Cord End Sourcing Program for Sportswear Brands
Cord End Programme for Sportswear Brands
This programme covers the full path from a cord end requirement to a repeatable bulk supply for sportswear brands. Instead of buying whatever a catalogue happens to stock, you specify the base material, the 3# Gauge, the finish and the packing, and we hold that specification so every reorder matches the last one.
The most common failure in cord end sourcing is not price — it is drift. A base material changes mill, the shade moves, a plating bath changes and the item quietly stops matching the approved sample. We prevent that with a written spec, an approved counter sample and a golden sample retained at the factory.
What the programme covers
- Specification build from your tech pack or a physical reference sample
- Base material and finish options with costed alternatives
- Sampling, testing and approval against AATCC Test Methods
- Bulk production with in-line inspection and photo reporting
- Packing, documentation and shipment under the agreed Incoterm
Recommended specifications
- Glass — best balance of cost, availability and test performance
- Stainless Steel — selected for colour depth and finish stability
- Bamboo — used when strength and abrasion resistance come first
- Aluminium — selected for colour depth and finish stability
Programme parameters
| Item | Cord End |
|---|---|
| Target sector | Sportswear Brands |
| Standard size | 3# Gauge |
| Finish options | Yarn-Dyed Finish, Rose Gold Plating, Brushed Silver Finish |
| Processes | Weft Knitting, Enzyme Washing, Mercerising |
| MOQ | 3,000 pieces per specification |
| Sampling | 7 working days, 5 days per revision |
| Bulk lead time | 25-40 days |
| Compliance | AATCC Test Methods |
| Delivery terms | EXW / FOB / CIF / DDP |
Why buyers choose this route
- Trim and fabric sourced from audited mills with test reports on file
- Plating and dyeing sub-processes planned into the quoted lead time
- Golden sample retained at the factory and a second one held by the buyer
- Written specification held on file, so every reorder reproduces the approved sample
- Compliance documentation issued with the shipment, not after it
How the programme runs
- Discovery call: quantity, target price, delivery window and compliance needs
- Material and finish proposal with costed alternatives
- Counter sample built from your tech pack or reference sample
- Approval, testing and pre-production sign-off
- Bulk production with in-line inspection and photo reporting
- Packing, documentation and shipment under the agreed Incoterm
FAQ
Do you hold stock for reorders?
Approved specifications are kept on file and, for repeat programmes, base material can be reserved against a rolling forecast.
What is the minimum order quantity?
Standard MOQ is 3000 per style per colour. Mixed colourways can be combined on the same spec if the base material is identical.
Can you handle our own artwork or tooling?
Yes. Artwork files or existing tooling can be used; we confirm tolerances in writing before the first production run.
Which compliance documents do you provide?
AATCC Test Methods documentation is issued with the shipment. Test reports can be ordered against any additional standard you nominate.
Share the programme details and we will propose two alternatives — one optimised for unit cost, one for lead time — and let you choose.
