For a fashion entrepreneur, the journey from a creative spark to a physical garment sitting in a customer’s hands is fraught with logistical hurdles. You have to find the right fabric, source durable zippers, hire a pattern maker, find a grading expert, and finally, locate a factory willing to sew it all together.
For many, this “fragmented” approach is a nightmare. This is where Full Package Production (FPP) comes in.
FPP is a service model where the manufacturer handles every single stage of the production process—from the initial design consultation to the final shipping of retail-ready products.
In this guide, we will break down the mechanics of FPP, compare it to other manufacturing models, and help you decide if it is the right strategy for your brand’s growth.
In a Full Package Production agreement, the manufacturer acts as your comprehensive partner. Instead of you providing the materials and the technical blueprints, the factory provides the “full package.”
The manufacturer’s responsibilities in FPP typically include:
Essentially, you provide the vision and the capital, and the factory provides the infrastructure and the execution.
To understand the value of FPP, you must compare it to its alternative: CMT (Cut, Make, Trim).
In CMT, the brand is the project manager. You can source the fabric and ship it to the factory ,and find the buttons and have them delivered. You provide the patterns. The factory only cuts the fabric, makes the garment, and trims the threads.
In FPP, the factory takes on the role of project manager. They use their own established network of fabric mills and trim suppliers to get the job done.
| Category | FPP (Full Package Production) | CMT (Cut, Make, Trim) |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Manufacturer handles end-to-end production . | Factory only cuts/sews/finishes using materials you supply. |
| You provide | Usually: tech pack + artwork + size specs + target cost/quality. | All main fabrics, trims, labels, packaging materials. |
| Factory provides | Material sourcing, sampling support, production, QC, packing, sometimes freight coordination. | Labor, cutting, sewing, assembly, basic finishing, internal QC. |
| Material sourcing | Factory sources (you approve options). | You source and deliver everything to the factory. |
| Control over materials | Medium–High (you approve, but factory’s supplier network is used). | Very high (you choose suppliers directly). |
| Cost structure | Higher unit price but fewer hidden “management” costs on your side. | Lower labor cost, but you take on sourcing + logistics costs and risk. |
| Best for | Startups, brands scaling fast, brands that want a “one-stop” partner. | Brands with strong supply chain, in-house sourcing team, or nominated suppliers. |
Quick rule of thumb:
Working with an FPP manufacturer follows a standardized lifecycle. Understanding these stages will help you manage your timeline and expectations.
Even in FPP, you need to communicate your idea. Some FPP factories have in-house designers who can take your sketches and turn them into professional Tech Packs. They will suggest fabrics that are currently in stock or easily accessible, which can significantly speed up your timeline.
The factory will provide you with a “quote per unit” that includes everything: the fabric, the labor, the labels, and even the polybag it’s packed in. They leverage their buying power to get better prices on materials than a small brand could get on their own.
The factory’s technical team will create the initial patterns. Once the “base size” (usually a Medium) is perfected, they will “grade” the pattern to create your full size run (XS through XXL).
This is the most critical stage. The factory will send you:
Once the PPS is signed off, the “bulk” begins. This involves the high-speed cutting of fabric layers, the assembly line sewing, and the specialized finishing (like printing or embroidery).
The factory performs internal quality checks. They then attach your brand’s hangtags, fold the garments, and place them into individual bags (polybags) labeled with barcodes. The “Full Package” is now ready for the world.
Managing a supply chain is a full-time job. With FPP, you don’t have to worry about a zipper shipment being stuck in customs or a fabric mill sending the wrong shade of blue. The factory manages those headaches. If a supplier fails, it is the factory’s responsibility to find a replacement to meet your deadline.
FPP manufacturers are experts in their specific niche (e.g., swimwear, denim, or knitwear). They can tell you if a certain fabric won’t work for your design or if a seam choice will lead to durability issues. This “built-in” consultancy is invaluable for new designers.
FPP allows you to stay “lean.” You don’t need a warehouse to store rolls of fabric or a team of sourcing agents. You can run a multi-million dollar brand with just a designer and a marketing lead, leaving the heavy lifting to your FPP partner.
Because the factory handles the components, you aren’t paying multiple shipping fees to move buttons from China to a factory in Vietnam. All “input” costs are localized at the factory, saving you significant overhead.
While FPP sounds like the perfect solution, it does come with trade-offs.
You are paying for convenience. The factory will add a markup to the fabric and trims they source, and they will charge a management fee for the sampling and development work. Your “COGS” (Cost of Goods Sold) will be higher than if you managed everything yourself.
In an FPP model, you might not know exactly which mill produced your fabric or which factory made your buttons. This can make it harder to verify the “deep” ethics of your supply chain unless you choose a highly transparent FPP partner.
Because the factory has to source materials specifically for you, they often require higher MOQs to make the order worth their while. While a CMT factory might sew 50 pieces if you provide the fabric, an FPP factory might require 300 to 500 pieces per style.
We are an FPP manufacturer offering low MOQ, requiring only 50 pieces per style.
Not all FPP factories are created equal. To avoid a disaster, you must ask the right questions during the vetting process:
Pro Tip: Always start with a small “test” order before committing to a massive production run. This allows you to test their communication, quality, and timeliness.
Sustainability is the biggest trend in modern manufacturing. Many FPP factories are now specializing in “Eco-FPP.” They maintain a curated library of sustainable materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton, recycled polyester (rPET), and deadstock fabrics.
By choosing an FPP partner with a strong environmental stance, you can ensure that your entire supply chain—from the raw fiber to the biodegradable polybag—aligns with your brand’s values without having to vet dozens of individual suppliers yourself.
Choose Full Package Production if:
Avoid FPP if:
Full Package Production is the bridge that turns a creative vision into a commercial reality. It democratizes fashion design by allowing anyone with a great idea and a solid business plan to access world-class manufacturing infrastructure.
While it requires a higher upfront investment and a willingness to trust your manufacturing partner, the rewards—reduced stress, professional quality, and a faster path to market—are often the keys to a brand’s long-term survival.
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