Knit Fabric Supplier Lead Time and Capacity: How to Compare Sample, Custom-Dye and Bulk Timelines

Quick Answer: compare knit fabric suppliers on three separate lead times — lab dip, sample and bulk — and on what each one includes, not on a single headline figure. Then score each supplier on capacity for your construction, MOQ, pilot runs, repeat-order timing, customization and shipping, and ask for documents that support each answer. Treat published ranges as a guide and rely only on dates written into a confirmed order.

Sample, Custom-Dye and Bulk Lead Times: What Each Includes

Lead time	What it includes	Clock starts	Clock stops	Runtang published range
Stock sample	Cutting and sending an existing fabric sample	Sample request	Dispatch	A4 size samples available
Lab dip (custom dye)	Dye recipe development and colour submission on the target fabric	Colour standard and fabric confirmed	Lab dip submitted	3–7 days
PP sample	Knitting, dyeing and finishing a pre-production sample to the approved colour and spec	Lab dip approval	PP sample submitted	15 days; a second PP round adds 10–15 days
Bulk	Yarn, knitting, dyeing, finishing, inspection and packing of the order quantity	PP sample approval	Goods ready for shipment	25–45 days

Runtang figures checked on runtangtex.com on Nov 04, 2026 (product pages and guides dated May 2026). They are typical published ranges, not commitments for a specific order.

Runtang's interlock sourcing guide puts the full sampling stage, from first colour submission to PP sample approval, at 3–5 weeks depending on revision rounds. Shipping transit is separate from all of the above.

What Changes a Lead Time

• Construction: standard constructions on running machines move faster than new ones. Custom jacquard or cable patterns need dedicated machine programming, see jacquard knit fabric.
• Colour: navy, black, nude and grey-adjacent shades often need more lab dip rounds; each round adds time. See our lab dip workflow guide.
• Finishing: brushing, raising, mineral or enzyme wash and other special finishes add process steps and may need a post-finish sample for approval.
• Volume: larger orders run across several dye lots, each needing its own shade band approval before release, as explained in our knit fabric quality control guide.

Typical Ranges vs Confirmed Commitments

Aspect	Typical published range	Confirmed commitment
Where it appears	Product pages, guides, first quotes	Signed order or proforma invoice
When it is given	Before sampling	After lab dip and PP sample approval
What it assumes	A standard construction, colour and volume	Your fixed construction, colour, finish and quantity
How to use it	Shortlist suppliers and plan the season	Book production and shipping

Runtang's own guides state that its lead times are typical reference ranges to be reconfirmed after lab dip or PP sample approval.

Knit Fabric Supplier Scorecard

Fill in one column per supplier using the evidence column, not verbal answers.

Criterion	Question to ask	Evidence to request	Runtang published position
Capacity	Can you knit and dye my construction in my volume and window?	Machine types and gauges for the construction, dyeing route, current loading for the delivery window	Own factory with 400+ textile machines per our homepage; capacity for your fabric is confirmed per enquiry
MOQ	What is the minimum per order and per colour?	MOQ in writing for stock, custom colour and custom development	Stock from 25 kg; custom solid from 300 kg per colour; custom development from 1,000 kg
Pilot runs	Can a small trial lot be produced before full bulk?	Trial lot quantity, price and timing in the quote	PP sample stage before bulk; trial lot quantities agreed per order
Repeat-order timing	How fast can a reorder ship, and is the recipe retained?	Recipe record reference and reorder lead time in writing	Reorder timing confirmed per order; our guide lists the records to confirm before a reorder (dye ratios, auxiliary products, process curve), see recipe and reorder control
Customization	Which parameters can be changed?	Feasibility notes on GSM, width, fibre blend, colour and finish	Custom development for jersey, rib, fleece, interlock and other knits; see custom knit fabric development
Shipping	Which terms, ports and documents?	Incoterm, port of loading, packing list and test reports	Supplies apparel brands in Europe, North America and Australia; terms agreed per order

Runtang figures checked on runtangtex.com on Nov 04, 2026 (product pages and guides dated May 2026). They are typical published ranges, not commitments for a specific order.

Evidence to Request Before You Commit

• Lead time breakdown by lab dip, PP sample and bulk, with the start event for each
• The number of revision rounds the quote assumes
• Machine and dyeing route for your construction and colour
• Production records or packing lists from a recent order of a similar fabric
• MOQ per colour and per construction in writing
• Recipe retention and reorder procedure
• Inspection report and lab test report samples, see our QC documentation guide
• Certificate number and scope if certified fabric is required, see our traceability verification guide

To get Runtang's dates for your fabric, send us your construction, GSM, colours, quantity per colour and target delivery. You can also review the knit fabric sample approval checklist to plan the sampling stage.

FAQ

How should I compare lead times between knit fabric suppliers?

Ask every supplier for the same three figures stated separately: lab dip, sample (or PP sample) and bulk, plus the event that starts each clock. A single 'lead time' figure hides whether sampling, dyeing or finishing is included. Compare like for like on the same construction, colour and volume, and ask how many revision rounds the quote assumes.

What evidence should I request to check a fabric supplier's capacity?

Ask for the machine types and gauges that can knit your construction, the dyeing route for your colour, current order loading for your delivery window, and production records from recent orders of a similar fabric and volume. A factory-wide output figure says little about capacity for your specific fabric.

Is a supplier's published lead time a delivery commitment?

No. Published lead times are typical ranges. The commitment is the delivery date written into your confirmed order after lab dip and PP sample approval, once construction, colour, finishing and quantity are fixed.

What are Runtang Tex's published lead times and MOQ?

Runtang Tex's fabric product pages list a lab dip lead time of 3–7 days, a PP sample lead time of 15 days and a bulk lead time of 25–45 days. Stock fabrics start from 25 kg, custom solid colours from 300 kg per colour, and custom development from 1,000 kg. Dates are reconfirmed for each order after sample approval.