Apparel Production Calendar: When to Order for Each Season
Timing is the silent killer of apparel brands. Order your Fall line in September and it lands in March — six months after the season opened. A production calendar turns guesswork into a repeatable schedule.
Here's when to place orders so product arrives before the selling season, not after.
The Core Rule
Order 5-7 months before the start of the sell-through season. That window covers design revisions, sampling, bulk production, and ocean freight. Air freight can compress it to 3 months at higher cost.
Season Ordering Calendar (Northern Hemisphere)
| Sell season | Book factory by | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring/Summer | September-October (prior year) | Land Feb-Mar, pre-season |
| Fall/Winter | March-April | Land Jul-Aug, pre-season |
| Holiday/Q4 | May-June | Land Sep-Oct, before peak |
| Resort/Cruise | July-August | Land Nov-Dec |
The Chinese New Year Trap
The single biggest timing risk is Chinese New Year (late Jan-Feb). Factories close for 2-4 weeks, and the month before is jammed with brands rushing orders. A Fall line booked in March can still slip if it lands in the pre-holiday crunch.
Fast-Reorder Loop
For proven styles, run a tighter loop: book a small batch, watch sell-through for 3 weeks, then reorder at 500-1,000 pcs with a compressed 4-5 week timeline (no new sampling). This keeps bestsellers in stock without over-committing.
Small-Brand Adaptation
- No 6-month runway? Use air freight for the first drop (3-month window) while ocean freight handles replenishment.
- Test with small batch (see our small-batch guide) to de-risk the calendar miss — a 100-piece test costs little if timing is off.
- Mirror your market's season — Southern Hemisphere brands flip the calendar; sell Summer when the North sells Winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I compress the 5-7 month window?
Yes with air freight and pre-approved tech packs — down to ~3 months. You pay more in freight but gain speed for testing or catching a trend.
What if Chinese New Year delays my order?
Build a 2-week buffer and avoid production in the pre-holiday crunch. Communicate your must-ship date to the factory in writing before they close.
Do I need a different calendar for Southern Hemisphere?
Yes — flip it. Australian brands sell Summer stock Dec-Feb, so they book around June-July, opposite to Northern timelines.