Wholesale 16 June 2026 5 min read

How Long Does It Take to Make Custom Apparel? Lead Times Explained

By The Velocity Wear Team

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Most custom apparel orders are produced within about 7 to 14 days of mockup approval, with shipping on top. The exact timeline depends on quantity, decoration method and branding, and we always confirm your dates in writing before production starts.

The stages of a custom order

  1. 1Quote & artwork — we prepare your design and send a mockup (often within hours).
  2. 2Approval — you sign off the mockup; production only starts once you are happy.
  3. 3Production — printing or embroidery, plus any branding, under quality control.
  4. 4Dispatch — tracked shipping to your destination, quoted separately.

What affects your lead time

  • Quantity — larger runs take longer to produce.
  • Decoration — multi-colour screen printing and dense embroidery add time versus a single DTF transfer.
  • Branding extras — custom woven labels, tags and packaging can extend the timeline.
  • Approval speed — the fastest way to hit a deadline is to approve your mockup quickly.

Working to a deadline

Have an event or launch date? Tell us up front. We plan backwards from your deadline and confirm what is achievable before you commit. For tight timelines, we can prioritise production and recommend the fastest decoration method for your design.

Plan and price in minutes

Design your product in the online Design Studio and check the price in the instant calculator, then request a quote with your deadline. We will confirm the exact lead time and shipping for your destination.

Order what you just read about

Wholesale HoodiesStarting from £30 / piece · MOQ 50See the range

Every range is made to order from a 50-piece minimum in 10–15 working days, with tiered pricing up to 35% off at volume. Price your order or order samples first.

Want to order your custom clothes now?

Tell us what you want made and we’ll reply within 1 hour on working days with pricing. Minimum 50 pieces per design, made in 10 to 15 working days from artwork approval, shipped worldwide.

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Free and no obligation. Want to see the quality first? A sample is £150 for one or two pieces including worldwide shipping, credited against your bulk invoice.

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FAQ

Quick Answers

Common questions about wholesale — answered.

Typically about 7–14 days of production after you approve the mockup, plus shipping. The exact lead time depends on quantity, decoration and branding, and is confirmed in your quote.

Often yes. Share your deadline up front and we will plan backwards from it, prioritise production where possible and recommend the fastest decoration method for your design.

Production begins once you approve the final mockup, so approving quickly is the single best way to keep your order on schedule.

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