Many of the brands that contact us are still getting started. Some have a sketch, some have a mood board, and some have a bag they bought on holiday and want to make their own. They usually ask the same four questions: Can you make my design? What does a sample cost? What is the minimum order? How long will it take before I can sell the bags? If you plan to start a handbag brand with woven bags, this guide answers those questions with our real numbers, so you can build a budget and a timeline before you commit to a factory.
TruGrain Style is a family-run woven leather bag factory in Dongguan, China. Our family’s weaving craft goes back four generations, to bamboo baskets in the Qing dynasty, and we have been weaving leather bags for nearly 30 years. More than 230 weavers work with us today. The same team that handles repeat orders of thousands of bags for a Seoul-based fashion brand also accepts first orders from 50 pieces per style, per colour. Read more about us.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| First-order minimum | 50 pieces per style, per colour |
| Styles in a first order | Several styles, with a minimum of 50 pieces per style, per colour |
| Sample cost | US$150 per style, credited toward the order payment when you order 100 pieces or more of the same style in the same color (quantities across different colors are not combined) |
| Factory price | From about US$20 per piece, FOB |
| Sampling time | About 2 weeks for a regular style |
| Bulk production | 1–3 months |
| First-order payment | 50% deposit, 50% before shipment, by T/T |
| Leather swatches | Free woven leather swatch card on request |
Why woven bags suit a new handbag brand
A new brand needs a product that customers remember. Handwoven leather bags help with that in three ways.
They are harder to copy. A woven bag depends on the weaver’s hands: strip width, tension and pattern all affect how the bag looks and holds its shape. A design that took several sample rounds to get right is much harder to reproduce from a photo than a plain leather bag.
One shape can become a range. Change the weave pattern, the colour or the hardware, and the same base shape gives you several distinct products. That gives you more options when planning a small first collection.
There is room to grow. Our approximate capacity is 7,000–10,000 bags a month. If your first style sells, you can scale up with the same team instead of looking for a new supplier.
If you are comparing low-MOQ handbag manufacturers for small brands, check two things: whether the factory accepts small first orders, and whether it can keep up when your orders grow.
Plan your first collection: styles, colours and quantities
Our minimum order is 50 pieces per style, per colour. Colours cannot be combined to reach the minimum: 30 black and 20 tan of the same style is not accepted, but 50 black and 50 tan is. Your first order can include several styles, as long as each style and colour meets the 50-piece minimum.
Three typical first collections look like this. These are examples, not packages.
| Example first collection | Styles | Colours per style | Pieces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focused launch | 1 | 2 | 100 |
| Small range | 3 | 2 | 300 |
| Full capsule | 4 | 3 | 600 |
A few planning tips from the projects we see:
- Pick one hero style. Build the collection around the bag you expect to sell best, then add one or two supporting shapes. If you order 100 pieces or more of the hero style in the same color, its sample fee is credited toward the order (quantities across different colors are not combined).
- Keep the colour range focused. Start with one neutral and one seasonal colour rather than spreading your first order across five colours at 50 pieces each.
- Keep hardware consistent. Using the same hardware finish across styles makes the collection look like one brand and keeps reorders simpler.
You can browse current styles in our catalog or on the products page and use any of them as a starting point for your own version.
How much does it cost to start a handbag brand?
The cost to start a handbag brand includes samples, the bulk order, shipping, import duties and taxes, and marketing.
Samples. A handbag sample costs US$150 per style. When you order 100 pieces or more of the same style in the same color, we credit the sample fee toward the order payment (quantities across different colors are not combined). Sample shipping is charged separately.
Unit price. Prices for our woven bags start from about US$20 per piece, FOB. The price of each style depends on:
- the material (cowhide leather, PU, regenerated leather, natural fibres or a mix)
- the size of the bag
- the weave pattern and how dense it is
- hardware, lining and closures
- the logo method and packaging
- the order quantity
Payment. For a first order, we take a 50% deposit and the 50% balance before shipment. Repeat orders move to a 30% deposit and 70% before shipment. We accept T/T bank transfer.
Costs outside the factory price. Freight from China, import duties and taxes in your country, product photography and marketing are not included in the factory price. Duties and freight vary by country and shipping method, so check them with your freight forwarder or customs broker early.
Here is an example budget for the “small range” collection above. It illustrates the main costs; it is not a quotation.
| Example: 3 styles × 2 colours × 50 pieces | Amount |
|---|---|
| Samples (3 styles × US$150; not credited in this example, as no colour reaches 100 pieces) | US$450 |
| Bulk order (300 pieces from about US$20) | From about US$6,000, FOB |
| Deposit at order confirmation (50%) | From about US$3,000 |
| Not included | Sample shipping, freight, import duties and taxes, custom logo tooling or packaging if quoted separately |
The fastest way to get a real number is to send us your reference and quantities. Quotes are free and we reply within 24 hours.
Choose materials that match your price point
Material is a major factor in both the price and the character of the bag. We work with the following materials and can review combinations for your design.
Cowhide leather. Our core products are handwoven genuine cowhide leather bags. As cowhide is a natural material, expect small differences in grain and tone between hides. Review the sample and agree on acceptable variation before bulk production.
PU leather. PU usually costs less and keeps the colour consistent. Swapping cowhide for PU changes the feel, the way the bag holds its shape and the look, so we review those differences with you during sampling. If you plan to market a “vegan leather” line, confirm the exact material composition and check your labelling claims before using that description.
Regenerated leather. Also called reconstituted leather, it is made from leather fibres bonded into a sheet. Confirm the composition before you describe it as “recycled leather” in your marketing.
Rattan, straw and cotton cord. These suit summer and resort collections. Cotton cord also works for macramé-style totes.
Fabric and mixed materials. Leather can be combined with fabric, cord or natural fibres. If you have your own material, we test a small batch first for cutting, bending, weaving and joining, because not every material suits weaving.
Not sure which material fits your brand? Ask for our free woven leather swatch card. You can feel the leather and see the weave before ordering samples.
Turn your idea into a sample
You do not need a finished tech pack. Many of our projects start with a reference image rather than a finished design.
What to send:
- reference images from several angles: front, sides, base, opening and lining
- sketches, a tech pack or a physical bag, if you have them
- the quantity you expect per style and colour
- your target retail price, so we can suggest materials that fit it
What we add: a technical review and design suggestions. Before the prototype, we look at the size, strip width, lining, closure and hardware, and suggest changes that make the design suitable for weaving and consistent bulk production. Then we send a quote.
How long it takes: about 2 weeks for a regular style; complex designs and revision rounds take longer. Samples go by air courier, usually arriving in 3–7 days. After you approve the sample and confirm the order, a pre-production sample takes about 1 week.
For the full step-by-step process, from the first message to shipment, see From Reference Image to Bulk Order: How to Work with a Custom Woven Bag Manufacturer.
Make it your brand: logo, hardware and packaging
Private label is what turns a woven bag into your product. As a private label handbag manufacturer, we offer:
- Logo methods: embossing, foil stamping, screen printing and woven labels
- Custom logo hardware: metal logo plates and branded hardware are possible but may need tooling
- Branded packaging: dust bags, boxes, hang tags and labels in your branding, quoted with your project
Decide your logo method and packaging before sampling, so the sample shows the finished product and the quote includes everything. More customisation options are listed on our OEM / ODM page.
A realistic timeline for your launch
Handbag production lead time is easy to underestimate when planning a first collection. These are planning references, not guaranteed dates; we confirm the schedule on every order.
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| First reply and quote | Within 24 hours of your inquiry |
| Sample | About 2 weeks per regular style; revisions add time |
| Sample delivery by air | Usually 3–7 days |
| Pre-production sample | About 1 week |
| Bulk production | 1–3 months, depending on quantity and complexity |
| Shipping to you | Depends on shipping method and destination |
In practice, plan for roughly two to four months from your first sample to bags ready to ship, then add shipping time. If you have a launch date, work backwards from it. During bulk production, we send progress updates every 1–2 weeks.
For reference, the Seoul brand mentioned above took about one month to reach an approved sample, and about two months from sample approval to delivery of 12,000 bags.
Protect your design and check quality
Confidentiality. Your files are used only for your project. We do not share, publish or reuse your designs for other customers, and we can sign an NDA before you send anything.
Quality checks. Every order goes through two inspection steps before shipment, and third-party inspection is welcome. You can see the factory on a video call or visit for an on-site audit in Dongguan. See how production works on our manufacturing page.
Agree the standard on the sample. Handwoven leather has natural variation. Your approved sample is the reference for bulk production and for every reorder.
From first order to repeat orders
When the first collection sells, reordering is simpler: the approved sample is already the standard, and the deposit for repeat orders drops to 30%.
The Seoul brand is a good example of how far a single style can go. Their medium tote started from their own design, went into a first order of 12,000 bags, and has since had about six repeat orders of 3,000–15,000 bags each. Read the full case study.
Not every brand starts at that scale, and you do not need to. Our minimum of 50 pieces per style, per colour exists so a new brand can test the market first.
Your first-order checklist
Before you contact any factory, have these ready:
- reference images, a sketch or a tech pack for each style
- the quantity per style and per colour (at least 50 each)
- your material preference: cowhide leather, PU, regenerated leather, natural fibres or a mix
- the size you want and how the bag will be carried
- lining, closure and hardware preferences
- your logo method and packaging needs
- your target retail price and launch date
- the destination country, for shipping planning
FAQ
How much does it cost to start a handbag brand with woven bags?
Samples cost US$150 per style. We credit the sample fee toward the order payment when you order 100 pieces or more of the same style in the same color (quantities across different colors are not combined). Prices for our woven bags start from about US$20 per piece, FOB. A first collection of 3 styles in 2 colours (300 pieces) starts from about US$6,000 FOB, plus sample shipping, freight, import duties and taxes in your country.
What is the minimum order for a new handbag brand?
50 pieces per style, per colour.
Can I mix colours to reach the minimum?
No. Each colour of each style needs 50 pieces. For example, 50 black and 50 tan of one style is accepted; 30 black and 20 tan is not.
Can my first order include several styles?
Yes. A first order can include several styles, as long as each style and colour meets the 50-piece minimum.
Can you make a bag from a sketch or a reference image only?
Yes. Send photos from several angles, or a sketch. We review the design, suggest changes to size, strip width, lining, closure or hardware where needed, and then quote.
Do you offer private label and custom packaging?
Yes. Logo options include embossing, foil stamping, screen printing and woven labels; custom metal logo hardware may need tooling. Dust bags, boxes, hang tags and labels can be made in your branding.
How long does it take to launch my first collection?
About 2 weeks for a regular sample, about 1 week for the pre-production sample and 1–3 months for bulk production, plus shipping. Revisions add time, so plan backwards from your launch date.
Can I see your leather before I order samples?
Yes. Ask us for a free woven leather swatch card.
Will my design stay confidential?
Yes. Your files are used only for your project, and we can sign an NDA before you share them.
Start your brand with us
Tell us what you want to make: a reference image, the number of styles and colours, and your launch date. We will reply within 24 hours with a free quote and suggestions for your first collection.
Want to see the materials first? Ask for a free woven leather swatch card.
Prefer email? Send us an inquiry with your files attached.