Fleece Jackets AW Collection Planning Guide for Fashion Importers: 2026 Guide No.45

For the United States, fleece jackets are a core cold-weather line, and getting the sourcing right decides whether the season is profitable or painful. This guide for Fashion Importers sets out what to check, what to ask and what to document before you place an order.

Order Planning and Lead Time

Keep a second qualified factory on file, because a single-source season carries avoidable risk. Book capacity in advance for peak months; a factory that is full in September cannot rescue a late October order. Standard production for fleece jackets runs 45 to 70 days after sample approval, so build the calendar from the approval date. Split large programmes into two or three deliveries so that early stores are fed and later stores are not overstocked.

Quality Control

Keep an approved golden sample sealed at the factory and a matching one in your office. Book an in-line inspection at 30 percent completion: that is the cheapest moment to fix a problem. Wash, wear and abrasion tests tell you more about real performance than any laboratory photo. Agree in writing what happens if the inspection fails, including who pays for rework and re-inspection.

Materials and Construction

For fleece jackets, the construction matters as much as the fabric: watch the zip quality and hem finish. The performance buyers pay for is breathability and quick drying, and it comes from the polar fleece in 200-300 gsm combined with careful make-up. A soft hand feel and a stable hand feel are different things; ask for both after three washes, not one. A good fleece jacket starts with the polar fleece in 200-300 gsm, so agree the material grade before you discuss price.

Cost and Price Structure

Watch the exchange rate and the raw material index, because both move the cost of fleece jackets during a long season. The price of fleece jackets breaks down into material, labour, trims, packing and margin, and only the last of those is negotiable in the short term. Most price gaps between quotations come from a different material grade or a different lining, not from factory margin. Freight, duty and inland handling can add more than the factory price difference, so compare landed cost, not FOB.

Supplier Selection and Vetting

Ask the factory how many fleece jackets lines it runs and whether your order shares a line with another buyer. Confirm who owns the pattern and the grading, especially if you intend to reorder the same block next season. Ask for the names of two buyers already running fleece jackets programmes and speak to them directly.

Packaging, Labelling and Shipping

Plan the sailing, not the shipping date: the production calendar should work backwards from the arrival window. Retail-ready packing removes a handling step at destination and reduces damage claims. For a seasonal category, hold a small air-freight allowance back for the fastest-selling colourways. Label every carton with the PO number, size, colour and quantity so that receiving is quick and accurate.

Buyer Checklist

Specification signed, sample approved, inspection booked, packing confirmed, documents ready. Tick these five boxes and your fleece jackets shipment will most likely arrive as planned.