Reference
Clothing Manufacturing Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the B2B apparel-manufacturing terms you'll encounter when sourcing from Mughal Apparel — from MOQ and AQL 2.5 to GSP+, DDP and sublimation.
- MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)
- MOQ is the smallest number of units a manufacturer will produce per style and colour. Mughal Apparel's MOQ is 50 pieces per style/colour — among the lowest in the industry, where most factories require 500+.
- AQL 2.5 (Acceptable Quality Limit)
- AQL 2.5 is the inspection standard used by major US and EU retailers, defining the maximum number of defective units allowed in a sampled batch. Every Mughal Apparel order passes a four-stage AQL 2.5 inspection before shipment.
- GSP+ (Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus)
- GSP+ is an EU trade programme that grants 0% import duty on Pakistan-origin apparel into all 27 EU member states. It gives Pakistani manufacturers roughly a 12% landed-cost advantage over Chinese, Vietnamese or non-GSP origins.
- Form A
- Form A is the certificate of origin document that proves goods qualify for GSP/GSP+ preferential duty rates. Mughal Apparel issues a GSP+ Form A with every EU-bound container.
- GSM (Grams per Square Metre)
- GSM measures fabric weight — higher GSM means heavier, denser fabric. T-shirts typically run 140–220 GSM; hoodies run 280–500 GSM French terry.
- Tech Pack
- A tech pack is the technical specification document for a garment, including measurements, fabric, trims, bill of materials (BOM) and construction details. Mughal Apparel develops tech packs from sketches or reference garments.
- CMT (Cut, Make, Trim)
- CMT is a manufacturing model where the buyer supplies the fabric and tech pack, and the factory only cuts, sews and finishes. It suits brands with established fabric suppliers.
- FPP (Full Package Production)
- FPP is a manufacturing model where the factory sources fabric, trims and accessories and handles the entire production cycle. The buyer gets one invoice, one timeline and one point of contact.
- OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
- OEM manufacturing means producing apparel to a buyer's exact specifications under the buyer's brand. Mughal Apparel is an OEM and private-label clothing manufacturer.
- Private Label
- Private label production manufactures apparel under your brand name with your woven labels, hangtags and packaging, with full IP exclusivity. It is Mughal Apparel's primary service.
- White Label
- White label production rebrands a manufacturer's pre-developed catalogue products with the buyer's logo — the fastest path to market, typically ready in 3–4 weeks.
- DDP (Delivered Duty Paid)
- DDP is a shipping incoterm where the manufacturer handles freight, customs clearance, duties and final-mile delivery to the buyer's warehouse door. Mughal Apparel offers DDP to the US, UK, EU, Australia and Canada.
- FOB (Free On Board)
- FOB is a shipping incoterm where the manufacturer delivers goods to the origin port (Karachi) and the buyer handles ocean freight, insurance and customs from there.
- CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight)
- CIF is a shipping incoterm where the manufacturer covers cost, insurance and ocean freight to the buyer's destination port; the buyer handles customs clearance and inland delivery.
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is an independent fabric certification confirming textiles are free from harmful substances. Mughal Apparel supplies OEKO-TEX certified fabrics with test certificates per shipment.
- GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)
- GOTS is the leading certification for organic textiles, covering ecological and social criteria across the supply chain. Mughal Apparel produces GOTS-certified organic cotton apparel on request.
- GRS (Global Recycled Standard)
- GRS certifies recycled content in products, including recycled polyester (rPET). Mughal Apparel produces GRS-certified recycled garments on request.
- BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative)
- BSCI is a social-compliance audit framework covering wages, working hours, safety and ethics. Mughal Apparel undergoes annual third-party BSCI audits.
- WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production)
- WRAP is an independent certification for lawful, humane and ethical apparel manufacturing. It is one of the certifications Mughal Apparel operates under.
- Sublimation
- Dye-sublimation is a printing process that bonds dye into polyester fibres at the molecular level, producing permanent, full-coverage, zero-hand-feel graphics. It is the dominant decoration method for football and sports jerseys.
- DTG (Direct-to-Garment)
- DTG is a digital printing method that sprays water-based ink directly onto cotton garments, producing photo-realistic graphics ideal for short runs.
- Screen Printing
- Screen printing pushes ink through a mesh stencil onto fabric. Mughal Apparel runs plastisol, water-based, discharge and high-density inks for streetwear and sportswear.
- French Terry
- French terry is a knit fabric with loops on the inside face, commonly 280–500 GSM, used for hoodies, sweatshirts and joggers. Heavier compact-spun French terry is preferred for premium streetwear.
- Interlock
- Interlock is a smooth, double-knit polyester fabric (commonly 140–180 GSM) used as the standard base for sublimated sports and football jerseys.
- PPS (Pre-Production Sample)
- A PPS is the final approved sample produced under bulk conditions before mass production begins, confirming fit, fabric, decoration and construction.
- Grading
- Grading is the process of scaling a base pattern up and down across a size run (e.g. XS–3XL) while maintaining proportional fit and design integrity.
- Marker
- A marker is the optimised layout of pattern pieces on fabric used to minimise waste during cutting. Mughal Apparel uses Gerber/Lectra-compatible CAD marker plotting.
- Bartack
- A bartack is a series of dense, reinforcing stitches applied at stress points (pocket corners, fly openings, belt loops) to prevent tearing.
- Lead Time
- Lead time is the total duration from order confirmation to shipment. Mughal Apparel's standard bulk lead time is 12–20 days, plus 22–35 days sea freight or 3–7 days air freight.
- rPET (Recycled Polyester)
- rPET is polyester fibre made from recycled PET bottles. It sublimates identically to virgin polyester and is available GRS-certified.
- ISF (Importer Security Filing / 10+2)
- ISF is a US Customs requirement (also called 10+2) that importers file shipment data before goods arrive. Mughal Apparel files ISF for regular US DDP importers.
- HTS Code
- An HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) code classifies a product for customs duty purposes. Knit synthetic jerseys, for example, fall under HTS 6114.30.
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