Full Package Production
Full Package Production (FPP) is a manufacturing model in which the factory handles the complete production process — from fabric sourcing and pattern making through to finished, packed garments — with minimal involvement required from the brand.
On This Page
What is Full Package Production?
Full Package Production (FPP), also known as Full Package (FP) or Full Package Manufacturing, is a comprehensive supply chain model in which the garment manufacturer takes responsibility for nearly every production step. The brand or buyer provides the design brief, tech pack, and approvals; the factory manages sourcing, pattern making, sampling, production, finishing, labelling, and packing.
What FPP Includes
A full package manufacturer handles:
- Fabric sourcing: Procuring the specified fabric from mills, negotiating fabric prices, and managing quality inspection of incoming fabric
- Trims sourcing: Sourcing all buttons, zippers, labels, threads, and other trims per the brand's specifications
- Pattern making: Developing production patterns from the tech pack or design brief
- Sample development: Proto samples, fit samples, and pre-production samples
- Bulk cutting: Spreading, marker making, and cutting fabric for production
- Sewing and assembly: All garment construction operations
- Quality control: In-line and end-line QC checks
- Finishing: Pressing, thread trimming, spot cleaning
- Labelling and hang-tagging: Applying brand labels, care labels, hang tags, and price tickets per buyer spec
- Packing: Folding, poly-bagging, boxing per buyer's packing instructions
- Export documentation: In many cases, managing shipping and export compliance
FPP vs. CMT vs. CM
- CMT (Cut, Make, Trim): The factory does only cutting, sewing, and basic trims attachment. The brand provides pre-sourced fabric and trims. Most common in India's small-to-medium manufacturing sector
- CM (Cut and Make): The factory cuts and sews; brand provides all materials including trims. Less common
- FPP: Factory provides everything. Brand engages at design brief, sample approval, and final QC stages
Who Uses FPP?
FPP is the dominant model for international brands sourcing from South and Southeast Asia. Large US and European fashion brands working with factories in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and increasingly India use FPP. It is also growing among Indian D2C brands that want manufacturing convenience over supply chain control.
Why This Matters for Fashion Entrepreneurs
Full Package Production is a double-edged sword for emerging fashion entrepreneurs in India. Here is the honest perspective:
The case for FPP:
If you are building a brand and your core competency is design, marketing, and customer experience — not supply chain management — FPP lets you focus on your strengths. You provide the design, approve the samples, and receive finished, packed garments. This is particularly appealing for founder-led brands where the founder is not a supply chain expert.
FPP also reduces the working capital burden of pre-purchasing fabric and trims. The factory carries that cost and recoups it in the final invoice. For cash-constrained early-stage brands, this can be meaningful.
The case against FPP:
With FPP, you lose visibility and control over your supply chain. You do not know exactly which fabric mill was used, what quality of trims were sourced, or whether labour standards were maintained. This matters enormously if your brand has sustainability, ethical production, or premium quality positioning.
FPP pricing is also less transparent — the manufacturer builds their sourcing margin into the garment price, and you cannot optimise individual components. CMT with your own fabric and trims sourcing typically gives 20–35% better cost control.
The hybrid approach: Many sophisticated Indian brands use a middle path — they source and approve fabric themselves (ensuring quality and ethical sourcing), but let the manufacturer handle trims procurement and all manufacturing steps. This gives control over the most brand-defining input while reducing operational burden.
Vetting FPP manufacturers: If you choose FPP, invest in thorough factory auditing. Visit the facility, review their existing client list and references, and specify your quality standards in writing before committing to a production run.
Sourcing Guide
FPP manufacturers in India with the capability to handle end-to-end production:
Bangalore (major export hub):
- Several large garment manufacturing units in the Peenya and Bommasandra industrial areas have full FPP capability, serving international buyers from Europe and the US
- Suitable for woven garments, shirts, trousers, and outerwear
Tirupur (knitwear FPP):
- The most developed FPP ecosystem for knitwear in India
- Full package manufacturers here can source cotton/yarn, knit fabric, cut, sew, dye, and pack — delivering finished branded T-shirts and jerseys
- Many are GOTS, Oeko-Tex, and SA8000 certified — ideal for sustainability-conscious brands
Jaipur (ethnic and artisan FPP):
- Several ethical fashion manufacturers in Jaipur offer FPP for block-print, hand-embroidered, and artisanal collections — fabric from local mills, craft from local artisans, finishing and packing in-house
How to find FPP manufacturers:
- Fibre2Fashion: B2B portal with manufacturer capability listings including FPP
- AEPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council): Directory of export-certified Indian garment manufacturers, many with FPP capability
- Referrals from other brands: The fashion entrepreneur community in Bangalore (via spaces like Apex Fashion Lab) is a strong referral network for vetted manufacturers
- Trade fairs: India International Garment Fair (Delhi) and Texfair (Chennai) are venues where FPP manufacturers actively seek buyers
Pricing & Costs
FPP pricing is typically quoted as a single per-garment FOB (Free on Board) or ex-factory price covering all inputs and operations:
FPP price structure (what is included):
- Fabric cost (+ manufacturer's sourcing margin of 5–15%)
- Trims cost (+ sourcing margin)
- CMT (cutting, sewing, finishing)
- Sampling and development amortised over order quantity
- QC and packing
- Manufacturer's profit margin
Example FPP pricing for a basic cotton T-shirt:
- Fabric: ₹80–₹120 per unit
- Trims (label, thread, hang tag): ₹20–₹40 per unit
- CMT: ₹100–₹160 per unit
- Overhead and margin: ₹50–₹100 per unit
- Total FPP price: ₹250–₹420 per unit | USD 3.00–5.04
(vs. CMT + your own fabric/trims at ₹200–₹350 per unit — FPP is 15–30% more expensive but far more convenient)
For more complex garments:
- FPP shirt: ₹500–₹900 per unit | USD 6.00–10.80
- FPP jacket: ₹1,200–₹2,500 per unit | USD 14.40–30.00
- FPP denim trouser: ₹800–₹1,600 per unit | USD 9.60–19.20
MOQ for FPP:
- Small FPP units: 100–300 pieces per style
- Mid-size FPP manufacturers: 300–500 pieces per style
- Large export FPP factories: 500–2,000+ pieces per style
Payment terms for FPP typically involve a 30–50% deposit on order confirmation and balance on shipment or delivery.
Frequently Asked Questions
In CMT (Cut, Make, Trim), the brand sources and supplies all fabric and trims to the factory, which only performs cutting, sewing, and basic assembly. In FPP, the factory sources fabric and trims on the brand's behalf and handles all production steps through to finished, packed garments. FPP is more convenient but less transparent and typically 15–30% more expensive than CMT with self-sourced materials.
FPP can work for small brands that prioritise design and marketing over supply chain management, provided the FPP manufacturer is thoroughly vetted. However, small brands lose supply chain visibility and cost control. A common emerging-brand approach is to start with CMT to learn the supply chain, then selectively move to FPP for categories where you have confidence in your manufacturer's sourcing.
Specify your fabric requirements in precise detail in your tech pack — fibre composition, GSM weight, weave/knit structure, colour standard, and key physical properties (shrinkage, colorfastness ratings). Request fabric composition certificates and quality test reports from the factory before bulk production. Include a pre-production sample approval stage where you can inspect fabric and trims before cutting begins.
Related Guides
On This Page
Related Terms
Learn More in Fashionpreneur
Deep dive into manufacturing and build your fashion brand with expert mentorship.
Explore Fashionpreneur ProgramBrowse by Category
Ready to Build Your Fashion Brand?
Understanding terminology is just the beginning. Join Fashionpreneur to learn how to apply this knowledge and build a successful fashion brand with expert mentorship.
Explore Fashionpreneur Program