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A Client Tried 1688 for Sourcing | Real Case

Lee Anqi — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 06:44:49 +0000

We respect our clients' privacy. The product examples shared are partial displays or similar categories, carefully chosen to protect confidential information.

You’ve probably seen it on TikTok or YouTube: “1688 is way cheaper than Alibaba, and you don’t even need an MOQ!” Honestly, that’s not wrong. But it’s definitely not the full story.

Yes, 1688 is a domestic wholesale platform where Chinese suppliers list products for local buyers. Some are factories, others are trading companies — and while the average prices can be lower than Alibaba, that’s mostly because you’re seeing bare product cost, without export service included.

For certain non-custom daily items likepaper bags, socks, or stationery, you might even find listings with no MOQ at all. Compared to Alibaba, buying from 1688 can feel like a goldmine. One of our clients from the UK was tempted. He ordered 200 pairs of yoga pants from a factory on 1688. The price was great — and the deal seemed smooth at first. But then came the catch: the supplier didn’t offer international shipping. That’s part of why the pricing appears so attractive. The factories only make the product and everything after that is your problem to solve.

At that point, the best move was to either find a freight forwarder or work with a trusted partner like us. Luckily, he reached out to us, and also asked for a product inspection before shipping. When the batch arrived at our warehouse, several issues were immediately noticeable — loose threads, thin fabric, and some pants with uneven leg lengths. We shared a full report with him. He wanted to return the whole batch, but the factory stopped replying.

We stepped in to help with communication. After some back and forth, the factory finally agreed to either refund the defective items or remake them. But their production schedule was full, which means remaking the batch would take another month. In the end, the price was cheap, but the delay cost him a full month. For time-sensitive orders, this could easily turn into a disaster.

Yes, 1688 can help you lower product cost but only if you’re working with a reliable supplier who actually communicates. And honestly, that applies no matter where you’re sourcing from. Because it affects everything: whether you can negotiate effectively, whether the suppliers respect your timeline or sales plan, and how they handle unexpected issues. Not to mention you’re typically responsible for managing quality control and shipping yourself on 1688, all of which require coordination beyond just placing an order online.

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What Is UV Coating? 10 Types in Packaging

Sunny Xie — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 09:47:44 +0000

You’ve likely seen business cards, brochures, or packaging with a super glossy finish—that’s probably UV coating. It’s one of the most common surface finishing techniques in the printing and packaging industry. Today’s blog will explain:

What is UV coating?

UV coating is a surface finishing process that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to cure a liquid coating applied to printed materials instantly.

Think of it like getting a gel manicure—once the coating is exposed to UV light, it hardens quickly into a glossy, protective layer.

It’s typically applied after printing and acts like a “protective jacket”—making the material look more premium, feel smoother, and resist moisture and scratches.

UV coating uses in packaging and printing

UV coating is most commonly applied to coated paper and paper-based packaging materials, especially thicker types like cardstock, cover paper, and folding cartons, where it enhances gloss, texture, and visual appeal.

It can also be used on non-paper surfaces such as plastic, metal, and glass—though proper surface treatment may be required to ensure adhesion. Among these, plastic packaging materials—like PVC or PET boxes and labels—are the most common.

You’ll often find UV coating on:

Brochures and flyers
Business cards
Cosmetic or electronics packaging
Book covers and gift boxes
And many more printed or packaged items.

UV coating application methods

There are several ways to apply UV coating, depending on the surface and desired effect:

Roll coating – for full-surface (flood) UV coating on flat sheets.
Spray coating – for 3D objects like bottles.
Screen printing – for spot UV, raised UV, or textured effects.

All methods require UV light curing at the final stage to harden the coating and achieve the desired finish.

Flood UV coating vs spot UV coating

UV coatings can be applied across the entire surface or only on selected areas, resulting in two main coverage types—Flood UV and Spot UV—each chosen based on design goals and desired visual or tactile effects.

Flood UV coating covers the whole surface of the printed material. It’s often used on brochures, postcards, and rigid boxes to enhance overall gloss and color uniformity.

Spot UV coating is applied only to specific areas—like logos, patterns, or text highlights. It creates contrast and adds a premium, tactile effect that draws attention to key design elements.

Different UV varnish formulations create different surface finishes in UV coating, ranging from glossy to matte, textured, or pearlescent, etc.

Glossy and matte UV coating

Glossy UV uses the most basic and widely applied UV varnish—a clear, highly reflective formula that creates a smooth, polished surface. It adds high shine and makes colors pop, enhancing the overall visual impact.

Common uses:

Marketing materials like brochures, magazine covers, and promotional cards.
Product packaging for food, electronics, and other consumer goods.

Matte UV creates a non-reflective, soft-touch surface using UV varnish with matting agents. It’s popular among minimalist brands seeking a refined, understated finish.

Common uses:

Fashion tags
Clean-look business cards
Packaging with a subtle, modern aesthetic

Soft-touch UV coating

Soft-touch UV combines a matte finish with a velvety, suede-like texture that feels smooth and warm to the touch. It mimics the feel of materials like microfiber or velvet, offering a tactile experience that goes beyond visual appeal.

Common uses:

Product boxes aiming to evoke softness or comfort.
Premium brochures with a warm, emotional feel.
Brand materials designed for intimacy or elegance.

Raised UV coating

Raised UV uses a thicker application of UV varnish to produce a tactile, raised effect on specific areas of the surface—such as logos, patterns, or key visuals.

Common uses:

Cosmetic packaging boxes with embossed-style logos or accents.
Product labels that require standout branding or added dimensional interest.

Textured UV coating

Textured UV creates fine surface textures using specially formulated UV varnishes, screen printing techniques, or a combination of both—depending on the design.

It’s well-suited for invitations, custom boxes, or printed pieces where a distinctive tactile experience adds value and character—without the pronounced height of raised UV.

Pearlescent UV coating

Pearlescent UV uses UV varnish with pearlescent pigments to create a soft, shimmering finish that reflects light with subtle color shifts.

The effect adds elegance and dimension—often associated with premium cosmetic lines and delicate gift packaging.

Ideal for designs that aim to convey refinement, femininity, or a sense of celebration.

Colored UV coating

Colored UV adds pigments to the UV varnish to produce vibrant finishes—such as red, blue, or metallic tones.

It’s widely used across industries like packaging, promotional materials, and specialty print products where bold, attention-grabbing visuals are essential.

Color-changing UV coating

This uses special UV varnishes that change color in response to heat or light exposure.

Often used for interactive packaging, novelty prints, promotional cards, and creative product designs that aim to surprise or engage users through sensory interaction.

Before wrapping up

The UV coating types above can be combined with other print finishing techniques—like foil stamping, embossing—to create unique and high-end effects.

Compared to aqueous coating or traditional varnish, UV coating offers better durability and visual impact. However, it’s still less robust than plastic lamination. Costs vary by method and effect—Spot UV and specialty finishes like raised or pearlescent coatings are generally more expensive.

Need help choosing the right finish? Just send us your design or reference image—we’ll recommend the most cost-effective UV solution tailored to your needs, often better than what you’d find locally or on Alibaba.

The post What Is UV Coating? 10 Types in Packaging appeared first on jingsourcing.

How He Made $40M in 2 Years Selling Mouth Tape

Lee Anqi — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 08:04:09 +0000

Let’s talk about one of the smartest product flips we’ve seen lately: Hostage Tape. Just hearing the name, you’d probably have no idea what it’s for. Well, it’s actually a mouth tape to help people breathe through their nose while they sleep. What’s wild is how fast it blew up, it hit $40M in two years. Today we’re diving into how founder Alex Neist scaled that fast with built-in marketing and smart inventory strategy.

Here’s a quick snapshot of the brand:

Product: Mouth tape
Founder: Alex Neist
Average Order Value: $24 → $60
Main Audience: Men, ages 30–50
Sales Revenue: $40M in 2 years
Supply Chain: Overseas → In-house

Hijacking a Brilliant Idea

Alex knew exactly what his dream product looked like: small daily consumables, low production cost, easy to ship, and built for repeat use. Mouth tape ticked every box and solved a surprisingly huge issue. Nearly a billion people worldwide struggle with mouth breathing during sleep. In the U.S. alone, about one in four adult men are affected.

At the same time, most mouth tape brands were stuck competing on price, with no real brand identity. But Alex saw a different path. Inspired by Liquid Death, a brand that turned canned water into a rebellious, viral phenomenon. He wanted that same kind of energy. And that’s how Hostage Tape was born: designed to look like duct tape straight out of a hostage scene, featuring a rugged, middle-aged muscle guy on the packaging. It’s bold and impossible to ignore.

Turned $25 Orders into $60

With a bold brand and a clear audience: men aged 30 to 50. The only real question was: how to raise the average order value? Hostage Tape went with a smart $25/month subscription model, then stacked on upsells and bundles. Like buy 2, get 1 free, recommending add-ons at checkout, or bulk deals that bring the daily cost down to just $0.55—making it feel like a no-brainer.

Marketing That Moves the Needle

Alex started by teaching himself Facebook ads on YouTube—doing all the setup himself. But in the first few months, nothing clicked. Bad ad formats, low conversions, and a vicious cycle: low sales meant few real users testing the product, which meant not enough proof to improve ads.

Then, about 6–7 months in, things flipped. It was a podcast clipped explaining why to choose Hostage Tape over other tapes. sparked attention and drove real conversion. From there on, Alex finally discovered his traffic formula, and everything shifted.

We’ve boiled it down to three key types of marketing that moved the needle:

Founder Storytelling Hits Deep

Alex openly shared how sleep issues almost wrecked his marriage and life—and how using a mouth tape transformed everything.
He used this emotional story—delivered in conversational tone—across social channels and appeared on major podcasts like Hustle Inspires Hustle and 2X eCommerce Podcast. This raw, real founder piece built trust and instantly differentiated the brand.

Educational, But Make It Fun

They leaned into science-backed education—sleep, breathing, and why mouth tape works. From Dr. Andrew Huberman to James Nestor’s Breath, the message was legit—but never boring. Their Meta ads and socials kept it fresh: street-style interviews, funny split-screen skits, and no preachy vibes.

All of it made nasal breathing feel important, even cool. The result? People learned something, felt smarter and saw Hostage Tape as the trustworthy science-backed solution.

Built for Men, Backed by Right Partners

From the start, Hostage Tape was made with active, middle-aged men in mind, guys who work out, have beards, and care about recovery. The tape had to be breathable, but strong enough to stick through sweat and stubble, and it delivered. That built-for-men branding caught the eye of UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) and led to a sponsorship deal with Power Slap, one of its leagues.

Hostage Tape also teamed up with Dappz Sports, a live sports entertainment platform, to reach a highly engaged, sports-loving audience—tapping into live shopping and real-time product engagement.

Test Fast. Scale In-House.

Let’s talk supply chain. As a startup, their inventory strategy is actually worth learning from. They started with an overseas batch—about 15,000 units. Since each tape costs only a few cents to make, the first batch of products came out to a few hundred dollars.

Alex hadn’t nailed all the details yet, so the supplier’s first batch wasn’t exactly perfect. But instead of overthinking it, they launched anyway. That test run, combined with a subscription model, gave them tight control over inventory and cash flow.

As sales took off, they invested in equipment and moved production in-house. Manufacturing isn’t too complex, but precision and a clean, especially for a medical sleep aid.

That shift also sped up product development. That’s how they launched their nasal strips: a simple add-on that physically lifts the nostrils to improve airflow. It works seamlessly with the mouth tape for sleep, while also opening new use cases in fitness and recovery.

Subscribe to us to see more case studies like this one, plus product ideas, startup stories, insights, and China sourcing stories.

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Wholesale and Cutsomize

Have great product ideas but not sure where to start? Or maybe you’re looking to buy products in stock, add your logo, customize packaging, or place a small order for quick testing?

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The post How He Made $40M in 2 Years Selling Mouth Tape appeared first on jingsourcing.

Saved 25% on Shipping | July Client Cases

Lee Anqi — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 01:41:46 +0000

Many clients came to us after things went wrong, such as miscommunication, products that didn’t match the samples, or shipping costs so high they nearly ruined the deal. Today, we’re sharing three client cases from July to show you how we addressed these issues.

Saved $1,000 in Packaging and Shipping

Our client David from California recently placed an order for ceramic tableware — classic fragile goods. Like many buyers, he assumed wooden crates were the safest option. But when he saw the quote this time, the numbers felt way too high: packaging alone would cost $500, and shipping came in at $3,600. He asked if we could help bring that cost down.

Our sourcing agent Joe looked into it and quickly spotted the issue. It was the crates. Shipping cost is calculated based on whichever is higher: actual weight or volumetric weight. And the wooden crates are heavier. After exploring some alternatives, we found a smarter solution: heavy-duty honeycomb cartons. These are reinforced paper-based boxes with layered honeycomb walls. They’re strong enough for ceramics, appliances, even machinery. But weigh just 20% of what a wooden crate does.

By switching to honeycomb cartons, we cut the packaging cost from $500 to under $100. The shipping fee dropped from $3,600 to $600. In total, David saved over $1,000, just by changing the box.

2,000°C Burn Test

Our client Daniel was interested in a so-called fireproof sweatshirt. It looked great, and the fabric felt soft, breathable, and light. But Daniel wanted to know whether it was truly fireproof as claimed. To find out, our sourcing agent Karen requested a sample from a supplier. We decided to test it with an open flame.

First, she hit a piece of regular nylon fabric with a torch as a comparison. Within seconds, it melted and burned straight through. Then Karen tested the “fireproof” cloth. No melting, no ignition. She pushed it further by blasting it with a 2,000°C torch for a full minute — and the fabric remained structurally intact.

The technology behind it is similar to what’s used in professional workwear for welders, electricians, and firefighters. The fabric uses a high-percentage flame-retardant blend that carbonizes when exposed to high heat, forming a protective barrier that blocks further burning. But now, brands like Carhartt are making it wearable for everyday life.

Truth Behind the Cheap “Silk” Scam

Last week, a UK client came to us after getting scammed on Alibaba. He had ordered 500 sets of “real silk” pillowcases but when they arrived, they were polyester. We did a quick search on Alibaba for “silk pillowcase,” and the price range from a few dollars to dozens. All of them claimed to be real silk.

So what’s really going on with these price gaps and why did our UK client get scammed? In China, real silk products, like pajamas, bedding, and scarves, mostly come from two regions: Hangzhou and Suzhou. Producing genuine silk takes time, skill, and patience. From raw silk to finished product, the process can take up to 40 days, and it’s not cheap. That’s why many sellers cut corners by using polyester or nylon, while still labeling it as “real silk.”

In the Chinese silk market, materials are graded into A, B, and C. For most pillowcases, sleepwear, or bonnets, a 16mm B-grade mulberry silk is the best balance of quality and cost which cost $10 per square meter. If you’re going for premium quality, A-grade silk goes up. But even that is rarely more than $40 per m². For the pillowcases, one square meter of B-grade silk can make two pieces. That’s $5 per piece in fabric cost, plus under 50 cents in labor.

Subscribe to us to see more cases like this one, plus product ideas, startup stories, insights, and China sourcing stories.

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Wholesale and Cutsomize

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The post Saved 25% on Shipping | July Client Cases appeared first on jingsourcing.

How They Turned Chinese Traditions into Winning Product Ideas

Lee Anqi — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:05:49 +0000

Today, we’re looking at two surprising cases: Both founders are American, yet they turned Chinese traditions into amazing product ideas that really took off outside of China. Let’s take a closer look at how they pulled it off.

Old Formula. New Market. Big Results.

Viori is a US-based brand that built a business around a centuries-old tradition from rural China. Co-founders Bryce and Tszman discovered the idea during a study abroad trip, when they visited a small village in Guangxi and met women from the Red Yao tribe—known for their long, jet-black, never-cut hair. Their secret is the natural shampoo made from fermented rice water and herbs passed down through generations.

To locals, this ritual is nothing special. But to global beauty consumers, it’s a story worth paying attention to. And that’s the first insight: an information gap.

In China, the idea of rice-water shampoo isn’t exactly rare. You can find commercialized versions with rice water, tea seed oil, and herbs across mainstream shelves. But outside of China? It’s practically unknown. Viori recognized the opportunity:

Built-in cultural differentiation
Ingredient transparency: aligns with the rising demand for clean, additive-free products
Authentic origin story with visual proof: ideal for driving organic content, community trust, and repeat purchase behavior

They source Longsheng rice directly from Red Yao villagers and purchase cosmetic ingredients from Chinese chemical suppliers. Then manufacturers in the U.S. to sell. On the brand side, they emphasize ethical sourcing—claiming to pay twice the local market rate for rice and pledging 5% of net profits to support community projects in Guangxi.

To scale, Viori leaned into TikTok and influencer marketing, collaborating with over 2,000 creators and generating 8M+ views. Honestly, the creators already had great hair. But after washing with Viori shampoo, blow-drying, and styling, it looked even smoother, shinier, and healthier on camera. That results drive conversions.

Tea for People Who Don’t Do Tea

Ever heard of tea resin? Don’t worry, most people in China haven’t either. It’s a traditional tea from Yunnan, made by simmering whole tea leaves into a solid concentrate, sometimes with flowers added for aroma. One tiny drop in hot water melts into a rich, layered brew. It’s compact, long-lasting. Cleaner than loose leaves, and purer than most tea bags.

In China, tea resin never really caught since traditional loose leaf has always been the go-to. But in other markets, it’s a different story. Most consumers don’t even know what a gaiwan is—let alone how to use one. That’s the gap Jesse is solving for. He’s offering a beginner-friendly tea experience for people who are curious but overwhelmed. And tea resin is perfect for that. It’s convenient, authentic, and comes in sleek metal tins that look like mint boxes—easy to carry, store, and use.

As an American entrepreneur who lived in China for years and understands both ends of the market, Jesse sources directly from producers. His team includes China-based staff who manage procurement and shipping. One of the biggest challenges in the tea business? Regulatory compliance. Though he has spent thousands of dollars securing product certifications across the US, UK, EU, and Canada. And even with everything in place, customs clearance can still be unpredictable.

Instead of pushy ads, the marketing leans into story-driven content: videos of tea being brewed, simple tea tips, and casual responses to follower comments. Employee-generated content also plays a key role, showing how they visiting producers in Yunnan, selecting teas firsthand, and building direct supply relationships.

That’s how modern consumers buy: First, they explore. Then, they trust. Finally, they buy. And once someone’s ready to make a purchase, the website experience keeps it simple: a short quiz helps match them with the right tea, and suggests whether they might need a teapot, a travel set, or even a tea pet.

The product is still rooted in its original culture, but it’s presented in a way that feels fresh, accessible, and relevant to today’s consumers. It lowers the barrier to entry and turns tea into a lifestyle product. A simple way to connect with friends, with nature, or just with themselves.

Subscribe to us to see more product ideas like this one, plus case studies, startup stories, insights, and China sourcing stories.

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Wholesale and Cutsomize

Have great product ideas but not sure where to start? Or maybe you’re looking to buy products in stock, add your logo, customize packaging, or place a small order for quick testing?

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The post How They Turned Chinese Traditions into Winning Product Ideas appeared first on jingsourcing.

How Two Friends Turned Recycled Plastic Into a Global Business

Lee Anqi — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 05:54:59 +0000

It all started in a garage—just two friends spending weekends making stuff and filming videos for YouTube. That’s how Brothers Make began. What started as a weekend hobby quickly evolved into a scalable, profitable business model globally, even as far as Africa. Let’s break down how the whole thing got started.

Turning Bottle Caps into a Hit with £3

Matt was in marketing job and Jonny was a teacher. One day at school, George helped students turn plastic bottle caps into pens. As usual, the two friends filmed a tutorial and uploaded it to YouTube. To their surprise, it blew up—millions of views overnight. And all it took was a £3 secondhand panini press and a homemade wooden mold. That one video changed everything. Every recycled-plastic video that followed took off too, and just like that, plastic became their thing.

Scaling Smart, Not Fast

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s break down the basic flow: collect plastic waste, melt it down, shape it into a product. Simple enough. But what’s really impressive is that, in the early days, they kept it very basic. Just scissors to cut up plastic, wooden molds they built themselves, and hours spent sanding each piece by hand.

They stayed in that DIY stage until the traffic started rolling in. Once they knew there was real demand, that’s when the brothers began refining the process—turning the handmade products into something more scalable.

After explored a few ways to turn recycled plastic into usable products. In the end, it was the small-scale injection moulding machines that made the most sense for them. Compact and relatively easy to operate. Most importantly, it didn’t require a huge upfront investment. It was something they could plug in and start experimenting with right away.

Multiple Revenue Streams

Their original model was about showing people how to make their own plastic items from home. The audience include not only DIY lovers and eco-conscious creators, but also craft market sellers, educators, and anyone curious about small-scale, home-based production. Now, that hand-tool-filled garage has grown into a real workshop. And with it, their business model has evolved with multiple income streams:

YouTube tutorials
Paid launch content (Behind-the-scenes tips and product drops)
Product sales (Via website and local fairs)
Affiliate partnerships (Machines and tools)
Project replication support

Deep Collaboration, Real Growth

Remember when we mentioned how they shifted to injection moulding? Technically, they’re injecting softened plastic into steel moulds to form products. But behind this move was a crucial partner—Plasticpreneur. Since each product requires a custom steel mould, the tooling isn’t cheap—more complex moulds can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

The partnership with Plasticpreneur goes way beyond just buying machines and earning affiliate commissions. It’s more like a deep collaboration that plays a key role in how they operate. Matt has said that whenever they come up with a new product idea, they’ll talk with the team—discussing everything from 3D modelling, mould design, production planning and cost estimates. Most of their moulds are actually made through this partnership.

And that setup gives the brothers the freedom to focus on what they do best: exploring eco product ideas, making content that inspires, and turning recycled plastic into products that people actually want to use.

Most of their products are simple: key clips, coasters, statement necklaces. Price between £10 and £20. But their most ambitious product by far is a pair of sunglasses, priced at £79. What makes it stand out is the concept of “forever frames.” If they ever break, get scratched, or wear out in any way, customers can send them back and get a brand-new pair. Reprocessed and reshaped from the same recycled plastic. All for free.

Built-In Green Marketing

With over 1.1 million followers across platforms, Brothers Make’s each project video is a built-in marketing engine, complete with direct links to their store for fans who love the mission but don’t want to DIY. And here’s the clever part: instead of brands having to build a whole new eco-product line from scratch, they can team up with Brothers Make. They already have the audience, the production tools, and the story-driven content to bring it to life.

Take their collaboration with a jewelry brand, for example. Together, they turned beach-cleaned plastic into handcrafted beads. The brothers organized a community clean-up, processed the plastic into molds, and the brand finished the pieces as jewelries. The whole process was filmed and shared—turning a simple product drop into a powerful story about sustainability, creativity, and smart marketing.

Sustainability is a global conversation and what the brothers are doing has captured real attention. They’ve been invited around the world: to Malaysia, schools across the UK, and even Gambia in Africa. Sometimes it’s organizing events, other times it’s helping communities build their own plastic recycling workspaces—guiding them through the machines, tools, and hands-on process of turning waste into products. Just like their own projects, these collaborations are filmed and shared.

Subscribe to us to see more case studies like this one, plus product ideas, startup stories, insights, and China sourcing stories.

Wholesale and Cutsomize

Have great product ideas but not sure where to start? Or maybe you’re looking to buy products in stock, add your logo, customize packaging, or place a small order for quick testing?

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The post How Two Friends Turned Recycled Plastic Into a Global Business appeared first on jingsourcing.

10 Common Types of Denim Wash with Picture

Sunny Xie — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 04:44:59 +0000

Washing techniques can soften denim, make it more comfortable to wear, and give it a unique color and style. In today’s blog, I’ll walk you through 10 different denim wash methods, making you more professional when purchasing.

1. Basic wash and desizing

This is a basic mechanical wash using water at a set temperature, often with added softener to make denim feel smoother on the skin.

The process removes a layer of sizing from raw denim, which otherwise feels stiff and uncomfortable.

It’s often the first step before any other wash treatment, and also suitable for creating a clean, natural denim look.

2. Whisker

Whiskers are faded crease lines on the front thigh and crotch area, mimicking the natural folds formed from wearing.

These are manually made by brushing the surface with sandpaper or tools—like drawing cat whiskers on your jeans.

3. Stone wash

Pumice or volcanic stones are tossed into the washing machine with denim. As they tumble, they rub against the fabric to create natural-looking faded marks, giving jeans a worn, vintage vibe.

For black jeans, stone washing tones down the harsh black and gives it a more layered, muted appearance.

4. Enzyme wash

This method uses cellulase enzymes to gently break down cotton fibers, making the fabric softer and lighter with a slightly faded look.

Compared to stone washing, enzyme washing causes less damage to the fabric, helping maintain its original texture and quality.

5. Snowflake wash

Also known as snow washing/snow dye, this wash involves pouring potassium permanganate onto dry pumice stones or rubber balls.

These are then loaded into a drum and tumbled with denim garments—much like stir-frying—spinning and flipping repeatedly. As they spin, the treated stones make contact with the fabric, causing rapid oxidation and irregular white fade spots.

After washing, the fabric is shaken to remove leftover stones. The initial reddish-purple hue (from potassium permanganate) fades through multiple rinses and drying, revealing a frosted, snowflake-like finish.

Each piece has a unique texture—just like no two snowflakes are the same.

6. PP spray (Potassium Permanganate spray)

A spray gun is used to apply potassium permanganate solution to specific areas of denim, causing controlled fading through chemical reactions.

The depth and pattern of fading depend on the spray volume and concentration.

Some factories also use soft brushes dipped in PP solution to create hand-done fading.

7. Acid wash and bleach wash

Acid wash typically involves tumbling denim with pumice stones soaked in bleach (like sodium hypochlorite), resulting in bold, irregular fade patches.

Bleach wash, on the other hand, uses bleach or hydrogen peroxide in water to lighten the entire garment more evenly, giving a softer, cleaner faded effect.

8. Sand washing

Sand washing uses alkaline or oxidative chemicals, combined with mechanical agitation, to produce light fading, slight fuzziness, or a matte surface finish.

9. Destruction wash

Rips, frays, and raw edges are often created for high-fashion or streetwear denim.

Physically, certain areas (like knees, cuffs, or seams) are pre-slashed or sanded. Then through stone wash or machine tumbling, the damage is naturally enhanced.
Chemically, oxidizers like potassium permanganate or strong alkalis may be used to soften fibers and add a worn-out texture.

10. Laser wash

Laser wash uses precise laser beams to burn patterns directly onto the denim surface. It creates whiskers, fades, rips, and even distressed artwork using controlled heat and no chemicals.

Compared to traditional methods, laser washing is cleaner, more eco-friendly, and delivers accurate, repeatable results—though at a higher cost.

Post-washing treatment

Each of these washing techniques can be used on its own or combined to create special effects on denim fabric and garments. But no matter the method, everything needs to go through final steps like water rinsing, dehydration, and tumble drying. These steps remove leftover chemicals, loose dye, and impurities—making sure the fabric is clean and ready to wear.

A full denim washing process can cost over $1.5 per pair of jeans, including about $1 for labor and $0.5 for water and electricity.

If only 2–3 basic steps are used, the price may be quoted at $0.5 to $1 per pair by jeans manufacturers.

While these techniques are mostly used for denim—especially jeans—they also work on other fabrics like cotton, cotton blends, linen, and even silk garments.

As a leading sourcing company in China, JingSourcing has helped many importers find reliable suppliers for a wide range of denim products—whether it’s fabric or finished garments with specific washing treatments.

If you’re interested in denim sourcing or customized wash effects, just reach out and send us a reference image.

We can provide the most cost-effective solution, tailored to your needs—often better than what you’ll find locally or on Alibaba.

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How a Pet Ear Muff Went Viral and Got Copied Fast

Lee Anqi — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 07:12:44 +0000

They Built a Hit but Can’t Keep It?

Tracy and Toni are grooming pros with 27 years of hands-on experience. After dealing with anxious, stressed-out dogs during blow-dry sessions for way too long, they finally had enough. So, they invented a soft, stretchy ear hoodie to calm pets down during noisy, high-pressure grooming. It’s been a massive hit ever since.

Most buyers agree it works like a charm. It’s simple, functional, and solves a real problem. But after digging into the patent records, we discovered their utility patent never actually got approved. Which explains why the market flooded with designs that look almost identical, some are straight-up copy-paste.

First, Let’s Look at the Function

As sellers, we know a good product solves a real pain point. But does that always translate into patent protection? Time to look at it from the ground up. Let’s go back to the product from its functional perspective. Dogs and cats have far more sensitive hearing than humans. So when a high-powered dryer is blasting right next to their ears, it’s no wonder they freak out. For especially nervous or sound-sensitive dogs, stress can turn into full-on panic.

Through rounds of trial and error, Tracy and Toni arrived at a smart yet simple solution: a soft, stretchy earband that gently presses the dog’s ears down, helping close off the ear canal and block out the noise. It’s not complicated but works pretty well. And that’s kind of the point.

When we took a closer look at the patent file, it became clear. The simple-but-effective design likely lacked strong technical novelty. Most of the claims focused on using flexible fabric and an elastic band to cover the ears, rather than introducing a distinctive structural design or a measurable performance advantage. The physical wrap to reduce noise just didn’t meet the bar for true innovation. And without that, there’s no real protection to fall back on.

Sourcing From a Sportswear Supplier

The product itself is a stretchy band. And as we kept digging, we found their supplier was a Taiwan sports manufacturer that typically makes athletic headbands. In other words, the supply chain is easy to access. There was nothing stopping competitors from producing similar products, especially with a product that was already proving to have solid market demand.

Meanwhile, the innovative concept opened the door for other sellers to jump in. Now, if you look on Amazon, you’ll find many pet ear muffs that look just like Happy Hoodie. Some with velcro straps, others using elastic cords. Some sellers just adapted human noise reduction ear muffs for pets.

Fresh Design, Smarter Protection

But there’s always a way to break through even with a product that’s tough to patent. This year, a breakout brand called Doggie Hush found their sweet spot. Instead of imitating existing designs, their team launched something fresh: a triangular, headphone-style ear cover that blocks out noise without squishing the dog’s ears.

It’s pretty eye-catching. And more importantly, they secured a design patent early on, and that became their edge. With the design locked in, Doggie Hush held their $49 price point while confidently investing in branding, marketing, and scaling. Over 4,000 units sold in just 73 days on Amazon alone. Smart distribution, targeted ads, and growing social media buzz fueled the momentum. Thanks to early patent protection, there were no copycats to slow them down.

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Inside 5 Garment Printing Types: All-over Designs and Logos

Sunny Xie — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 08:24:14 +0000

Thinking about printing on the whole garment or just a small area? Wondering which method works best? This blog is for you.

All-over print (AOP) on clothing

All-over print designs allow unlimited creativity and customization. It’s common to see all-over printing on streetwear, swimwear, yoga wear, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, activewear, outdoor apparel, and more.

Dye sublimation

Dye sublimation is perfect for polyester garments with all-over designs—even the seams can be fully covered. The process uses high heat (180°C–210°C) to turn the dye into gas and embed it directly into the fabric, making the print part of the garment itself.

The number of colors or design complexity doesn’t affect the cost. It is priced by print area, typically less than $1 per square meter.

Pros:

Breathable, colorfast, and just as durable as the garment.
Great for full-color, gradients, photo-realistic, and complex designs.
Eco-friendly and non-polluting.
Good for single-piece printing like POD T-shirts.

Limitations:

Only works on polyester and polyester blends—not suitable for 100% cotton, which can scorch at high temperatures.
Looks best on white or light-colored fabrics. Colors may appear dull on dark fabrics.
Recommended polyester content is 80% or more—the higher the content, the brighter and sharper the result. Low-poly fabrics can cause faded or blurry prints.

Reactive printing on cotton

If you want to achieve all-over prints on cotton garments, reactive dye printing is the way to go. Reactive dyes chemically bond with natural fibers like cotton or silk, resulting in vibrant, long-lasting prints with a soft hand feel. They won’t crack or fade over time.

Common methods like screen printing and digital printing can achieve all-over designs on cotton garments, as long as reactive dyes are used.

Keep in mind that reactive printing involves steps like steam fixation, washing, and drying, which makes the overall cost higher. It’s more suitable for premium or branded apparel.

AOP examples from JingSourcing

As a leading sourcing company in China, JingSourcing has helped many clients print their all-over designs on finished apparel—T-shirts, hoodies, socks, underwear, and more—with flexible MOQs.

For example, we had a client from Hungary who wanted to customize 1,000 pairs of all-over print underwear. But he couldn’t find any supplier on Alibaba or 1688 willing to take the order. This is because:

Most factories in China require an MOQ of 2,000 units for this print type.
Exact same print placement was required on every pair, but standard methods couldn’t do it—they print on fabric before cutting.

We reached out to one of our long-term partner factories and convinced them to take the order. They used placement printing—a method that prints each fabric panel individually before assembly. Unlike standard digital printing, this technique allows for precise print placement, ensuring the final design appears exactly the same on every garment. The printing cost is around $1 per square meter.

Apparel logo placement and small-area printing

There are many ways to print logos or patterns on T-shirts, polos, hoodies, and more. The right method depends on your budget, pattern design complexity, and the desired print effect.

Screen printing is cheapest for bulk orders (≥500 pcs) with simple patterns.

Screen printing is one of the oldest and most widely used methods in the apparel industry. It works well on all types of fabric and is ideal for simple designs with just a few colors—each color requires a separate screen.

This is the most cost-effective method for 500 pieces or more. For example, printing a 5cm two-color logo on 1,000 sportswear pieces costs around $400.

If you’re printing on cotton T-shirts, kidswear, or underwear—where breathability and softness matter—water-based ink screen printing is a great choice. Water-based inks soak into the fabric and become part of the garment. However, it doesn’t work well on dark-colored fabrics.

If breathability isn’t a top concern, plastisol ink is more versatile, working on almost any fabric and any color. It sits on top of the fabric and creates a slightly rubbery feel.

Heat transfer & DTG are ideal for small orders and complex, multi-color designs.

Heat transfer and DTG work well on garments made from various fabrics. Both methods offer high-resolution printing results and can handle any design style, ideal for small runs of custom, eye-catching logos and graphics.

DTG

heat transfer

In terms of printing costs:

DTG is expensive due to high demands for printers and specialized inks, which are sprayed directly into the fabric.
Heat transfer is a budget-friendly method that’s easy to apply and works with most machines. But since the design stays on top of the fabric, it can feel a bit thick and less breathable, ideal for small prints like logos.

For example, heat pressing a 5×5 cm logo onto 200 T-shirts costs around $0.60 per piece—T-shirts not included. The larger the print, the higher the cost, as heat transfer pricing depends on both the design size and order quantity.

You’ll often see this method used at sporting events—brands set up booths where fans can pick a team logo and have it heat-pressed onto a blank T-shirt in just minutes using pre-made transfer papers.

It’s also popular in POD businesses, where pre-printed transfers can be heat-pressed without reprinting every time.

Heat transfer has more special effects like glow-in-the-dark, reflective, metallic gold or silver finishes, commonly used in fashion-forward streetwear.

Before wrapping up

The printing methods above are some of the most common, but in reality, there are many more ways to create private label garments. For example:

Embroidery, while not a printing method, is also widely used to customize logos and patterns. It adds a textured, 3D look and a premium feel, but it’s not suitable for complex graphics or gradient colors.
Flock printing and puff printing are popular 3D effects often seen in streetwear.
Combining embroidery with DTG printing can achieve any color, pattern, or gradient effect in embroidered designs.

embroidery and DTG combined solution

Just reach out to us—send a reference image if you’re unsure which method suits your design, or share your design file if you already have one but want a better printing solution.

No matter how complex the prints, we’ll recommend the most cost-effective solution, tailored to your needs and better than what you’ll find locally or on Alibaba.

The post Inside 5 Garment Printing Types: All-over Designs and Logos appeared first on jingsourcing.

How These Innovative Bath Products Made Millions

Lee Anqi — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 01:35:33 +0000

African Net Sponge: A New Viral Category

What makes it different

Inspired by traditional African fishing nets, this simple invention is quickly becoming one of the hottest bath products online. Made from nylon mesh with sealed edges, it’s highly flexible and stretches up to 1.14 meters, perfect for scrubbing hard-to-reach areas with ease. The open mesh structure helps create plenty of lather while gently scrubbing away dead skin and dirt, offering a stronger exfoliating effect than typical loofahs or bath sponges. It’s also quick-drying and long-lasting, which means customers don’t need to replace it every few weeks like most loofahs.

Selling at around $10 each, this product has taken off largely thanks to TikTok Shop. Some sellers move tens of thousands of units per week, powered by simple but highly visual short videos. A small startup that entered the market in 2022 has already generated over $5 million in GMV, making this one of the most surprising breakout products in its category.

From viral hit to product line expansion

The rise of using fishing net-inspired sponges began with the Nigerian brand Bellanomi. Its founder, Amanda, grew up with the tradition of using “Sapo,” originally made from natural materials. Today, it has evolved into a durable, elastic nylon mesh designed for daily bathing.

Amanda holds a pharmacy degree and works as a pharmacist. She founded the brand to address skincare needs within people of color. Like competitors such as Omas Cosmetics, Holyraw, and Ceeceesclosetnyc, Bellanomi uses the African net sponge as a lead product to drive traffic, then expands into complementary bath oils, balms, and other body-care items.

Selling great on Amazon, but not perfect

The strong sales performance on Amazon further proves this product’s rising popularity in the bath accessories category. On Amazon’s Best Seller Rank for bath sponges, more than half of the top 10 are now African net sponge listings. For example, the current No.1 top-seller is a 3-piece set, with over 40,000 units sold monthly and more than 60,000 repeat purchases, reflecting a high repurchase rate.

It’s made from nylon, with a relatively low manufacturing cost. This type of generic product is easy to replicate and source. Most Amazon sellers bundle multiple pieces into sets, using variations in packaging and color to create differentiation.

While the product may look simple, many reviews still point out issues like shedding, not being rough enough, or not being long enough. In most cases, these problems likely come down to differences in material quality. Just like nylon sponge nets and fishing nets, both are machine-woven, but they don’t always use the same grade of nylon. Most of the world’s nylon, especially high-strength Nylon 6, comes from China. Key production hubs like Ningbo, Fujian, and Shaoxing supply nylon nets worldwide, including much of West Africa.

According to founder Amanda, many of these sponge nets are sourced from local markets in Nigeria, where similar nylon mesh is also used for fishing nets. Depending on the size of fish being caught, the nets come in different mesh sizes. For bath sponges, the ideal nylon needs to be flexible and elastic, with the right tension and knot structure to provide gentle exfoliation without damaging the skin barrier. That’s probably why they get negative reviews, the wrong kind of nylon.

Selling Showerheads Like Razors & Blades

Here’s another bath product we’re looking at today: Jolie’s filtered showerhead. The showerhead sells for around $160, while the filter subscription costs $35 and needs to be replaced every 90 days. It’s a smart move, because the modern design basically locks customers into buying Jolie’s proprietary filters for as long as they use the product. Selling the showerhead brings the customer in; the real profit comes from the ongoing filter sales.

To attract potential customers, they developed a water-quality lookup tool on their website. This tool pulls data from official U.S. government sources (EPA) and local municipal water reports. By entering a zip code and email, users receive a customized water report that compares their tap water to CDC safety standards.

This was a smart move. First, the tool quickly generates tens of thousands of potential customer leads. More importantly, Jolie used the water report to highlight how tap water quality can affect hair loss, acne, and skin issues, putting the problem directly in front of the customer. After seeing their personalized report, many consumers felt like they urgently needed a solution.

That’s where Jolie’s shower head appears at the end of the report. Instead of competing on water pressure, spray modes, or temperature control, Jolie positions itself more like a skincare product, with customers coming back regularly to rreplacements.

Other Products Clients Ask About

Besides sponges and filters, we’re also seeing steady sourcing interest in scrub products, ranging from double-sided scrubbers to handheld silicone brushes.

There’s also growing interest in electric scrubbers and back massagers, especially for seniors, late-stage pregnant women, people with limited mobility, or anyone who has trouble reaching certain areas.

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Have great product ideas but not sure where to start? Or maybe you’re looking to buy products in stock, add your logo, customize packaging, or place a small order for quick testing?

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