Resources & tools for serious Bangladesh garment sourcing
Before you send a tech pack or ask for FOB, it helps to get organised.
On this page you’ll find checklists, worksheets and planning tools built from real Bangladesh sourcing work – so you can brief factories clearly and make better decisions faster.
• For buyers and sourcing teams planning Bangladesh as a base
• For factories deciding if they are a fit for my network
• For anyone who prefers structured, transparent sourcing – not guesswork
How to use these tools
These tools don’t replace a proper conversation, but they make that conversation much more useful. Use them to organise your thinking, share clearer briefs, and decide whether Bangladesh is the right base for each product and season.
Step 1 – Get organised
Use the Buyer Readiness Checklist or Factory Self-Assessment to collect the key information I will ask for anyway.
Step 2 – Stress-test your plan
Use the Order Size & Supplier Fit Matrix and MOQ & Complexity Planner to check if your expectations match Bangladesh reality.
Step 3 – Share and refine
Send your completed checklist and notes through the Contact page. I will review and respond with whether I am a good fit and what a first step could look like.
Discover → Plan → Validate → Brief
Tools for buyers and sourcing teams
If you are planning to place garments out of Bangladesh, these tools will help you structure your brief, match order sizes to the right type of factory, and plan realistic MOQs for each style.
FOR BUYERS & SOURCING TEAMS
Bangladesh sourcing readiness checklist
A structured checklist to clarify products, volumes, timelines, compliance expectations and internal approvals before you start talking to factories.
FOR PROGRAMME PLANNING
Order size & supplier fit matrix
A quick way to see which type of Bangladesh factory is usually the best fit for your order sizes and risk level.
FOR RANGE PLANNING
MOQ & complexity planner
Use this planner to think about how garment complexity and MOQ interact, so you do not brief factories on combinations that are unrealistic for Bangladesh.
Bangladesh sourcing readiness checklist
Work through this checklist before or alongside your first sourcing conversation. It does not have to be perfect—but the more you can complete, the faster we can get to realistic options.
| Area | Question | Why it matters | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand & product strategy | What type of brand are you? (value, mid-market, premium, niche) | Factory and costing strategy depend heavily on your price–quality positioning. | ☐ Done |
| Product categories | Which core product categories do you want from Bangladesh in the next 12–18 months? (e.g. men’s shirts, women’s blouses, kids bottoms, denim) | Helps shortlist factories with the right product capability instead of generic “any garment”. | ☐ Done |
| Volume & MOQ bands | What realistic order size ranges are you working with per style/colour? (e.g. 200–500 / 500–1,000 / 1,000+) | Different factories are a better fit for different volume bands. | ☐ Done |
| Timing & seasonality | When do you need first deliveries ex-factory? Are you building a continuous programme or seasonal drops? | Impacts lead time, capacity planning and material choices. | ☐ Done |
| Compliance expectations | What level of compliance do you require? (e.g. RSC, BSCI, brand audits, specific social or environmental standards) | Many factories are compliant, but not at the same level; clarity avoids wasted time. | ☐ Done |
| Margin & price logic | Do you have target FOB ranges or target landed margins for each product group? | Helps assess whether Bangladesh is the right base for that product at your price level. | ☐ Done |
| Design & development style | Do you send full tech packs, or do you need more design and development input from factories? | Some factories are stronger in development, others in execution; we match accordingly. | ☐ Done |
| Testing & quality | Any mandatory testing protocols, AQL levels, or brand QA requirements? | Ensures shortlisted factories understand and can support your QA expectations. | ☐ Done |
| Logistics & shipping | Do you typically ship FOB, CFR, or DDP? Any nominated forwarders or consolidators? | Impacts factory selection, documentation and lead-time planning. | ☐ Done |
| Internal approvals | Who needs to sign off on new factories and costings inside your organisation? | Helps plan realistic timelines for sampling, approvals and order placement. | ☐ Done |
How to use it:
• Complete as many fields as you can.
• Save your answers as a PDF or shared document.
• Attach it when you contact me so we can start at a much higher level.
Order size & supplier fit matrix
Not every order belongs in a huge vertical unit. Sometimes a focused mid-sized factory will give you more attention and better execution. This matrix helps you think about where your volumes sit.
| Order type / size band | Typical quantity per style/colour | Usually best factory profile | Notes from Bangladesh reality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test / pilot order | 150–400 pcs | Flexible mid-sized factory with experience in smaller runs | Needs clear communication and realistic costing; do not expect rock-bottom FOB. |
| Small repeatable fashion programme | 400–1,000 pcs | Specialist unit for that product (e.g. shirts-focused) | Good for brands growing a category without over-committing volume. |
| Core seasonal programme | 1,000–5,000 pcs | Stable mid-to-large unit with proven capacity and T&A | Ideal for building long-term relationships and predictable deliveries. |
| High-volume key account / big-box programme | 5,000+ pcs | Larger factories or groups with strong planning and compliance | Best for when you need scale and consistent replenishment. |
| Highly complex, detail-heavy styles | Varies | Smaller specialist factories, sometimes with higher CM | Better to prioritise capability and quality over absolute lowest FOB. |
If your range includes both small tests and large core programmes, it is usually better to work with a mix of factories instead of forcing every style into the same unit.
MOQ & complexity planner
In Bangladesh, MOQ is not just about total pieces. It is also about fabric, wash, trims and how many variations you want. This planner helps you rate your styles and see where you might need to adjust expectations.
| Style example | Complexity level (1–5) | Typical materials / processes | Safer MOQ band to target (per colour) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic crew-neck jersey T-shirt | 1 | Single jersey, solid colour, basic trims | 600–1,200 pcs | Good starting point for first Bangladesh programmes. |
| Casual woven shirt with simple checks | 2 | Yarn-dyed checks, standard buttons | 600–1,000 pcs | Fabric planning and pattern matching add some complexity. |
| Women’s viscose blouse with details | 3 | Viscose, gathers, more stitching operations | 800–1,500 pcs | Higher risk on sewing and finishing; factories need stability. |
| 5-pocket denim, basic wash | 3 | Denim, basic enzyme wash | 800–1,500 pcs | Wash capacity and shade control matter; avoid very low MOQs. |
| Fashion denim with heavy wash & details | 4 | Multiple washes, whiskers, destruction, trims | 1,000+ pcs | High setup and processing cost; small MOQs are harder to absorb. |
| Multi-panel outerwear with many trims | 5 | Many components, zips, hardware, possible bonding | 1,200+ pcs | Best handled by more specialised units with strong CM and planning. |
A simple way to explain this internally is to sketch a line chart: complexity level on the X-axis, minimum comfortable MOQ on the Y-axis. The line rises as styles become more complex.
Tools for factories and manufacturers
If you are a Bangladesh manufacturer, these tools help you present your factory clearly and decide whether the enquiries you receive are a good fit for your capacity and capabilities.
FOR BANGLADESH MANUFACTURERS
Factory self-assessment checklist
A structured way to present your compliance, capacity and product focus so I can see quickly where you fit in the buyer landscape.
FOR BUYER-FACING PRESENTATIONS
Factory profile template
A simple structure to turn your self-assessment into a clear, buyer-ready factory profile.
Factory self-assessment checklist
Use this internally first, then share it when you apply as a manufacturing partner. It helps us avoid misunderstandings on capacity, product focus and compliance.
| Area | Question | Notes / your answer |
|---|---|---|
| Factory identity | Legal name, trade name, address, year of establishment | |
| Product focus | Main product categories (e.g. woven shirts, bottoms, denim, knit tops, kidswear) | |
| Annual capacity | Approximate annual production capacity by category (pcs/year) | |
| Typical order size | Typical order size range you are most comfortable with per style/colour | |
| Key buyers / markets | Current or previous export markets and notable buyers (if not confidential) | |
| Compliance status | List of current certifications and audit types (RSC, BSCI, WRAP, SEDEX, brand audits, etc.) | |
| Merchandising team | Number of merchandisers, language capabilities, working hours and communication style | |
| QA & testing | In-house QA team, external labs used, any regular testing protocols | |
| Washing / processes | In-house or outsourced washing, printing, embroidery, special treatments | |
| Lead times | Typical lead time for repeats and for new styles (from PO to ex-factory) | |
| Investment approach | How willing are you to invest in development sampling and PD for strategic buyers? |
Complete this checklist and convert it into a clean PDF or one-page profile. Share it when you apply as a manufacturing partner so we can quickly see where you fit.
Factory profile template
This structure is designed for Bangladesh garment manufacturers who want to present a clear, buyer-ready profile. Replace the bracketed text with your own information.
Header & factory identity
Give buyers a quick, accurate snapshot of who you are and how to reach you.
At a glance – key facts
Summarise the scale and focus of your factory in one place.
Product portfolio & technical capability
Make it very clear what you are strong at so buyers can match you to the right programmes.
Production, capacity & planning
Show that you can plan and run programmes reliably, not only make samples.
Compliance & certifications
Buyers look for clear, up-to-date compliance information.
Quality, testing & technical support
Explain how you keep quality consistent from first sample to bulk production.
Sustainability & worker welfare
Highlight genuine efforts, not marketing slogans.
Buyer fit, service model & next steps
Make clear which buyers you are best suited for and how you prefer to work.
How order volume and complexity influence factory attention
Factories decide where to put their best people and capacity. This simple model shows how different combinations of order volume and style complexity typically affect the attention you receive.
| Scenario | Order volume band | Complexity level (1–5) | Likely attention level from factory (1–10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very small, simple test | 150–300 pcs | 1 | 5–6 |
| Small order, medium complexity | 300–600 pcs | 3 | 4–5 |
| Medium order, simple styles | 600–1,200 pcs | 1–2 | 7–8 |
| Core programme, medium complexity | 1,200–3,000 pcs | 3 | 8–9 |
| High-volume, complex key account programme | 3,000+ pcs | 4–5 | 7–9 (depends heavily on relationship) |
Risk vs speed when opening new factories
If you want extremely fast onboarding with very low information, risk goes up. This model explains why it is worth investing a little more time upfront in profiling and sampling.
| Approach | Information shared upfront | Sampling depth | Onboarding speed | Risk of misfit (1–5) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| “Just give me best FOB” | Very low | Minimal | Fast | 5 |
| Basic profile + price-only comparison | Low | Low | Fast | 4 |
| Structured brief + profile + sampling | Medium | Medium | Moderate | 2–3 |
| Full brief + T&A + trial programme | High | High | Slower | 1–2 |
Digital sourcing assistant for Bangladesh (AI)
Alongside human work, I am building a digital assistant trained on real Bangladesh sourcing scenarios—covering MOQs, product mixes, factory types and typical risks. The goal is to give you a structured first view of what is realistic before we start a direct conversation.
What this assistant will help you with
• Check whether Bangladesh is a good fit for your product and price level
• Think through MOQ and style complexity combinations before you brief factories
• Prepare a clearer sourcing brief using the tools on this page
• Understand when you should talk to a real person instead of relying on a tool
How to access it
I am currently running this assistant in a controlled way while I refine the logic with real buyer cases.
You can try the current version via ChatGPT, and if you would like to be notified as I release new capabilities,
send me a message and include “Digital sourcing assistant” in your note.
Current beta version (requires a ChatGPT account)
Ready to put these tools into action?
Fill in the buyer checklist or factory self-assessment and share it with me. I will review whether Bangladesh is the right base for what you are planning—and what a sensible first step looks like.