Starting a new footwear brand

1. 01

   How to begin

   Start with the product, the customer and the price, not the factory.

   • Define who the shoe is for and where it will be sold
   • Set a target retail price, then a target factory price that leaves your margin
   • Start with one or two styles; a focused first collection is easier to develop and fund
   • Collect reference shoes and photos that show the look, fit and quality you want
2. 02

   What design information is needed

   You do not need a full tech pack to start, but the more you send, the more accurate the quotation.

   • Sketches or reference photos from several angles
   • A reference shoe for fit, if you have one
   • Preferred materials and colours
   • Logo artwork in vector format
   • Target size range and quantity per colour
   • Target market, so labelling and chemical requirements can be planned
3. 03

   Choosing a footwear category

   Each category has its own constructions, lasts and minimums.

   • Sneakers and casual shoes are the most common first collections
   • Boots, safety and motorsport footwear involve more components and, where relevant, testing
   • Flip-flops and slippers have simpler constructions but colour and mould minimums
   • Our reference styles show typical starting points in each category
4. 04

   Material selection

   Materials set the look, the price and part of the minimum order.

   • Leather, suede, synthetics, mesh and canvas for uppers
   • Rubber, EVA, PU or TPU for soles, from stock units or custom moulds
   • Each colour of each material has supplier minimums
   • Material swatches are approved before sampling
5. 05

   OEM or ODM?

   OEM means we produce your finished design; ODM means we develop the design with you.

   • Choose OEM if you have a tech pack or a sample to copy your own design from
   • Choose ODM if you have an idea, references or a mood board
   • Many new brands start ODM from a reference style and make it their own
   • See the OEM and ODM guides for how each works
6. 06

   Private-label branding

   Your brand goes on the shoe and the packaging.

   • Printed or embossed insoles, woven tongue and heel labels
   • Embroidered, printed or embossed logos on the upper
   • Moulded outsole logos with a custom sole mould
   • Branded boxes, tissue and swing tags
7. 07

   Sample development

   Samples turn your idea into an approved standard for production.

   • Proto sample: design and construction
   • Fit sample: fit on the agreed last
   • Size set: grading across your size run
   • Pre-production sample: the sealed standard for bulk
   • Sample charges are stated in the quotation before work starts
8. 08

   MOQ considerations

   There is no single footwear MOQ; it is built from tooling and material minimums.

   • Stock soles and existing lasts keep minimums lower
   • Custom moulds and lasts add tooling cost and per-size minimums
   • Fewer colourways help meet material minimums
   • Your MOQ is stated in the quotation, with options to lower it
9. 09

   Packaging

   Packaging is part of the product and has its own minimums.

   • Plain or printed shoe boxes, tissue and inserts
   • Barcodes, size labels and swing tags
   • Export cartons with your assortment and shipping marks
   • Box printing minimums are set by the printer
10. 10

    Bulk production planning

    Bulk starts after the pre-production sample is approved.

    • Confirm the size breakdown per colour
    • Materials are booked once the order is confirmed
    • Changes after materials are booked add time and cost
    • Production is checked against the approved sample
11. 11

    Shipping requirements

    Delivery terms decide who arranges and pays for freight and duties.

    • Agree Incoterms in the quotation (for example FOB, CIF or DAP)
    • Decide sea, air or courier depending on quantity and urgency
    • Check import duties and labelling rules in your market
    • Use a freight forwarder if you do not import regularly
12. 12

    How to request a quotation

    The RFQ form collects everything we need, step by step.

    • Choose a category, or select 'own design'
    • Upload sketches, references or a tech pack
    • Add materials, sizes, quantities and branding
    • We reply with questions or a written quotation

Prices, MOQs and timings are not published because they depend on your specification; they are stated in your quotation. See what affects cost and time.