Can I request a quote with only one image?

One owned or authorized image can start the discussion, but it is not enough for a final production quote. JWC may still need size, quantity range, material direction, packaging expectation, target market and must-keep detail notes before assumptions can be reviewed.

Do I need technical drawings before contacting JWC?

No. Rough artwork, reference photos and simple notes can start a review if the artwork is buyer-owned or authorized and open questions are clearly marked.

Should I include a target price?

If you have a budget target, share it as context for material, size, packaging and detail choices. Exact pricing remains quotation-specific.

What if I do not know the MOQ?

Share the expected launch quantity or a range. MOQ depends on project details, so the first brief should show the likely quantity context without treating it as a fixed final number.

Should packaging be in the first brief?

Yes, if packaging affects retail display, gifting, sample review or carton planning. If it is undecided, mark it as undecided instead of guessing.

Should I mention the target market?

Yes. Target market helps route packaging, testing, label, importer and retailer questions, but final requirements should be confirmed through the proper project and market sources.

How much does a custom plush sample cost?

Sample development starts from US$100. The final sample fee depends on the design and is confirmed in quotation.

Is the sample fee the same as the bulk unit price?

No. The sample fee supports development work for a physical sample. Bulk unit price is quoted separately after project specifications and quantity are reviewed.

How should sample-fee credit terms be confirmed?

The sample fee can be credited toward a confirmed bulk order after production is confirmed. Confirm the credit condition in the sample quotation before payment.

What should I confirm before paying a sample fee?

Confirm what is included, what is excluded, how sample changes are handled, whether delivery is separate, and what details are still needed before bulk pricing.

Can sample terms ever be adjusted?

Custom sample terms should be confirmed before development starts. The quotation should state the sample scope, fee terms, and any exclusions for your project.

What if my design is still rough?

A rough concept may need sample feasibility discussion before a meaningful quote. Send artwork, target size, intended use, quantity direction, and any material or packaging references you already have.

What is the difference between a first sample and an approval sample?

A first sample is usually the first physical version for review. An approval sample is the version the buyer may approve as a sample reference for the next project discussion, with any open items named clearly.

What does PPS mean in plush sampling?

PPS is often used as shorthand for pre-production sample, but the exact meaning can vary by project or supplier. Buyers should ask what PPS means before approving it.

Is a reference sample a perfect production promise?

No. A reference or golden sample can help compare the agreed sample direction, but it should not be treated as a promise that every later piece will be identical.

Can I approve production from sample photos only?

Photos can help review shape, expression and visible details. Handfeel, scale, stuffing, color and physical construction may still need physical sample review.

How should I give feedback on a revised sample?

Name the sample version, separate must-change items from preferences, group comments by part of the plush and state what is approved versus still open.

Does sample approval close every later decision?

No. Sample approval helps align the sample reference. Commercial, packing, shipment and other project-specific decisions should still be confirmed in the private project discussion.

Is a repeat order always the same as the previous order?

No. A repeat order can use the previous approved sample and order notes as references, but material availability, color, packaging, quantity, timing and buyer requirements may still need review.

What should I send for a repeat custom plush order?

Send the approved sample reference, current artwork files, previous order notes if available, target quantity, packaging version and a clear list of anything that should stay the same or change.

Does an approved sample guarantee future production will be identical?

No. An approved sample is a reference for review. Repeat production still depends on project details, material availability, workmanship control, packing notes and private acceptance criteria.

When does a repeat order become a new version?

A repeat order becomes a revised version when the buyer changes size, color, face expression, fabric, accessories, packaging, target market, quantity split or other project assumptions.

Should I ask for another sample before a repeat order?

It depends on what changed and how much risk the buyer can accept. If key details changed, a revised sample or reference confirmation may be useful before production discussion.

Do I need to decide packaging before asking for a plush quote?

You do not need every detail finalized, but you should say whether you expect basic packing, brand tags or cards, retail presentation, or gift-style presentation. Box, tag, insert, identifier and label questions can change quote scope.

Is a polybag enough for custom plush?

Sometimes. A simple giveaway or fulfillment item may only need basic individual packing, while retail or gift projects often need tags, inserts, boxes, or branded presentation.

Can this page tell me the final label or identifier rules?

No. Final label, identifier, importer, retailer and market-sensitive details depend on the project, channel and current sources. Treat those as RFQ or private review topics.

Does this page set packaging costs?

No. Packaging cost depends on the plush size, quantity, material, artwork, packaging format, proofing needs, and packing plan, so it should be reviewed with the project details.

Is QC the same as toy safety testing?

No. QC checkpoints help review workmanship, measurements, label placement, packing condition, carton state, and photo records. Toy safety testing and market-document questions should be handled separately based on the product, buyer role, target market, materials, and required documents.

Should every plush order use third-party inspection?

Not every project needs the same route. Some buyers use internal review and shipment sample photos. Others need third-party inspection because of retailer, importer, agency, or internal policy requirements. The stage and report format should be agreed privately.

Can I ask for photos before shipment?

Yes. Photos are useful for reviewing visible details such as product appearance, embroidery placement, label position, packing condition, and carton exterior. They support communication, but they should not replace agreed inspection criteria.

When should QC be discussed?

Discuss QC before production or packing expectations are treated as final. It is especially useful after the approved sample is understood and before shipment review criteria are locked.

Can JWC give final freight cost from a plush size?

No. Plush size helps estimate packing direction, but final freight cost depends on carton dimensions, carton quantity, gross weight, shipment mode, route, forwarder quote, shipping term and destination charges.

What is CBM used for?

CBM is a shipment-volume planning input. It helps a buyer or forwarder estimate space, but it does not by itself confirm freight rate, customs duty, VAT or landed cost.

When can carton quantity be estimated?

Carton quantity becomes more reliable after the plush size, stuffing feel, packaging layers, packing method and quantity are clearer.

Is carton planning the same as import cost planning?

No. Carton planning prepares shipment inputs. Import cost planning may also include freight, insurance, duty, VAT, broker charges, local handling and Incoterms responsibility split.

Should I mention Incoterms before shipment planning?

Yes, if shipment responsibility is being discussed. Incoterms help define who handles tasks, costs and risks, but final freight and import charges still need review by the buyer, forwarder, broker or importer.

Import process · Stage 03 Choose materials & construction — see the full step-by-step process →

Types of Plush Fabric: Minky, Fur, Terry and More

The fabric sets a plush’s look and feel before anything else. Here are the main options and the words that describe them.

Artwork, sampling & product details Guide Last reviewed June 2026

In short

Most plush is made from polyester pile fabrics that differ by pile length, density and finish. Common choices are short-pile “minky” (smooth and soft, the default for many soft toys), long-pile faux fur (shaggy, premium feel), sherpa (curly, wool-like), terry/toweling (looped, towel-like) and velboa (very short, velvety). Two numbers describe them: GSM (fabric weight) and pile height. Pile also has a direction (nap) that must stay consistent across panels. Choose by feel, look and budget, and approve the actual fabric on the sample.

The main plush fabrics

Minky (short pile)	Smooth, soft, low pile; the everyday workhorse for soft toys; takes embroidery well. Typical GSM roughly 180–300; pile often ~1–3 mm.
Faux fur (long pile)	Long, shaggy pile; premium, fluffy look; pile direction is very visible. Typical GSM roughly 300–600+; pile often 10–25 mm+.
Sherpa	Curly, wool-like texture; cosy and characterful; good for accents and linings. Typical GSM roughly 250–400.
Terry / toweling	Looped surface, towel-like; common for baby-style and bath-themed plush. Typical GSM roughly 200–350.
Velboa / velvet	Very short, dense, velvety; smooth modern look; shows seams crisply. Typical GSM roughly 200–350; pile under ~2 mm.

Match fabric to the product

Baby / huggable retail	Short pile (minky, velboa); secure embroidery; pile easy to keep clean-looking.
Character / mascot	Minky or medium faux fur for expression; embroidery or tested safety eyes depending on age grade.
Premium / gift	Longer pile or denser GSM for a richer hand-feel; colour and nap control matter more.
Mini / keychain	Shorter pile, tighter GSM; less bulk in small panels; embroidery scale must be readable.

GSM and pile height

GSM (grams per square metre) is the fabric’s weight: a higher GSM is usually denser and more substantial, which can feel more premium but costs more. Pile height is how long the surface fibres are. Together they shape the hand-feel, how the face reads and the price, so it helps to state a rough target (soft short pile vs long fluffy) in your brief.

Pile direction (nap) matters

Pile fabric has a direction — stroke it one way and it is smooth, the other way it is rough, and the colour even looks slightly different. Panels must be cut with consistent nap or the finished plush looks patchy. It is a normal production detail, but it is why pile fabric needs careful cutting and why colour is approved on the actual fabric.

Stretch, composites and decoration

Many minky and velboa fabrics have mechanical stretch, which helps round shapes but can distort if panels are cut off-grain. Composite constructions — a printed or embroidered panel on minky, sherpa lining inside, or a smooth velboa face on a fur body — are common; each layer needs its own colour and tolerance in the tech pack. Embroidery suits short pile best; long fur hides stitch detail; heat transfer and print work on smooth short pile when wash durability is confirmed on the sample.

How to choose

Start from the feel and look you want (smooth and neat, or long and fluffy).
Match it to age and use — short, secure pile is common for younger children.
Balance feel against budget; denser, longer-pile fabrics usually cost more.
Approve the actual fabric and colour on the sample, not a screen.

Plush fabric FAQs

What is minky fabric?

Minky is a soft, short-pile polyester fabric widely used for plush toys. It feels smooth and velvety, takes embroidery well and is a common default for soft toys. “Minky” is a general fabric description rather than a single brand.

What does GSM mean for plush fabric?

GSM is grams per square metre — the fabric’s weight. A higher GSM is generally denser and feels more substantial, which can read as more premium but usually costs more. It is one of the inputs to confirm when you compare fabric options.

Why does my plush fabric look two-toned?

Pile fabric has a direction (nap); light reflects differently depending on which way the fibres lie, so the same colour can look slightly different across panels. Consistent cutting keeps it even — a normal property of pile fabric, not a defect when controlled.

What GSM should I specify?

There is no single right GSM — it depends on the feel and price you want. Short-pile minky is often in a roughly 180–300 GSM band; denser or long-pile fabrics run higher. State a target feel in your brief and confirm the actual GSM and hand-feel on the approved fabric swatch or sample.

Next Resources to Read

Feel

Fabric & Fill Inputs

Describe the hand-feel you want.

Plush Stuffing & Fill Types

What goes inside the fabric.

Recycled & Sustainable Plush

rPET and certified fabric options.

Notes & sources

This guide is general material education. Fabric names are descriptive industry terms, not brands; GSM and pile ranges quoted here are typical industry bands and vary by supplier. Confirm the actual fabric, weight, pile and colour on your approved sample.