Frequently Asked Questions – Garment Sourcing from bangladesh

Sourcing clothing from Bangladesh involves selecting a compliant factory or buying house, sharing a tech pack, approving samples, then managing production, quality and shipping. Milky Fashions, an independent buying house since 2002, handles this full process for European brands, working only with BSCI, WRAP, SEDEX and GOTS-certified factories.

Everything you need to know about sourcing garments from Bangladesh with Milky Fashions.

🏭 About Milky Fashions

Who is Milky Fashions?

Milky Fashions is a Bangladesh-based apparel buying house founded in 2002. We help fashion brands, retail buyers, and wholesale importers source high-quality garments from Bangladesh. With over 24 years of experience and clients across Europe, North America, and Australia, we provide end-to-end sourcing management — from factory selection and sampling to production oversight and export documentation.

Where is Milky Fashions located?

We are based in Dhaka, Bangladesh — the heart of the country’s garment industry. Our location gives us direct access to the country’s leading certified factories across all product categories.

How long has Milky Fashions been in business?

Milky Fashions has been operating since 2002 — over 24 years of experience in garment sourcing and apparel buying.

What types of clients do you work with?

We work with fashion brands, retail buyers, wholesale importers, and private label businesses of all sizes — from startup brands placing their first orders to established retailers sourcing large volumes. Our clients are primarily based in Europe, North America, and Australia.

What is your client retention rate?

98%. We are proud that the vast majority of clients who work with us continue to do so year after year. Our long-term partnerships are built on transparency, reliability, and consistent quality.

👕 Products & Categories

What types of garments can you source?

We source across a wide range of product categories including:

Knitwear — t-shirts, polos, sweatshirts, hoodies, activewear, loungewear
Woven garments — shirts, blouses, trousers, shorts, jackets
Denim — jeans, jackets, skirts, shorts
Sweaters — fully fashioned and cut-and-sewn knitwear
Outerwear — padded jackets, coats, windbreakers
Workwear & uniforms
Intimate apparel & nightwear

If you don’t see your product category listed, contact us — we can almost certainly help.

Can you source sustainable and organic garments?

Yes. We work with factories certified for organic and sustainable production, including GOTS-certified (Global Organic Textile Standard) facilities. We can source garments made from organic cotton, recycled polyester, TENCEL™, and other eco-friendly materials.

Can you help with custom designs and private label?

Absolutely. We handle full private label development — from your design brief or sketch through to finished, branded, packaged product ready for retail. This includes fabric development, trim sourcing, label and packaging design coordination, and sample development.

Do you offer fabric sourcing as well as garment manufacturing?

Yes. Bangladesh has a strong local textile industry. We can source fabrics locally or import specific materials as required by your product specification.

📦 Orders & Minimum Quantities

What is your minimum order quantity (MOQ)?

MOQs vary by product category and factory. General guidelines:

Basic knitwear (t-shirts, polos): 500–1,000 pieces per colour per style
Woven garments: 500–2,000 pieces per colour per style
Sweaters: 300–500 pieces per colour per style
Denim: 500–1,000 pieces per colour per style
Outerwear: 300–500 pieces per style

If you are a smaller buyer, contact us — we may be able to consolidate your order with other buyers or identify factories with lower MOQs for your specific product.

Can I order samples before placing a bulk order?

Yes — and we strongly recommend it. We never advise placing a bulk order without approving samples first. The standard sample process includes proto samples, fit samples, size sets, pre-production samples, and top-of-production samples. Sample costs are typically charged and credited against your first bulk order.

How do I place an order with Milky Fashions?

The process is simple:

Contact us with your product brief
We recommend suitable factories and provide a price quote
You approve the quote and we arrange sample development
You approve samples and confirm the bulk order
You pay the deposit and production begins
We manage quality control throughout production
Final inspection is conducted before shipment
Goods are shipped and delivered to your door

What information do I need to provide to get a quote?

To provide an accurate quote we need: product category, fabric composition and weight (GSM), construction details, colours (Pantone references if possible), sizes, quantity per style per colour, target price, required certifications, and delivery deadline.

💰 Pricing & Payment

How is garment pricing calculated?

Garments from Bangladesh are typically priced on FOB (Free On Board) terms — meaning the price covers all costs up to the point goods are loaded onto the vessel at Chittagong port. Your total landed cost will be FOB price + international freight + insurance + import duty (0% from Bangladesh to the EU) + customs clearance.

What are your payment terms?

Standard payment terms are 30% deposit upon order confirmation and 70% balance payment against shipping documents (Bill of Lading). For established clients, we can discuss Letter of Credit (L/C) arrangements for larger orders.

Are there any hidden fees?

No. We operate with full pricing transparency. All costs — including our buying house fee — are clearly stated upfront before you commit to any order.

What currency do you invoice in?

We invoice in USD. We can also accommodate EUR and GBP invoicing for European clients — please discuss this with us at the time of enquiry.

🏆 Quality & Certifications

What quality certifications do your factories hold?

Our factory partners hold a range of internationally recognised certifications including:

GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative)
ISO 9001 (Quality Management)
ISO 14001 (Environmental Management)
Sedex / SMETA (Ethical Trade Audit)
LEED (Green Building Certification)

We can match you with factories holding the specific certifications your buyers or brand standards require.

How do you control quality during production?

We conduct quality control at multiple stages:

Pre-production: Review of approved PP sample against bulk materials
Inline inspection: QC visits during cutting and sewing to catch issues early
Final inspection: AQL random inspection of finished goods before packing
Pre-shipment check: Final verification before container is sealed

We can also arrange independent third-party inspections through companies such as Bureau Veritas, SGS, Intertek, or QIMA.

Can I visit the factory or arrange an audit?

Yes. Factory visits are welcomed and encouraged. We will arrange factory visits for serious buyers at any stage of the relationship. Third-party audits by independent inspection companies are also fully supported.

What happens if goods arrive with defects?

We take quality issues seriously. If goods arrive with defects beyond agreed AQL tolerances, we will work with you and the factory to find a fair resolution — whether that is replacement goods, credit, or price adjustment. Our 98% client retention rate reflects our commitment to resolving issues fairly.

🚢 Shipping & Lead Times

How long does production take?

Standard production lead times from order confirmation:

Basic knitwear: 45–60 days
Woven garments: 60–75 days
Sweaters: 75–90 days
Complex or technical garments: 90–120 days

These times are from deposit payment and PP sample approval — not from initial enquiry.

How long does shipping take from Bangladesh to Europe?

Sea freight: 20–28 days to major European ports (Rotterdam, Hamburg, Felixstowe, Antwerp)
Air freight: 3–5 days (significantly higher cost — recommended for urgent or high-value shipments only)

What is the total time from order to delivery?

For a typical order including sampling, production, and sea freight to Europe, allow 90–120 days from order confirmation. If samples are already approved and you are reordering, this reduces to around 60–75 days.

What shipping terms do you use?

Most orders ship on FOB Chittagong terms. We can also arrange CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) or DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) terms — please discuss your preference with us.

Do I need to arrange my own freight forwarder?

You can use your own freight forwarder, or we can recommend reliable freight forwarders with experience on the Bangladesh-Europe trade lane. We will coordinate with whoever you choose to ensure smooth documentation and shipment.

🇪🇺 EU Import & Trade

Do I pay import duty on garments from Bangladesh?

No. Bangladesh qualifies for the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) scheme — the most generous tier of the EU Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). This means 0% import duty on all garment categories imported from Bangladesh into the EU.

What documents do I need to claim duty-free status?

To claim 0% duty under EBA, you need a Certificate of Origin (Form A / GSP certificate) issued by the Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau. We arrange this as standard for all European shipments.

Does Bangladesh have trade preferences for the UK as well?

Yes. Since Brexit, the UK has its own trade preference scheme — the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) — under which Bangladesh qualifies for enhanced preferences including 0% or reduced duty on garments.

What HS codes apply to garments from Bangladesh?

Common HS codes for garments include Chapter 61 (knitted or crocheted garments) and Chapter 62 (woven garments). Your freight forwarder or customs broker will confirm the correct HS code for your specific products. We can provide full product descriptions and composition details to support customs classification.

🌍 Sourcing & Compliance

What is the difference between a buying house and a sourcing agent?

A sourcing agent usually works on a single order with limited ongoing involvement, while a buying house maintains a permanent office, a dedicated merchandising and QC team, and long-term factory relationships across multiple product categories. For most growing brands, an independent buying house offers more accountability and consistency.

How do I choose a reliable buying house in Bangladesh?

Verify five things: independence from factory ownership, formal registration (such as BGBA membership), access to certified factories, transparent communication, and proven experience with your market’s compliance rules. Ask any buying house to name the producing factory and share inspection reports before you commit.

Why use a buying house instead of going direct to a factory?

An independent buying house selects the best-fit certified factory for your order rather than filling its own lines, manages quality and compliance, and supports lower MOQs by aggregating orders. Going direct can offer a lower unit price but transfers all vetting, quality and compliance risk to you. See our buying house versus direct factory guide for the full comparison.

Is sourcing from Bangladesh compliant with France’s AGEC and PFAS rules?

Yes, when you source through certified factories and obtain the right documentation. We supply chemical-test evidence for the French PFAS ban in force since January 2026, and the verified supply-chain data needed for the Environmental Cost eco-score. See our France 2026 compliance playbook for full detail.

Can you support EU CSDDD and supply chain due diligence?

Yes. We provide consolidated Tier 1 audit documentation — BSCI, SEDEX/SMETA, WRAP — and can map Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers to support CSDDD and CSRD due diligence, supplied with your order rather than chased after a problem arises.

📞 Getting Started

How do I get started with Milky Fashions?

Simply contact us with a brief description of what you are looking for. You can reach us via our contact page, email, or WhatsApp. We typically respond within 24 hours.

Do you have a product catalogue?

Yes. You can download our full product catalogue from our website. It covers our main product categories with fabric options, construction details, and sample imagery.

Can you help me if I have never sourced from Bangladesh before?

Absolutely — in fact, many of our best long-term clients came to us as first-time Bangladesh buyers. We will guide you through every step of the process, from defining your product brief to receiving goods at your warehouse.

I already source from Bangladesh but am unhappy with my current supplier. Can you help?

Yes. We regularly help buyers who are dissatisfied with their existing factory or buying house relationship. Contact us to discuss your situation and we will advise on the best path forward.

Still have a question? Contact Milky Fashions and we will get back to you within 24 hours.

Milky Fashions | Bangladesh Apparel Buying House | Est. 2002