Ile kosztuje produkcja własnej kolekcji odzieżowej? Realny budżet na start

When we say "real numbers" — we mean exactly that. Not ranges so wide you could drive a truck through them. The figures below are what we actually see on invoices and production quotes at our facility in Lodz, Poland, in 2026. They reflect Polish production costs — not Asian ones — because that is where we manufacture.

Before we get to the numbers: prices depend on several key factors. Design complexity (more cuts and seams means higher cost), fabric choice (Autolap costs more than standard polyester), quantity (more units = lower cost per piece), marking method, and number of colours. Every figure below is a reference point, not a price offer — your project may come out higher or lower.

With that caveat noted: let's begin.

1. Prototype cost

A prototype is the first physical sample of your product — sewn to your tech pack or the brief you provide to the manufacturer. There is no point ordering a production run without a sample, because it is only on the prototype that you can see whether everything works: the cut, seams, proportions, and finish.

Prototype cost depends on product complexity:

If you have a non-standard size run (e.g. XXS–XXXL with a custom size chart), it is worth ordering two prototypes — typically in size M and XL — to see how the cut behaves at both ends of the range. The surcharge for the second sample is usually 50–70% of the first.

2. Fabrics and trims

In the CMT (Cut, Make, Trim) model, you source the fabrics yourself and deliver them to the sewing facility. In the Full Package model, fabric sourcing is handled by the manufacturer and included in the sewing price. The prices below reflect purchasing fabrics independently from Polish or European wholesalers.

Translate that to units: a rashguard uses approximately 1.2–1.8 m of fabric depending on cut and sizes. A t-shirt uses roughly 0.7–1.2 m. If you order 100 rashguards in Autolap at 35 PLN/m and consumption is 1.5 m/unit — the fabric alone comes to 5,250 PLN.

Do not forget trims: zippers (3–12 PLN each depending on brand and length), elastic drawcords, cord locks, binding tape. In a full sportswear collection, trims can account for 10–20% of total material cost.

3. Sewing cost (CMT)

The sewing cost is the charge for the production work itself — cutting, sewing, and finishing. The prices below are indicative for MOQs of 50–100 units per style. At 200+ units, prices typically drop by 15–25%.

Sewing prices are driven primarily by labour time — how many minutes it takes to produce one unit. A rashguard with many horizontal colour panels costs more than a single-colour rashguard because it requires more cutting and joining operations. The same logic applies to an insulated jacket with a lining versus a single-layer shell.

4. Marking and labels

Marking covers everything applied to your product beyond the sewing itself: logo, text, number, club crest. Woven labels are the foundational branding element of any collection — without your own label, a product does not look like a branded product.

For embroidery, the one-time digitisation fee (converting your artwork into an embroidery file) is typically 80–200 PLN and is a single cost — you do not pay it again for subsequent orders of the same design.

For screen printing, screen setup costs typically 50–150 PLN per colour and is a one-time charge per run. This is why screen printing becomes most cost-effective at runs of 100–200 units or more, where the setup cost is spread across a larger number of pieces.

5. Packaging

Packaging is an element that is frequently overlooked in a first budget. Yet it can account for a meaningful share of costs, particularly if you want the product to feel premium at the point of unboxing.

Minimal packaging for an e-commerce product is typically a polybag plus a hang tag — which adds roughly 250–550 PLN per 100 units. If you want a full unboxing experience (carton, tissue, sticker), add another 400–700 PLN per 100 units.

6. Sample budget for a first run

Let us put this together as two realistic scenarios for a new brand ordering their first run of 100 units.

These are realistic figures for small production runs in Poland. They do not include transport costs, potential prototype revision rounds (typically 1–2 iterations), or the cost of your own time — which is considerable for a first collection.

7. How to cut costs without cutting quality?

Cost-cutting in garment production often happens at the expense of quality — cheaper fabric, skipping QC, rushing prototyping. That is the road to returns and lost customers. But there are ways to optimise that do not touch product quality.

The golden rule: do not cut corners on fabric or prototype. These are the two elements that directly determine the quality of the final product and customer satisfaction. Everything else is more flexible.