Packaging is decided late and affects both unit cost and the first thing a customer touches. It deserves more attention than it usually gets.
What packaging includes
- How the garment is folded and presented
- Polybag or alternative protective wrap
- Hangtags, stickers and inserts
- Shipping carton and fill
- Barcode and compliance labelling for wholesale
Wholesale has requirements
Retail partners frequently specify packing, labelling and barcode standards. Confirm these before production, because repacking finished goods to meet a retailer requirement is expensive and slow.
Where brands overspend
Elaborate packaging is often the least efficient place to invest. Customers remember the garment. Protective, clean and consistent packaging usually outperforms expensive packaging that adds cost to every unit.
Protection is the primary job
Packaging that does not keep the garment clean and undamaged in transit has failed regardless of how it looks. Test with actual shipping conditions rather than assuming.
Custom packaging as branding
If packaging carries brand meaning, specify it early so the factory can source and price it into the run rather than adding it as a late line item.