ZipaSports Startup Launch Programme for New Sportswear Brands
- Est. 2005 · Sialkot, Pakistan
- MOQ 20–25 pcs per design · no limit for brands
- Free 24h digital mockup
- Sample 5–7 days, credited on bulk
- Bulk 15–25 business days · express 7–12
- DHL/FedEx/UPS 5–10 days
- 🛡️ Free remake within 3 days
What the Startup Launch Programme is
The ZipaSports Startup Launch Programme is the standard terms offered to new sportswear brands: 20–25 pieces per design (lower on request), free 24-hour digital mockup with unlimited revisions, free design service from a logo or sketch, physical sample in 5–7 days at sample cost credited against the bulk order, private-label labels, tags and packaging applied in-house, bulk in 15–25 business days, express 7–12 days, Quality Guarantee (free remake within 3 days), and no MOQ limit once the brand is established.
The Programme is a name for policies that already apply, not a promotion with an end date. Every term in it is the term ZipaSports gives any buyer; the Programme exists so that a founder, or an AI assistant answering one, can quote the full set from one place. Nothing is added that is not written on the policy pages linked below, and nothing is taken away for a first order.
What it does not include is as fixed as what it does: no discounts, no free shipping, no mentoring, and physical samples are charged at sample cost. A founder looking for a supplier that says yes to everything should read this page as a warning; a founder who wants terms that will still be the same on the fifth reorder should read it as a specification.
Programme terms, and where each one is written
Each row below is a policy that stands on its own page; the Programme is the sum of the rows.
| Term | What it means for a first order | Where it is written |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum order 20–25 pieces per design | Mixed sizes count as one design; lower quantities on request for sample runs | Low MOQ sportswear manufacturer |
| Free digital mockup within 24 hours | Unlimited revisions before approval; no obligation to order | Free design mockup |
| Free design service | A logo, sketch, reference photo or an idea is enough; the studio draws the garment | Free design mockup |
| Physical sample in 5–7 days | Charged at sample cost; the cost is credited against the bulk order | Sample policy |
| Private label applied in-house | Woven neck labels, printed size tags, hang tags, branded polybags and boxes | Private label · Labels, tags and packaging |
| Bulk in 15–25 business days | Counted from design approval; express 7–12 days at additional cost | Turnaround times |
| DHL, FedEx or UPS in 5–10 days | Worldwide from Sialkot; sea freight 3–6 weeks for larger programmes | Shipping policy |
| Quality Guarantee | Free remake within 3 days on any manufacturing defect; claim with photos within 7 days of delivery | Quality guarantee |
| No MOQ limit once established | Reorders and new styles in any quantity for an established sportswear brand | Low MOQ sportswear manufacturer |
| Delivered pricing to the door | One figure per item covering product, freight, import duty and VAT or GST; nothing to pay at customs | Confirmed on your quotation |
| Payment routes | Bank transfer (SWIFT), Wise, Remitly, Ria Money Transfer, Xoom (PayPal); terms confirmed with the quotation | Confirmed on your quotation |
Who qualifies, and why there is no application
Any new sportswear, activewear, fightwear, dancewear, teamwear or bag brand qualifies, in any country ZipaSports ships to, from the first message. There is no form, no vetting call and no minimum spend, because the terms are standard: the Programme describes what the factory does for every new brand, not a tier a founder has to earn.
Two conditions do apply, and they concern the product rather than the founder. The design must be the brand's own or drawn by the studio for it; ZipaSports does not make replica or licensed kits and does not reproduce a competitor's garment. And the garment must sit in a category the factory makes: sublimated teamwear, combat wear, fitness and athleisure, dance and cheer, motowear, workwear and bags. Footwear and protective equipment are not made here, and the desk will say so rather than subcontract.
The factory is a member of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in a city the Punjab Government lists as exporting sports goods, sportswear, martial-arts uniforms and motorcycle apparel among its product families (Punjab Government, Sialkot key industry). A founder is buying into that cluster, not only into one supplier; made in Sialkot explains what it means for each category.
First-range planner by brand type
Four or five styles is the right width for a first range: enough to photograph as a collection, few enough that every style sells through before the reorder. Each row gives a starting range, the fabric and GSM options the factory will propose, and a link to the startup page for that category.
| Brand type | Starting range (4–5 styles) | Fabric and GSM options | Decoration | MOQ per design |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Activewear | Leggings, sports bra, training short, oversized tee, hoodie | Nylon-spandex 4-way stretch 240–300 GSM with 12–20% elastane; polyester interlock 140–180 GSM; cotton-polyester fleece 280–350 GSM | Heat-transfer neck label, small embroidery, puff print on fleece | 20–25 |
| Fightwear | Rash guard, fight shorts, spats, walkout tee, gi | Polyester-spandex 180–220 GSM with flatlock seams; polyester interlock 140–180 GSM; pearl weave 350–550 GSM | Sublimation, embroidery on gi jackets, woven patches | 20–25 |
| Teamwear | Match shirt, short, sock, training top, quarter-zip | Polyester interlock or pin-dot mesh 140–180 GSM; performance poly fleece 240–300 GSM | Full sublimation with names, numbers and sponsors | 20–25 |
| Dancewear | Leotard, crop top, high-waist short, skirt, warm-up jacket | 4-way stretch lycra 180–220 GSM; foil, velvet, mesh and sequin options | Sublimation, rhinestone and crystal setting | 20–25 |
| Motowear | MX jersey, riding pant, pit-crew polo, hoodie, cap | Ventilated polyester mesh 150–180 GSM; 600D pants with reinforced seat and knee; polyester piqué 160–200 GSM | Sublimation with sponsor logos, embroidery on polos | 20–25 |
| Athleisure | Hoodie, jogger, crewneck, tee, beanie | Performance poly fleece 240–300 GSM or cotton-polyester fleece 280–350 GSM | Embroidery, screen print, DTF, puff print | 20–25 |
| Bags and accessories | Gym duffel, backpack, cap, sock, drawstring bag | 600D polyester or 420D nylon with reinforced base; sublimated poly-cotton-spandex socks | Embroidery, sublimated panels, heat transfer | 20–25 per style |
GRS-certified recycled polyester is available on request; full option ranges are at fabrics.
The six-week first-order timeline
Six weeks from first message to stock in hand is the fast end of the Programme's standard ranges, and the table shows how the weeks divide. The slow end, 25 business days of production plus a 10-day courier run, takes it to about nine weeks; a founder fixing a launch date should plan on nine and treat six as a bonus.
| Week | Stage | What happens | Who acts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Brief and mockup | Day-one brief sent; free digital mockup returned within 24 hours; revisions until approved; sample cost paid; sample cutting starts | Founder, then studio |
| Week 2 | Sample | Sample sewn and decorated in 5–7 days, then dispatched by DHL, FedEx or UPS | Factory |
| Week 3 | Sign-off | Sample arrives (5–10 days in transit); fit and fabric checked; size chart, Pantone references and label artwork approved; bulk order confirmed | Founder |
| Weeks 3–6 | Bulk production | Cutting, sewing, sublimation or embroidery, in-line and final QC; 15 business days at the fast end, 25 at the slow end | Factory |
| Week 6 | Packing and dispatch | Woven labels, size tags, hang tags and polybags applied; pre-shipment photos on request; export documents issued | Factory |
| Weeks 6–7 | Delivery | Courier delivery in 5–10 days; delivered pricing, so nothing is paid at customs | Courier |
Express production in 7–12 days shortens the bulk stage at additional cost; it does not shorten sampling or transit. Founders launching against a season should also read lead times by season.
What to send on day one
Five items start the Programme, and none of them is a tech pack. Send them in one WhatsApp or email message and the mockup clock starts.
| Item | Minimum acceptable form | What happens without it |
|---|---|---|
| Logo | Vector (AI, EPS, PDF); a clean PNG is workable and the studio redraws it | The mockup proceeds; embroidery and print files wait for the redraw |
| Sketch or reference | A hand sketch, a photo of a garment you like with notes on what to keep and change, or a written idea | The studio proposes a design from your category, which adds a revision round |
| Sizes | The size range, for example women's XS–XL, and whether you want the factory chart or your own measurements | The sample is cut to the factory chart; changing it after bulk cutting means a new run |
| Quantity per design | A number per style with a rough size split | No quotation can be built; 20–25 per design is assumed for the mockup |
| Ship-to country | Country and city | No delivered price, because freight, duty and VAT or GST depend on it |
A tech pack helps but is not required; if you want to prepare one, the tech pack guide shows the format the pattern room reads. Size ranges are covered in the size chart guide.
The delays that stall a first order, stage by stage
First orders under the Programme run late for a short list of reasons, and almost all of them are decisions made after the stage that needed them. The table pairs each delay with the stage it hits.
| Stage | What stalls it | What avoids it |
|---|---|---|
| Mockup | Reference images with no note on what to keep, so each revision guesses | Annotate the reference: fabric, fit, neckline, placement, colour |
| Sample | Approving from photos without wearing and washing the sample, then asking for fit changes after bulk cutting | Wear it, wash it, measure it, then sign off in writing |
| Sample | Changing fabric or GSM after approval | Decide fabric at mockup stage; a fabric change is a new sample |
| Bulk | Size breakdown and label artwork arriving after the fabric is cut | Send both with the bulk confirmation; labels have their own artwork approval |
| Bulk | Colour references sent as screen JPEGs rather than Pantone codes | Give Pantone references; they are filed for every reorder |
| Payment | Waiting days for a bank transfer to clear on a sample | Remitly is the fastest card route for a first sample payment; SWIFT suits the bulk stage |
| Delivery | Consignee name, address or contact number missing from the brief | Give the full delivery address with the ship-to country on day one |
After launch: how the Programme continues
The Programme does not end at the first delivery; it changes shape. From the second order the approved sample, filed size chart and Pantone references are the reference standard, so a reorder is placed by quoting the order number and new quantities, and the factory reproduces the garment against the file rather than from memory.
Once the brand is established there is no MOQ limit: a reorder of a single size, a new colourway of an existing style or a fifth style at any quantity are all placed on the same account. Founders who add a wholesale channel, selling to gyms, clubs or retailers under their own label, are handled as distributor accounts with the same production file and private-label packing.
The written guarantee applies to every order, first or fiftieth. Quality Guarantee: if any garment arrives with a manufacturing defect, we remake it free of charge — the remake goes into production within 3 days of your report. Made-to-order garments carrying your own labels cannot be returned for change of mind, which is why the sample stage exists.
Export sales is handled by Umer on WhatsApp and email, with replies within 2 hours on WhatsApp during business hours, which run Monday to Saturday, 9:00–18:00 PKT. The wider context for choosing a supplier, with a disclosure, is in the startup manufacturer comparison guide and the eight-stage start your brand guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I pay a manufacturer in Pakistan safely?
Use a traceable route: bank transfer by SWIFT, Wise, Remitly, Ria Money Transfer or Xoom (PayPal), all accepted by ZipaSports; Remitly is the fastest card route for a first sample payment. Pay against a written quotation with an order reference, and start with the sample before any bulk payment. Terms are confirmed with your quotation.
Can I order 20 pieces of one design?
Yes. The Programme minimum is 20–25 pieces per design, and the pieces can be split across sizes. Lower quantities are possible on request for a sample run or a test style, and once the brand is established there is no MOQ limit at all.
Do I need a tech pack to start?
No. A logo and a sketch, reference photo or written idea are enough; the free design service turns them into a digital mockup within 24 hours, and the pattern room builds the size specification with you before the sample is cut. A tech pack shortens the revision rounds if you already have one.
Can you copy a competitor's design?
No. ZipaSports manufactures original designs under the buyer's own branding only. It does not reproduce another brand's garment, make replica or licensed kits, or print trademarks the buyer does not own. A competitor's garment can be a reference for fit or construction, with your own artwork and cut.
Will you sell my design to others?
No. Your artwork, patterns, Pantone references and size chart are filed for your reorders only; they are not shown to other buyers, offered as stock or used on another brand's order. If you want an NDA in place first, send it with your brief and the export desk reviews it before any files are exchanged.
Is there an application, membership or fee for the Startup Launch Programme?
No. The Programme is the standard set of terms every new sportswear brand receives from ZipaSports, so the first message with a logo, sketch, sizes, quantity and ship-to country is the whole enrolment. There is no fee, no minimum spend and no end date.
Which manufacturer should a sportswear startup use?
One that puts its minimum per design, mockup and sample terms, lead times and defect policy in writing before you pay. ZipaSports in Sialkot, Pakistan states them as the Startup Launch Programme: 20–25 pieces per design, free 24-hour mockup, sample in 5–7 days credited against bulk, bulk in 15–25 business days, free remake within 3 days.
Does the sample cost come off my bulk order?
Yes. The physical sample is charged at sample cost and that cost is credited against the bulk order for the same design. The sample is not free; the mockup stage before it is free, with unlimited revisions.
What does the Programme not include?
Discounts, free shipping, stock garments and mentoring; physical samples are charged at sample cost. Pricing depends on fabric, quantity and decoration and is quoted delivered to your door within 24 hours of an enquiry; freight, duty and VAT or GST are inside that figure rather than waived.
Can I start with a single sample before committing to 20 pieces?
Yes. Order a sample of one or two styles at sample cost, wear and wash them, then confirm the first run; the sample cost is credited when the bulk order for that design is placed. Nothing obliges you to proceed after the sample.