Our sourcing process
How to Source Clothing from Bangladesh with Select Fashion BD Ltd
Sourcing clothing from Bangladesh through us takes six stages: you send a tech pack, we quote within 48 hours, you approve a physical sample, we place the bulk order with the right factory, we monitor quality through production, and we inspect before shipment. From first enquiry to goods on the water is typically 90–120 days for a first order, and 60–80 days for repeat orders, depending on your destination port.
The Six Stages
Below is each stage in detail — what you send us, what we do with it, what can go wrong, and what it costs.
Send us a flat sketch, measurement chart, fabric spec, trims and colourways — or a reference garment instead.
We run two or three rounds: development, fit, then the pre-production sample the bulk is judged against.
We confirm price, delivery date, Incoterm and payment terms in writing before production starts.
Pre-production meeting, inline at 20%, midline at 50–60%, and final inspection to AQL 2.5.
Packing, booking, and the full export documentation set. Sea freight time depends on your port.
Step 1
Prepare Your Tech Pack
A tech pack is the specification document we and the factory work from. Without one, any quote you receive from anyone is a guess.
At minimum, send us:
- A flat sketch of the garment
- Measurement chart with tolerances
- Fabric composition and weight in GSM (grams per square metre)
- Trim and accessory details
- Colourways with Pantone references
- Label and packaging instructions
If you do not have a tech pack, send a physical reference sample instead. We can reverse-engineer a spec from a garment you already own, which is often faster and more accurate for a first order.
Step 2
Get a Quotation
We quote FOB, and we break it down as standard. A quote that is a single number tells you nothing about whether the price is fair or whether it will hold, so we do not send one.
Ours separates fabric cost, trim cost, CM (cut and make) charge, and margin, so you can see exactly what you are paying for and where there is room to move.
Tell us three things when you ask: the quantity, the target price you have in mind, and your delivery deadline. Buyers often withhold the target price believing it weakens their position. It does the opposite — it lets us tell you immediately whether it is achievable.
We quote within 48 hours of receiving a tech pack.
Step 3
Approve a Sample
We do not put a bulk order into production without an approved pre-production sample in your hands. Sampling exists to catch fit, fabric hand-feel and construction problems while they still cost nothing to fix.
We run two or three sample rounds:
- Development sample — confirms the pattern.
- Fit sample — confirms grading across sizes.
- Pre-production sample — the one you approve, and against which the bulk is judged.
Sampling takes 10–14 days per round, plus 3–5 days international courier. We charge for sample development, and the charge is normally refunded against the bulk order.
Step 4
Place the Order and Agree Terms
We settle four things with you in writing before production starts: the final FOB price, the delivery date, the Incoterm, and the payment terms.
For Bangladesh, the standard payment structure is either an irrevocable letter of credit at sight, or a telegraphic transfer with 30% deposit and 70% against shipping documents. We work on both, and usually start first-time buyers on TT; LC becomes practical once order values justify the bank charges.
We quote FOB (free on board), the normal Incoterm here. An Incoterm is the internationally agreed rule that fixes where the seller’s responsibility for goods ends and the buyer’s begins; FOB means our price covers the goods loaded onto the vessel at Chittagong. Freight, insurance and import duty at your end are yours.
Step 5
Quality Control During Production
This is the stage a buyer 8,000 km away cannot supervise, and it is the stage that determines whether the shipment is usable.
Final inspection alone is too late — by the time goods are finished, a fabric or fit problem affects the entire order.
We run all four stages as standard and send photographic reports at each one: pre-production meeting, inline inspection at 20% completion, midline inspection at 50–60%, and final random inspection to AQL 2.5.
Step 6
Inspection, Shipment and Documents
Once final inspection passes, we oversee packing, book the shipment and prepare the full export documentation set on your behalf:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of origin
- Any buyer-specific compliance certificates
Sea freight from Chittagong runs 20–30 days to the US East Coast or Northern Europe, and considerably less to Middle East ports; African routes vary by destination. Air freight is 5–7 days at roughly 8–10× the cost. We confirm the transit time for your port when we quote.
Indicative pricing
What It Costs
Indicative FOB ranges in US dollars (USD) for our main woven categories at 1,000 pieces.
|
Category
|
FOB range
|
At quantity
|
Typical lead time
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Basic woven shirt
|
$4.80 – $7.20
|
1,000 pcs
|
45–55 days
|
|
Chino trouser
|
$6.50 – $9.80
|
1,000 pcs
|
50–60 days
|
|
Denim jeans
|
$7.90 – $12.50
|
1,000 pcs
|
60–75 days
|
|
Padded jacket
|
$14.00 – $24.00
|
1,000 pcs
|
60–75 days
|
Prices vary with fabric, quantity and finish — these are indicative ranges, not quotations. Send a tech pack and we will price your style exactly.
What we prevent
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Five errors account for most failed first orders out of Bangladesh. Preventing them is most of what we are paid for.
- Ordering bulk without an approved pre-production sample
- Choosing a supplier on price alone without checking audit status
- Leaving quality control until final inspection
- Not confirming fabric availability before agreeing a delivery date
- Assuming the quoted lead time includes shipping — it does not
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
To the US or Northern Europe, a first order typically takes 90–120 days end to end: 10–14 days sampling per round, 45–60 days production, and 20–30 days sea freight. Repeat orders run 60–80 days because sampling is shorter. Shorter sea legs, such as the Gulf, bring the total down.
Not necessarily. We can quote from a physical reference sample, or from a detailed sketch with measurements. But a quote given without either is an estimate, and it will change once real specifications arrive.
Either an irrevocable letter of credit at sight, or telegraphic transfer with a 30% advance and 70% against shipping documents. We generally start first-time buyers on TT terms.
Yes, and we arrange it for buyers travelling to Dhaka. If you cannot travel, we provide video walkthroughs and photographic audit reports of the production unit.
Our MOQ (minimum order quantity) starts at 1,000 pieces per style per colour, with some styles available at 500.
Start at step one.
Send your tech pack or reference sample, and we will quote within 48 hours.