Material grade and yield
Material cost depends on grade and width, and on how efficiently the pattern pieces nest when the material is cut.
Buyer Guide · Published October 19, 2026
What determines MOQ, sampling time, lead time, and price for custom bags.
Kanrow does not publish one MOQ or lead time for every bag. Both are confirmed per project, because they depend on materials, colors, components, branding, packing, and the production plan. This guide explains each factor and what to send for a firm quote.
Reviewed by Spirit, Kanrow sales team · spirit@dgkanrow.com
Short Answer
The largest material minimum and the slowest component usually set the numbers.
Stock materials, standard hardware, and simple branding keep minimums and timing down. Custom-dyed materials, tooled logo parts, printed packaging, and extra sample rounds raise them. Kanrow confirms the MOQ per colorway, sampling time, bulk lead time, and unit price in the quotation once the brief is clear.
Prepare your RFQMinimum Order Quantity
Six factors that set the MOQ for a custom bag.
| Factor | Why it changes the minimum | How to keep it low |
|---|---|---|
| Material and color | Material suppliers sell by the roll, and custom-dyed colors are produced in dye lots with their own minimums. | Use stock colors for a first order, or share one material across several styles. |
| Colorways and SKU split | Minimums usually apply to each color or style, so the same total spread over more colorways can fall below each minimum. | Launch with fewer colorways and add colors on reorder. |
| Custom components | Logo hardware, custom zipper pullers, printed linings, and custom webbing need molds, screens, or production runs of their own. | Use standard components with a logo label or engraving until volumes justify tooling. |
| Branding method | Dies, screens, and embroidery setup add a fixed cost that is spread across the order quantity. | Ask which logo methods have the lowest setup cost at your quantity, and reuse one method across styles. |
| Packaging | Printed boxes, custom polybags, hangtags, and dust bags have their own print-run minimums. | Start with standard packing and a printed hangtag or label, then move to fully printed packaging. |
| Construction | Complex patterns need more line setup, which is less efficient on short runs. | Simplify panels and trims where they do not change the look or function. |
Sampling And Lead Time
Eight stages from brief to shipment, and what extends each one.
| Stage | What happens | What can extend it |
|---|---|---|
| Brief review and quotation | References, materials, branding, quantities, and packing are reviewed, and the quote states its assumptions. | Missing dimensions, materials, or quantity per color. |
| Sample materials | Materials and trims for the sample are sourced or matched. | Custom colors, lab dips, and materials that are not in stock. |
| Prototype and revisions | A first sample is made, reviewed, and revised until it is approved. | Each extra round of comments, and changes to size or construction after review. |
| Pre-production approval | Bulk materials, colors, branding, and packing are confirmed against the approved sample. | Late artwork, open packing details, or test reports that are still pending. |
| Bulk materials | Materials and components are ordered for the full quantity and inspected on arrival. | Custom dye lots, tooled hardware, printed fabric, and printed packaging. |
| Production | Cutting, stitching, assembly, and in-line checks. | Peak-season loading, complex construction, and holiday closures such as Chinese New Year and Tet. |
| Final inspection and packing | Final inspection, packing, and carton marking for shipment. | Rework after a failed inspection, or waiting for a third-party inspection slot. |
| Shipment handoff | Goods are handed over under the agreed incoterm with export documents. | Freight booking or destination requirements that were not settled earlier. |
Unit Price
What moves the unit price up or down.
Construction and labor
More panels, pockets, piping, edge painting, and hand finishing add labor time to each unit.
Components and branding
Hardware, zippers, the logo method, and any tooling are either built into the unit price or charged separately.
Quantity
Setup, tooling, and material minimums are spread across more units as the order grows.
Packing, testing, and terms
Retail packing, lab tests, inspection scope, incoterm, and payment terms all change what a price includes.
Production site
Producing in China or Vietnam can change material routing, timing, and the country of origin, so compare landed cost, not only unit price.
MOQ And Timing FAQ
Questions buyers ask before requesting a quote.
What is the minimum order quantity for custom bags at Kanrow?
Kanrow does not publish one MOQ for all bags. The minimum is confirmed for each project and colorway after the materials, colors, components, branding, and packing are reviewed. Stock materials and standard hardware usually allow a lower minimum than custom-dyed materials or tooled logo parts.
How long does bag sampling take?
Sampling time depends on whether the materials are in stock, how new the pattern is, and how many revision rounds are needed. Kanrow states the expected sampling schedule with the quotation, and each additional round of comments adds time.
How long does bulk production take after the sample is approved?
Bulk lead time runs from final sample approval and the arrival of bulk materials through production, inspection, and packing. It depends on order size, construction, component lead times, and factory loading, and is confirmed in the quotation.
Can the MOQ be split across colors or styles?
Often only in part. Material minimums apply to each color, so spreading an order across more colorways can push each color below its minimum. Ask for the MOQ per colorway, and consider using one material for several styles.
What should I send to get a firm MOQ, lead time, and price?
Send the product reference, dimensions, materials, quantity per color, logo method, packing, destination, and target date, and mark every detail that is still unknown so the quote can state its assumptions.