Chinese New Year (CNY) is one of the most disruptive holidays in global apparel manufacturing—and if you’re producing in China or with Chinese-managed factories across Asia, you’ve probably already felt its impact.
Every year, factories across China shut down for at least two weeks (sometimes longer), and many workers return home for extended periods. It’s a cultural tradition and an important time of rest—but for brands, it can throw off timelines if you’re not properly prepared.
. Here’s a complete guide from Rad Sourcing to help you prepare and stay ahead of seasonal slowdowns.
1. Understand the Timeline (And Plan Around It)
Chinese New Year follows the lunar calendar, so dates change every year. In 2025, the holiday officially begins on January 29, but factories typically wind down 2–3 weeks beforehand and take another 1–2 weeks to fully restart after the break.
✅ Key Planning Tip: Treat mid-January through mid-February as off-limits for production. We recommend finishing bulk runs by early January and resuming new orders in late February.
🧠 Personal insight: In the past, we’ve seen brands get stuck in a holding pattern because they tried to push a new sample round in January. The factory took the deposit but didn’t deliver the proto until late March. It’s better to wait or finish earlier.
2. Place Orders Early—and Be Clear on Deadlines
If you’re launching a Spring/Summer line or have retail timelines in Q1 or Q2, work backward. Lead times extend before and after CNY due to the rush of pre-holiday orders and the backlog once factories reopen.
💡 Our rule of thumb: For bulk production, submit POs at least 8–10 weeks before CNY shutdown.
✍️ If your production needs to finish by January 10th, place the order no later than early November—especially for custom-dyed fabrics or complex styles.
3. Avoid New Developments in December and January
Factories prioritize existing bulk orders over new samples during the CNY crunch. If you’re developing new styles or fabrics, try to wrap it by November or pause until late February.
📦 We’ve had clients rush development in December only to get low-effort samples or no communication until March. In contrast, brands that froze development and focused on planning ended up with tighter timelines and better quality.
4. Consider Alternative Production Hubs
We often recommend clients diversify during CNY—especially if you’re launching something new or need a short lead time.
🧭 We have factory partners in Pakistan, Turkey, Portugal, and India who aren’t affected by Chinese New Year. These regions can fill in with strong sampling capabilities, lower MOQs, and reasonable timelines.
➡️ In fact, one of our clients pivoted to Pakistan last year for fleece tops and avoided a 7-week delay. We got the first round of samples in 10 days and delivered the bulk ahead of schedule.
5. Align With Freight Schedules and Customs Cutoffs
Freight forwarders and customs brokers also close or reduce staffing during CNY. If you miss the last sailing or airfreight dispatch, you might be stuck waiting weeks for another shipment window.
📦 Ask your freight team for cutoffs and secure your bookings early in January. Our team at Rad Sourcing usually works directly with forwarders to get your cargo on one of the last pre-holiday boats or planes.
Final Thoughts: Plan, Don’t Panic
Chinese New Year is predictable—but only if you plan for it. Work backward from your ship date, get your orders in early, and don’t force development in the danger zone.
At Rad Sourcing, we help our clients stay ahead of delays with factory planning calendars, fabric reservations, and diversified production options. Whether you’re sourcing in China or need backup plans in Pakistan, Portugal, or beyond—we’ve got you covered.
📩 Ready to talk timelines or get a custom sourcing calendar? Contact us at www.radsourcing.com and let’s prep for your smoothest CNY season yet.