When fashion brands start working with an overseas or nearshore manufacturer, two topics often get overlooked until something goes wrong: payment structure and intellectual property protection. Understanding full package manufacturing payment terms NDA agreements before signing a contract can save your brand from costly disputes, delayed production, and even design theft. For brands evaluating a maquila partner in Colombia, these details deserve as much attention as fabric quality or sample turnaround.
At CI Aliada SAS, a full package and maquila manufacturer based in Bogota, Colombia, we work with emerging and established brands every month who are navigating these questions for the first time. This article breaks down what fair payment terms look like, why an NDA matters, and how to structure your first order to protect your brand while building trust with your manufacturing partner.
Full package manufacturing means your partner handles sourcing, pattern making, cutting, sewing, finishing, and sometimes packaging. Because so many stages are bundled into one relationship, payment terms need to reflect the real flow of work and risk on both sides. Vague or one-sided terms are one of the most common causes of friction between brands and factories.
Most full package manufacturing payment terms NDA agreements in Colombia follow a staged deposit model rather than full payment upfront or full payment on delivery. A typical structure looks like this:
This structure protects the manufacturer from investing in fabric and labor without commitment, while protecting the brand by not releasing full payment before goods are produced. When evaluating a new supplier, ask for these terms in writing before placing your first order, not after.
Before wiring any deposit, confirm the following in your purchase agreement:
These details may feel administrative, but they are what separates a professional maquila relationship from a risky one.
A non-disclosure agreement, or NDA, is a legal document that prevents a manufacturer from sharing your designs, tech packs, patterns, or business information with third parties, including competitors. For brands developing original collections, this is not optional paperwork. It is a core part of protecting the time and money invested in design.
A solid NDA for apparel manufacturing in Colombia should clearly define:
Serious manufacturers are used to signing NDAs and should not push back on a reasonable request. At CI Aliada SAS, we regularly sign NDAs with brands before reviewing tech packs or starting pattern development, because we understand that design confidentiality is part of earning long-term trust.
It is worth noting that an NDA protects information, but it does not replace a production agreement. Your contract should separately cover payment terms, delivery timelines, quality standards, and what happens if either party needs to cancel an order. Treat the NDA and the production contract as two different documents working together, not one replacing the other.
Payment terms and NDAs work best when combined with a clear understanding of order structure. For brands working with an established pattern, the standard minimum order quantity is 12 units per reference and per color, distributed across at least 4 sizes, with each size ordered in multiples of 3 (for example, reference 7056 in black: 3 S + 3 M + 3 L + 3 XL = 12 units). Colors are never mixed within the same size breakdown, which keeps production and quality control consistent.
For brands developing a completely new design from scratch, the minimum production quantity is 120 units. This higher threshold reflects the real cost of pattern development, sampling, and first-run adjustments that come with an original design, and it is standard practice across serious maquila operations in Colombia.
It is common, and reasonable, for deposit percentages to differ slightly between a repeat order on an existing pattern versus a brand-new development. New developments often involve more upfront investment in sampling and pattern corrections, so manufacturers may request a higher deposit to begin work. Understanding this distinction helps brands budget accurately and avoid surprises mid-process.
Clear full package manufacturing payment terms NDA agreements are ultimately about one thing: reducing uncertainty for everyone involved. A manufacturer who is transparent about deposits, delivery timelines, and confidentiality is signaling that they run a professional operation built for long-term partnerships, not one-off transactions.
CI Aliada SAS has built its reputation in Bogota as a maquila and full package manufacturer that works with structured, written agreements from the first conversation. We believe brands deserve clarity on payment schedules, protection for their designs through NDAs when needed, and realistic expectations around minimum order quantities, whether that means 12 units per reference and color across 4 sizes, or 120 units for a new development.
Before committing to any manufacturer, bring these questions to the table:
Getting clear answers to these questions early builds the foundation for a manufacturing relationship that protects your brand, your designs, and your investment from day one.
MOQ 12 units per style and color (min. 4 sizes, multiples of 3) · Full Package · DDP Logistics · Response in 24h