Apparel is sold by season, and every season is planned months ahead. The importer who orders spring styles in January is already late for the best factory capacity and freight rates. This calendar shows the rhythm that works for apparel shipped from China to the US.
The Year at a Glance
- Spring-Summer (SS) retail: March to August. Start sampling the previous June-July, produce August-October, ship November-December, arrive January-February.
- Fall-Winter (FW) retail: September to February. Start sampling December-January, produce February-April, ship May-June, arrive July-August.
- Holiday season: November to December. Part of the FW window; holiday-specific styles need the earliest slots.
Work Backward from the Retail Window
The safest way to build any timeline is backward: from the week you want stock in stores, subtract transit time, customs, production, and sampling. A typical chain looks like: sample approval about 4 to 6 weeks before production; production and inspection for several weeks depending on volume; sea transit several weeks; customs and inland delivery a week or more.
Why Early Is Better for Capacity
Factory capacity fills up for peak seasons. The buyer who books production early gets better slots, more flexible MOQ discussions, and usually better freight rates. Late orders pay more and wait longer.
Planning Reorders
Best sellers deserve a reorder plan. Track sell-through and have the reorder spec frozen with the factory, so a proven style can go back into production quickly instead of starting the whole process over.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I missed the ideal window?
Air freight can rescue a late order, at a higher cost. For the next season, start earlier and book capacity ahead.
How long should sea freight take?
It depends on the route, typically several weeks from China to the US. Your factory or forwarder should give you a route-specific estimate.
When should I order holiday styles?
Holiday styles need the earliest production slots of the FW window, ideally produced before the fall crunch, so they can be on shelves by October.
Can the factory help me build the timeline?
Yes. A factory with export experience can propose a realistic schedule for sampling, production and delivery once it knows your target date.
Should I order all seasons at once?
Seasonal buying is usually split, but committing to a yearly program with a factory can earn better terms and guaranteed capacity.
Planning your next season? Tell us your target retail window, and we will propose a sampling and production schedule that works backward from it.
