builds exactly to it. The longest lead time, the most design control.
- ODM — the factory has existing patterns you modify and brand. Sampling starts faster. Good for brands scaling without a design team.
- CMT — you source and ship the fabric; the factory only cuts, sews, and finishes. Removes factory fabric sourcing time but shifts that risk to you.
- Private Label — the factory has finished styles you relabel. The fastest route to market, with the least customisation.
Frequently Asked Questions
A standard OEM order of 500 to 2,000 pieces takes roughly 90 days from tech pack approval to goods in your warehouse by sea freight — about 3 to 5 days for order confirmation, 14 to 18 days for proto sampling, 7 days for buyer review, 7 to 10 days for the pre-production sample, 40 days bulk production, and 40 to 43 days sea freight from Chittagong.
For goods in a US warehouse by 1 December via sea freight, a container needs to leave Chittagong around 10 to 15 October. Working back: bulk production starts around 1 September, pre-production sample sign-off by 20 August, and tech pack submission by early-to-mid July. The calculator above gives exact dates for your setup.
A PP sample is made in actual bulk fabric with confirmed trims, after the proto sample is approved. It's the final check before cutting the full order. Issues found at PP stage are far cheaper to fix than after the bulk run is complete.
Yes — air freight from Dhaka takes 5 to 7 days versus 40 to 43 by sea. Air runs roughly four to five times more per kilogram. If your window is very tight, a hybrid approach — sea for most of the order, air for a smaller opening quantity — can make commercial sense depending on your margin.
An incomplete tech pack is the biggest cause — the factory has to ask for missing details before cutting the sample, which adds one to two weeks before any work begins. Second is slow sample approval: each extra revision adds 12 to 18 days. Brands that approve quickly with precise written comments get their orders finished faster, consistently.
The Garment Cost Calculator shows your full landed cost and margin once you have a quote. The Manufacturer Email Generator builds the right message for every stage of your factory conversation. And if you're shipping to the EU, the GPSR Compliance Checker covers what documentation your factory needs to provide.