The Underwear Sourcing Checklist: 20 Points to Verify Before Placing an OEM Order
📋 Direct Answer: Verify all 20 points before signing the purchase order.
Selling underwear to Latin America and Spain requires country-specific sizing (Brazil PP-EXG, Argentina 1-5, Chile XS-XL), navigating tariffs from 6% (Chile) to 35% (Brazil), and understanding that sea freight takes 35-45 days — plan production 6 months ahead of retail season.
Placing an underwear OEM order without proper verification is the most common cause of quality disputes and missed deadlines. Working in underwear manufacturing since 2009, here is our 20-point sourcing checklist.
Supplier Verification (5 Points)
Key Insight: The 20-point underwear sourcing checklist covers supplier qualification (BSCI audit report, OEKO-TEX certificate, factory visit photos), product specification (GSM, fiber content, stitch type, seam allowance), quality standards (AQL level, defect classification, metal detection), compliance (market-specific regulations: CPSIA for the US; GPSR/REACH + EN 14682 — not the EN 71 toy standard — for the EU), and logistics (Incoterms, lead time, payment terms). Verify all 20 points before signing the purchase order. Sourcing checklist →
1. Business license verified and current. 2. BSCI or equivalent social audit within 12 months. 3. OEKO-TEX certification for fabrics. 4. Factory visit or video tour completed. 5. At least 3 verifiable client references in your market.
Product Specification (8 Points)
6. Detailed tech pack with measurements by size. 7. Fabric specification: fiber content, GSM, color code. 8. Approved physical sample (sealed) with sign-off date. 9. Packaging specification: bag type, insert card, hang tag design. 10. Care label requirements by market. 11. Compliance requirements: CPSIA, REACH, and EN 14682 documented. 12. Inspection standard: AQL level, defect classification. 13. Shipment sample retained by supplier.
Commercial Terms (7 Points)
14. FOB/CIF/DDP clearly stated with port details. 15. Payment terms: deposit percentage, balance trigger. 16. Production lead time with penalty clause for delay. 17. Quality claim procedure and compensation terms. 18. Intellectual property protection clause. 19. Force majeure provisions. 20. After-sales support commitment.
Download our complete OEM sourcing checklist as a PDF. Explore men’s and women’s OEM options.
· Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd. — OEM & ODM underwear sourcing partner
Unitex Underwear (Xiamen Unitex Trade Co., Ltd.) — OEM/ODM underwear sourcing and supply-chain partner in Xiamen, China; in the trade since 2009, incorporated in 2013.