Fleece Jackets Sizing and Grading Guide for Trading Companies: 2026 Guide No.385

For Russia, fleece jackets are a core cold-weather line, and getting the sourcing right decides whether the season is profitable or painful. The notes below work as a checklist for Trading Companies that need a garment which performs in cold weather and still hits the target cost.

Compliance, Testing and Sustainability

Ask for social compliance documentation such as a BSCI, Sedex or WRAP audit dated within the last twelve months. Sustainability claims must be backed by traceability, so keep certificates for recycled or responsibly sourced material. Chemical and packaging rules differ by market, so confirm the destination requirements before you finalise the packing spec. Request test reports for restricted substances, colour fastness and, where relevant, flammability.

Packaging and Logistics

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. Insist on moisture protection in transit, because damp cartons are a common cause of mould claims in winter shipments. Plan the sailing, not the shipping date: the production calendar should work backwards from the arrival window. Cartons for fleece jackets should be specified with board grade, carton size and a drop-test requirement.

Planning the Production Calendar

Confirm the trims and the labels before production starts, since late trims delay the whole line, not just your order. 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. Keep a second qualified factory on file, because a single-source season carries avoidable risk.

Why Demand Peaks This Season

Retailers in Russia typically finalise fleece jackets assortments in spring, which means samples should be approved before the summer break. The strongest fleece jackets programmes share one habit: they are planned against a calendar rather than against a departure date. Russia is a demanding market for fleece jackets because buyers there compare weight, warmth and price in the same conversation. Peak demand for fleece jackets runs from October through February, so the buying window closes earlier than most new buyers expect.

Materials and Construction

For fleece jackets, the construction matters as much as the fabric: watch the zip quality and hem finish. Specify gram weight, composition and shrinkage tolerance in numbers, not adjectives. 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. Cheap substitutes usually appear in the lining and the trims, so inspect those areas first. The polar fleece in 200-300 gsm determines most of the comfort and durability, and it is the first item to write into the specification.

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. Payment terms are part of the price: a discount paid for with a larger deposit is not a discount. Freight, duty and inland handling can add more than the factory price difference, so compare landed cost, not FOB. Ask for a cost breakdown by component; it turns a price argument into a specification conversation. 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.

Final Checklist

Sign, approve, inspect, pack, document. Those five verbs separate a calm season from a costly one.