How do I choose between OEM and ODM for my first collection?

Choosing the model for a first collection

The decision usually comes down to one question: is the specific design the reason customers will buy from you? If it is, OEM gives you control over every construction decision. If speed to market matters more, ODM starts from an existing style and gets you to a selling season faster.

A practical middle path is common for first collections. Start with a small number of own-design pieces that carry the identity of the brand, then use adapted ODM styles to reach a full range without funding development work on every item at once.

The minimum applies either way. Our standard minimum is 100 pieces per style, per color, with sizes mixable inside one colourway, so the number of colours is the variable that decides how much budget the first drop consumes.

It is also worth planning the second order at the same time as the first. Reorders carry the same minimum, which makes a restock predictable, and our guide to the sampling and bulk timeline shows where the weeks actually go before a launch.