Wedding season doesn't wait. If you're ordering custom silk fans for a wedding, event, or retail collection, missing the production window by two weeks means air freight instead of ocean freight—and that's a $2,000+ mistake.
Here's the complete timeline, pricing by quantity tier, and the hidden costs that blow up event budgets.
| Phase | Duration | What Happens | Your Action Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design approval | 3-5 days | Artwork review, color matching | Approve Pantone codes and fabric swatch |
| Sampling | 5-7 days | Physical sample production | Approve or request adjustments (1 revision included) |
| Mold/plate setup | 3-5 days | Screen printing plate fabrication | Already done if design approved |
| Production | 15-20 days | Full quantity manufacturing | None |
| QC + packing | 3-4 days | AQL inspection + custom packaging | Approve packing spec |
| Ocean freight | 18-25 days (US), 25-35 days (EU) | Container shipping | Arrange customs broker |
| **Total door-to-door** | **47-66 days** |
Missed the ocean window? Air freight: 5-7 days, but $1,800-3,500 for 1,000 fans vs $400-800 ocean.
| Quantity | Per-Fan Price (silk, printed) | Total | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 units | $3.80-6.50 | $1,900-3,250 | Fan + basic tag + bulk packing |
| 1,000 units | $3.20-5.00 | $3,200-5,000 | Fan + custom tag + basic gift box |
| 3,000 units | $2.60-4.20 | $7,800-12,600 | Fan + custom tag + premium box + silk pouch |
| 5,000+ units | $2.20-3.50 | $11,000-17,500 | Full custom packaging suite included |
The 1,000-unit breakpoint: Below 1,000, per-unit cost spikes. Above 3,000, incremental savings diminish. 1,000-3,000 is the value sweet spot.
| Item | MOQ | Cost/Unit | Lead Time Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom hang tag (single-side) | 500 | $0.12-0.20 | None (parallel production) |
| Branded gift box (rigid) | 1,000 | $0.80-1.50 | +3-5 days |
| Silk storage pouch | 1,000 | $0.35-0.60 | +2-3 days |
| Woven brand label (sewn) | 3,000 | $0.08-0.15 | +5-7 days |
| Foil-stamped logo on box | 2,000 | $0.15-0.30 | +2-3 days |
| Wedding Season | Order By (Ocean) | Order By (Air) |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar-May) | November 15 | February 1 |
| Summer (Jun-Aug) | February 15 | May 1 |
| Fall (Sep-Nov) | May 15 | August 1 |
| Winter holidays (Dec) | August 15 | October 15 |
Pro tip for event planners: Order 15% extra. Last-minute guest list additions and damaged-in-transit replacements always happen. Reprinting 50 fans as a rush order costs more than ordering 150 extra upfront.
Q: Can you match a specific Pantone color on silk?
A: Silk takes dye differently than paper takes ink. Pantone matching on silk is approximate (±1-2 shades). EastFanArt provides a fabric-specific color chart. For exact matching, request a dyed silk swatch before production ($50, 5-7 days).
Q: What's the minimum for personalized names/dates?
A: 200 units minimum for personalized printing (e.g., "Sarah & Mike · June 15, 2026"). Setup cost: $60-100 per design.
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