By Private Label Leather · Published · 5 min read
Two quotations for "a leather jacket" can differ widely and both be fair. The difference is almost always in the specification. Knowing the cost drivers helps you brief clearly and compare like with like.
Leather
Leather is usually the largest cost. Price depends on the animal (cow, goat, sheep, buffalo), the grade (full grain, top grain, corrected or split), thickness, tannage and finish. Leather is bought by area, and hides have natural marks that cannot be used on visible panels, so cutting yield matters too. Large panels with few seams waste more hide than small parts.
Construction
- Number of pattern pieces and seams
- Linings, interlinings and padding
- Edge treatment: raw, folded, painted or bound
- Stitch density and decorative stitching
Every extra operation adds labour time.
Hardware and trims
Zips, buckles, rivets, snaps and D-rings range from standard stock to branded custom castings. Custom hardware usually carries a tooling cost and its own minimum quantity.
Branding
Debossing and embossing need a die; foil, printing and embroidery have set-up costs; woven labels and hangtags have their own minimums. Ask whether set-up costs are included in the unit price or charged once.
Quantity and split
Larger quantities spread set-up, cutting dies and sampling over more units. How the order is split also matters: 500 pieces in one colour and size run is cheaper to make than 500 pieces across five colours and six sizes.
Packaging and delivery terms
Polybags, dust bags, gift boxes and barcode labels add cost. So do the trade terms: an FOB price excludes international freight and import costs, while a DDP price includes them. See Incoterms for leather orders.
Comparing quotations
- Check that each quote names the same leather, thickness and finish
- Compare at the same quantity, split and trade terms
- Separate one-off costs (samples, dies, tooling) from unit price
- Ask what is excluded
Ready to price a project? Request a quotation with your design, quantities and destination.
