Wholesale Nightgowns and Sleepwear: What Buyers Should Stock

Short answer: nightwear is the largest single category we make — 141 styles at FOB prices from $1.32 to $15.91 per piece — and it is the one where the fabric decision matters more than the design decision. Satin sells on appearance and carries the highest return risk; cotton sells on comfort and repeats; velvet is a seasonal bet that pays in Q4 and sits in stock from January.

This guide covers the mix, the fabric trade-offs, the sizing problems specific to nightwear, and when to place the order so it lands before the season rather than during it.

The nightwear range, grouped by what sells

Four groups do most of the volume. They behave differently at retail, so treat them as separate buying decisions rather than one "sleepwear" line.

Type	Typical fabric	Season	Return risk	Notes
Nightdress / nightgown	Satin, lace-trimmed, cotton	All year	Medium	Length and bust fit decide the review
Two-piece pajama set	Satin, cotton, velvet	All year, velvet in Q4	Low to medium	Elastic waist sizing is the weak point
Robe / kimono	Satin, velvet, flannel	Q4 gifting	Low	Less sizing exposure than a fitted set
Camisole and short sets	Satin, lace	Spring and summer	Medium	Elastic and strap adjustment get checked first

Fabric: what each one costs you at retail

Fabric	Hand feel	Breathability	Care	Where it sits in a range
Satin (polyester)	Smooth, high sheen	Low	Cold wash, cool iron	Gift and occasion; the visual seller
Cotton	Matte, soft	High	Machine wash, tumble dry	Everyday; the repeat purchase
Cotton flannel	Brushed, warm	Medium	Machine wash cold	Winter entry price point
Velvet	Dense pile, rich	Low	Hand wash or gentle cycle	Q4 only; premium gifting tier
Silk	Light, fluid	Medium	Hand wash, no heat	Premium tier, small runs
Lace trim on any of the above	Decorative edge	—	Bag before washing	Raises perceived value at low added cost

Satin is the largest group in the range, and it is also the fabric that punishes a cheap sample. A woven satin shows a puckered seam, a skipped stitch or a 5 mm measurement error far more clearly than a knit, because there is no stretch to absorb it. If your margin depends on a low unit price, spend it on the seam quality rather than the fabric sheen.

Sizing: where nightwear returns actually come from

Almost every nightwear return is one of three things: the shoulder, the hip, or the length. A dropped or narrow shoulder on a woven fabric restricts arm movement, and the customer reads that as "too small" even when the bust measures correctly. A tight hip on a pajama short or a nightdress flares on the hanger and nowhere else.

Agree the measurement points with the factory before the sample round, and check the sample flat with a tape rather than on a model. For plus-size styles, confirm that the size is graded rather than scaled from a smaller block — a scaled pattern is where the armhole and the hip both go wrong at the same time.

MOQ, colour runs and gifting packaging

Per-style minimums start at 1 piece on many styles, with 2 pieces the most common across the collection, so an opening order can be a mixed test across four or five styles instead of a deep run of one. Mixed styles and collections can go into a single order, and the unit price improves as the quantity per style grows.

For Q4, packaging is part of the product. A gift box, ribbon and a custom hang tag change both the shelf price and the carton count, so ask for the packaging quotation at the same time as the garment quotation rather than after the order is placed.

When to place the order

Work backwards from the date the goods have to be in store, not from the date you want to place the order. Add the sea freight transit to the factory timeline and you have your latest order date.

Step	Typical duration
Samples	7–10 days per round
Bulk production	15–20 working days after approval
Port preparation	10 days at Shanghai
Sea freight	Add your destination transit time

For a Q4 range that has to be on the shelf in November, that sequence points to an order in the second half of the summer. Ordering in October leaves air freight as the only option, and the freight cost usually eats the margin on a $6 pajama set.

Nightwear-specific quality checks

• Seam slippage on satin — pull the side seam gently across the grain. If the weave opens, the seam will fail at the hip.
• Elastic recovery — stretch the waistband to its limit, hold ten seconds, release and re-measure. A waistband that stays stretched is the most common nightwear complaint.
• Lace trim attachment — check the stitch density at the trim edge and whether the trim is cut on the bias where the neckline curves.
• Colourfastness — dark satin and velvet are the two fabrics most likely to bleed into a light trim in the wash.
• Pilling on brushed and flannel fabrics — rub the surface and check the finish before bulk.
• Button and hook strength — a pyjama front that pops open is a review, not a repair.

Questions buyers ask before ordering

How many nightwear styles are in the collection?

The pajamas and sleepwear collection holds 141 styles, quoted at FOB prices from $1.32 to $15.91 per piece. The per-style minimum starts at 1 piece on many styles, with 2 pieces the most common across the range.

Is satin or cotton better for wholesale nightwear?

Satin sells on appearance and gift appeal and dominates the range; cotton sells on comfort and repeat purchase. Satin has the higher return risk because it shows fit and seam problems more clearly, so it needs the tighter sample check. Most ranges carry both.

Do you make plus-size nightgowns?

Yes. Plus-size sizing runs across the nightwear range rather than sitting in a separate collection, so a size run can be extended within the same style and colour rather than requiring a different design.

What is the minimum order for private label nightwear?

Stock styles start from 1 piece per style on many items. Custom designs with your own label, hang tag and packaging typically start at 50 pieces per design per colour.

Can nightwear be packed as a gift set?

Yes. Gift box, ribbon and custom hang tag are available as packaging options, which is what makes the Q4 range different from the spring one. Packaging is quoted with the order because it changes the carton count.

When should I place a nightwear order for the holiday season?

Work backwards from your in-store date: bulk production runs 15 to 20 working days after sample approval, samples take 7 to 10 days per round, and goods are prepared at Shanghai port on a 10-day cycle. Sea freight then has to be added on top of that.

What causes most nightwear returns?

Fit at the shoulder and hip, and length. Satin shows every pull at the seam, so a short armhole or a tight hip on a woven fabric reads as a defect to the customer even when the measurements match the chart.

Can I mix pajama sets and nightdresses in one order?

Yes. Mixed styles and collections can go into a single order, and volume pricing improves per style as the quantity for that style grows.

The full pajamas and sleepwear collection lists all 141 styles with FOB prices and per-style minimums. If you are still deciding what the range should look like, send us the fabric, size run and packaging brief and we will come back with a starting mix.