Socks from Zhuji: Fiber, Size, and Color That Holds

Socks are a standard product with a narrow tolerance. A centimetre of shrinkage, or a dye lot that walks, is the whole complaint. Datang in Zhuji (诸暨) is the town I use. The yarn dealers, the knitting rooms, and the linking workshops are in the same district, which is why a repeat order can be fast when the specification is already written down.

Write the fiber before the price

Combed cotton, a cotton-polyester blend, and a nylon reinforcement in the heel are three different socks. Elastane content decides whether the cuff stays up. I put the fiber percentages in the contract. “Cotton-rich” is not a percentage. For compression and medical-looking hosiery I also want the size chart and the pressure claim treated as a claim, not as a slogan.

What fails after the first wash

• Size measured on the approved board, then again after the wash cycle your customer will use.
• Color fastness, including rubbing, on the darkest color in the assortment.
• Linking at the toe. A thick seam is a return. So is a metal fragment left from a needle. Needle control is part of the factory audit on a first apparel order.
• Pairing and assortment in the polybag. The packing list has to match the ratio you sell, not the ratio that was convenient to knit.

Logo on the sole, a hangtag, and a color change are light customization. A new structure, such as a terry cushion or a left-right pair, needs a sample run. Zhuji can do both. The quotation should not pretend they take the same number of days.

Keep reading

• What a Pre-Shipment Inspection Covers on Standard Goods
• Frames and Sunglasses from Danyang
• China Export Documents a Buyer Should Actually Read