Ordering guide
How to order school uniforms in bulk: a step-by-step timeline
From the first message to delivery: what a school needs to send, what happens at each step, and how long a bulk uniform order really takes.
· 5 min read · Modish Formals
Ordering uniforms for a whole school is not like ordering one outfit. You are matching hundreds of garments, to one colour and one crest, by a date the term will not move. Here is the order of events, so you can plan the weeks before resumption instead of the days.
1. Decide what you are ordering
Write down, per item, the quantity you need: shirts, pinafores or trousers, ties, badges, PE wear. Count by class, not only in total. A factory minimum is usually set per design, so a list by class tells you quickly whether you reach it.
2. Send your crest and details
Send the school crest or logo, the colours and any sizes you already have. A clear image of the crest is enough to start. Most delays begin here, with a blurry logo or a missing colour name, so it is worth sending the best file you have.
If the crest exists as a vector file (an .ai, .eps or .pdf from whoever designed it), send that as well. Embroidery is set up from it and comes out sharper.
3. Get the quote and fabric options
You should receive a quote with fabric choices, not just a total. Compare quotes on the same basis: the same fabric, the same number of items, and whether the crest embroidery is included. A low total that quietly changes the fabric is not a low price.
4. Approve a sample, then pay the deposit
Before production, look at a sample: the fabric, the colour, the stitching and the crest. This is the cheapest moment to change anything. At Modish the order then starts with a 70% deposit, and the remaining 30% is paid before delivery, by bank transfer to the company account (never to a personal account).
5. Production, and how long it takes
Cutting, sewing, crest embroidery, quality checks and packing. For an order of around 400 complete uniforms, plan for 12 to 14 working days after the sample is approved and the deposit is in. A 7-day rush is possible at a 15% surcharge.
Work backwards from resumption: count the working days, add delivery time, and add a week for the unexpected. Starting four to six weeks before term is comfortable; starting two is a rush.
6. Check and deliver
Ask to see the finished batch before it ships; a short video works for a school in another city. Check sizes on a few pieces, the crest position and the colour against the sample. Then the balance is paid and the order is delivered.
