You launch a line. You guess costs. You run out of cash mid-production. A Portland streetwear brand did this last spring. They budgeted $5 per tee. Real cost hit $7.80. They cut SKUs. Lost $55,000. I own Fumao Clothing in Shanghai. My detailed estimates save brands daily.
A detailed production estimate breaks down every penny—fabric, labor, trims, shipping. It stops budget shocks.
I price for US brands weekly. This guide shows why details matter. Let’s start.
How Do Fabric Costs Shape Your Budget?
Fabric eats 50% of cost. Guess wrong, lose big.
Detail fiber, GSM, and yardage. We quote exact.
Why GSM Affects Unit Price?
160 GSM saves $0.40 vs 200 GSM. We weigh samples. A polo brand chose 180 GSM combed cotton. Budget held tight.
How Waste Factor Impacts Total?
Add 8-12% for cutting. We calculate real. A shorts client saw 10% waste. Budgeted perfect.
Why Break Down CMT in Estimates?
CMT hides surprises. Flat rate lies.
Split cut, make, trim costs. We show each.
How Labor Hours Drive CMT?
Complex seams add $0.60. Simple tees $3.50. A blouse brand counted 12 operations. Budget nailed.
Why Overhead Stays in CMT?
Lights. Machines. Staff. We bake in. A hoodie client saw $1.10 overhead. No end shock.
| CMT Part | Cost Per Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting | $0.80 | Laser precision |
| Sewing | $2.20 | 5 lines |
| Trimming | $0.50 | Quality check |
How Trims and Labels Add Hidden Costs?
Buttons seem cheap. 1,000 units? Not.
List every trim with specs. We price real.
Why YKK Zippers Cost More?
$0.85 vs $0.30 generic. Last longer. A jacket brand budgeted YKK. No returns.
How Labels Affect Margin?
Woven $0.25. Printed $0.10. We quote both. A kids’ wear client picked woven. Brand value up.
Why Include Shipping and Duties Early?
Landed cost decides profit. FOB fools you.
Demand DDP in estimate. We deliver total.
How Duties Change Budget?
Cotton 16%. Poly 32%. We use USITC HTS. A sweater brand budgeted 16%. Profit safe.
Why Freight Per Unit Matters?
$1.50 at 5,000 units. We quote Flexport rates. A swimwear label saw full picture.
Conclusion
A detailed production estimate is your budget bible. It covers fabric, CMT, trims, duties. No surprises.
I build budgets daily. Last quarter, a Texas activewear brand used our estimate for 6,000 units. Spent exact. Sold out. Reordered.
Stop guessing costs. Get details.
Need a free detailed estimate? Contact our Business Director Elaine at elaine@fumaoclothing.com. Send tech pack. Budget locked in 24 hours.
