Minimum Order Quantity in Turkish Garment Manufacturing
Turkish wholesale clothing MOQs typically start at 100-300 pieces per style and color, lower than China's 500-1000 average. Merter sells deadstock-style packs from 60 pieces; Bursa knitwear mills require 200-500. This guide explains MOQ logic, how to negotiate it down, and what fabrics or constructions move the floor.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum MOQ to manufacture clothing in Turkey?
Most Istanbul ateliers accept 100-300 pieces per style and color. Merter wholesale lots start at 60. Bursa knitwear and Corlu denim usually require 300-500 for OEM development. Cut-and-sew without fabric sourcing can drop to 50 for sample-driven brands.
Can I negotiate MOQ down with a Turkish factory?
Yes. Combine colorways, accept smaller size runs, supply your own fabric, or commit to repeat orders. Off-season production (Jan-Feb, Jul-Aug) gives the most leverage; factories with idle capacity routinely accept 50-70% of stated MOQ.
Why is Turkey's MOQ lower than China's?
Turkish factories are mid-size family businesses, not 5,000-worker compounds. They survive on flexibility, so a 150-piece order is operationally normal. China optimizes for 5,000-piece runs and treats sub-MOQ orders as low margin.
Do MOQs differ by fabric?
Yes. Stock cotton jersey starts at 100. Custom-dyed cotton requires 300 (dye lot minimum). Wool and cashmere knitwear: 200-500. Real leather: 50-150 hides. Technical sportswear with custom prints: 500 because of screen setup.
Is sub-50 piece production possible?
Only via sample studios in Merter or Osmanbey. These workshops cut individual pieces from existing patterns but cannot source fabric at scale. Expect 4-6x per-piece pricing compared to a 300-piece run.
Related sourcing topics
Need help applying this in your next PO?
Talk to our sourcing team. We have walked over 200 brands through Turkish factory onboarding since 2018.