Sock Sourcing FAQ — MOQ, Cost, Lead Times, Certifications

500 pairs per design & colorway for knitted styles, 1,000 pairs for sublimation-printed styles. Mixed sizes count toward the same MOQ. For volume basics (e.g. combed cotton everyday crew) the MOQ is 3,000 pairs per color because the price point demands longer production runs.

Yes — the MOQ applies per design, not per order. A typical first order is 3–5 designs at 500–1,000 pairs each. Each design keeps its own colorway count, and we ship them consolidated in one consignment.

Indicative FOB ranges (before freight): knitted logo crew US$0.55–1.30/pair, sublimation printed US$0.60–1.20/pair, cushioned performance/terry US$0.80–1.60/pair, merino wool hiking US$1.20–2.60/pair, graduated compression US$1.10–2.20/pair. The main drivers are yarn content (merino and GOTS organic cotton cost more), machine gauge, terry cushioning, and packaging. Send a tech pack and you get an itemized quote within 48 hours.

Standard is 30% T/T deposit with balance against copy of B/L. For established accounts we accept L/C at sight. First orders from new markets may require full deposit — we are flexible for verified buyers.

Pre-production samples ship in 7–10 days by express, with a spec sheet. The sample fee is refunded in full on the bulk order. Revisions are free until you sign off the approval sample.

15–25 days from deposit and sample approval, depending on quantity and construction. Compression and terry-heavy styles sit at the longer end. You receive weekly photo/video progress reports during the run.

Vector files (AI or PDF) work best. Our pattern team converts your artwork into a production-ready knit pattern within 48 hours, and you approve a digital mock-up before any yarn is ordered. A napkin sketch is enough to start a conversation.

We run 180+ computerized machines from 84N to 200N. Higher gauge (144N–200N) means finer knit and sharper logo detail for dress and fashion socks; lower gauge (84N–108N) suits terry, thermal and athletic cushioning. The gauge choice directly affects how much detail your knitted logo can carry.

OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 (Class I baby and Class II skin contact), ISO 9001:2015, BSCI and SMETA social audits, renewed annually. Certificates are shared on request, and third-party audits by SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas are welcome.

Yes: GOTS-certified organic cotton, RWS-certified merino wool, and GRS-certified recycled polyester are all in regular production. Certification scope documents (transaction certificates) are issued with the shipment.

One accountable QC chain from yarn to carton: supplier yarn-lot inspection, inline checks at knitting, linking, boarding and pairing, and AQL 2.5 final inspection with a photo report on every shipment. Our in-house lab tests colorfastness (ISO 105), dimensional stability (ISO 5077, ±3% after 5 washes), pilling (ISO 12945-2) and mmHg pressure for compression styles.

Yes. We produce 15–20 mmHg and 20–30 mmHg graduated compression, verified against RAL-GZ 387 (±10% of stated class) on in-house pressure testers, with pharmacy-ready packaging as an option.

Kids' styles are built to OEKO-TEX® Class I and tested to the strictest child-product requirements, with no loose trinkets that fail pull tests. Documentation supports EN 71 and CPSIA tracking-label programs on request.

FOB Ningbo or Shanghai, CIF, and DDP to your warehouse. Our documentation team prepares CO, Form E and market-specific certificates. Roughly 60% of our programs ship FOB; Middle East buyers often take DDP.

We currently serve customers in 42 countries across the Middle East, Europe, North America and Oceania. If you have a forwarder, we ship to their instructions; if not, we quote door-to-door freight.

Absolutely — SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas or your appointed inspector are welcome before shipment. We also allow a pre-shipment factory visit, or a live video walkthrough if you cannot travel.

Yes: branded header bands, hook boxes, hangtags, barcodes and retail-ready multipacks (e.g. 5-packs for school uniform programs) are produced in-house or with partner printers. Packaging is quoted as a separate line in the itemized quote.

Email sales@soxmill.com or message WhatsApp +86 182 1840 7716 with your artwork (or a reference photo), target quantity, delivery market and target price if you have one. You receive an itemized quote within 48 hours on working days.