| Product Specialization | Experience with football shirts, shorts, socks, training wear, and supporter apparel. | Product catalog, technical drawings, fabric specifications, and recent non-confidential samples. | The supplier should clearly distinguish match jerseys, replica shirts, training garments, and fanwear. | Request samples made with the same fabric, printing method, trims, and construction proposed for mass production. |
| Fabric Composition | Fiber content, fabric weight, moisture management, stretch, colorfastness, and breathability. | Fabric swatches, composition reports, GSM information, and laboratory test results. | Polyester is widely used for football jerseys because it is lightweight, durable, and suitable for sports printing; the required fabric weight depends on the design and market. | Specify composition, weight tolerance, stretch direction, mesh panels, and performance requirements in the purchase specification. |
| Printing and Decoration | Whether the supplier can produce sublimation, heat transfer, screen printing, embroidery, woven labels, and namesets. | Wash-test samples, close-up photos, artwork approval files, and decoration process descriptions. | Sublimation is commonly used for all-over polyester designs; heat transfer is often used for names, numbers, and small logos. | Approve a physical pre-production sample and define acceptable limits for peeling, cracking, color shift, and registration errors. |
| Size and Measurement Control | Accuracy of chest, body length, sleeve length, shoulder width, and tolerance across the size range. | Graded size chart, measurement sheet, fit sample, and inspection records. | Use one approved measurement chart for every production batch; tolerances must be agreed in writing rather than assumed. | Provide a detailed tech pack and check measurements on approved samples before bulk cutting begins. |
| Quality Management | Incoming material inspection, in-line inspection, final inspection, defect classification, and corrective action. | Quality manual, inspection checklist, sample inspection report, and corrective-action records. | AQL sampling may be used as a structured acceptance method under ISO 2859-1; the agreed AQL plan should be stated in the contract. | Define critical, major, and minor defects, inspection level, sample size, and shipment-release requirements before production. |
| Color and Wash Durability | Color consistency between fabric lots, resistance to washing, rubbing, perspiration, and print damage. | Color swatches, lab reports, wash-test photos, and approval standards for bulk production. | Colorfastness performance should be evaluated against the destination market's requirements and the buyer's care instructions. | Keep an approved color standard and perform washing and rubbing tests on the final decorated garment. |
| Chemical and Product Safety | Control of restricted substances, dyes, inks, accessories, and packaging materials. | Third-party test reports, material declarations, and applicable compliance documentation. | OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is a voluntary textile safety certification that tests products for harmful substances; it is not a substitute for destination-country legal requirements. | Identify the destination countries and request testing against applicable laws, such as REACH requirements for European Union sales. |
| Production Capacity | Cutting, sewing, printing, embroidery, finishing, packing, and peak-season capacity. | Production workflow, equipment list, capacity statement, and anonymized production planning records. | Capacity should be evaluated against the buyer's order quantity, size breakdown, customization level, and required delivery window. | Ask for a capacity plan showing material arrival, sampling, bulk production, inspection, and shipping milestones. |
| Minimum Order Quantity | Minimum quantity for stock fabrics, custom colors, sublimation designs, trims, labels, and individualized names or numbers. | Written quotation with MOQ stated separately for standard products and fully customized products. | MOQ is not universal; it usually changes with fabric sourcing, color development, decoration method, and the number of size or player variations. | Request an itemized MOQ schedule and confirm whether mixed sizes, mixed designs, and repeat orders are allowed. |
| Sampling Process | Sample cost, development time, revision policy, artwork approval, and whether the sample fee is refundable. | Sample invoice, development workflow, approval form, and revision terms. | A bulk order should not proceed until the buyer approves a final pre-production sample or sealed reference sample. | Record fabric, color, measurements, decoration, accessories, and packaging details in the sample approval document. |
| Lead-Time Management | Material sourcing time, sample schedule, production duration, inspection timing, and shipping preparation. | Written production schedule, milestone updates, and agreed delay-notification procedure. | Lead time varies by order size, customization, season, fabric availability, and shipping method; it should never be accepted as an undefined promise. | Use milestone dates and require written approval for changes to materials, specifications, or delivery dates. |
| Export and Documentation | Commercial invoice, packing list, export documents, carton markings, HS code information, and shipping terms. | Sample export document set and clearly stated Incoterms® 2020 rule. | Incoterms® rules allocate specific costs, risks, and responsibilities; the chosen rule and named place must be written precisely. | Compare quotations on the same Incoterms basis and confirm who handles export clearance, freight, insurance, and import formalities. |
| Cost Transparency | Garment price, customization fees, sample charges, packaging, tooling, inspection, freight, and taxes. | Itemized quotation with currency, validity period, payment milestones, and surcharge conditions. | The lowest unit price is not automatically the lowest total cost; quality, rework, freight, and compliance expenses should be included in the comparison. | Use a landed-cost worksheet and compare at least three quotations with identical specifications and delivery terms. |
| Communication and Technical Support | Response speed, English technical communication, artwork handling, issue escalation, and order updates. | Pre-order communication records, sample feedback process, and named project contact. | A dependable supplier should confirm specifications in writing and identify uncertainties before production starts. | Send a controlled tech pack and assess whether the supplier identifies missing information rather than making undocumented assumptions. |
| Intellectual Property and Artwork Control | Handling of buyer-owned artwork, confidentiality, unauthorized use, and production of non-infringing designs. | Confidentiality terms, artwork approval records, and written responsibility for supplied designs. | A supplier should not reproduce protected club, federation, sponsor, or player assets without authorization. | Provide only authorized artwork, use written approval procedures, and request original design alternatives when licensing is unavailable. |
| Pre-Shipment Inspection | Quantity, workmanship, measurements, colors, decoration, labeling, packaging, and carton condition. | Inspection checklist, inspection report, defect photos, and shipment release record. | Inspection criteria should be agreed before production and applied to a representative finished-goods sample. | Use an independent inspection service or an internal quality team before approving the remaining payment and shipment. |
| After-Sales Resolution | Handling of shortages, defects, late delivery, replacement orders, refunds, and warranty-related claims. | Written claim procedure, response deadline, responsibility matrix, and replacement or credit terms. | The contract should define evidence requirements, claim windows, corrective-action deadlines, and responsibility for verified defects. | Keep inspection records, packing evidence, shipment photos, and communication logs for every order. |
