What 320gsm raschel means in the finished blanket
A 320gsm raschel polyester blanket is normally a light-to-mid gift blanket, not a heavy winter mink blanket. The common construction is warp-knitted polyester pile fabric with an all-over printed face, raised/brushed and sheared to open the filaments. Typical Middle East gift sizes are 150 x 200 cm and 160 x 220 cm. At nominal 320gsm, a 150 x 200 cm blanket contains about 0.96 kg of fabric before edge stitch, label, bag, and carton materials; a 160 x 220 cm blanket contains about 1.13 kg. Finished packed weight commonly lands around 1.08–1.18 kg for 150 x 200 cm and 1.25–1.40 kg for 160 x 220 cm, depending on zipper bag, insert card, barcode label, and folding board.
Buyers should specify finished GSM after printing, brushing, shearing, relaxation, and sewing, not only greige weight. A sensible PO tolerance is finished GSM 320 ±5%, size tolerance ±2 cm after 24 hours relaxed conditioning, and finished blanket weight recorded during inspection. If a supplier quotes 320gsm but bulk measures 285–295gsm, the blanket will feel flat after carton compression and will not fill a gift bag well. If the construction is pushed to 350gsm without adjusting pile height and carton plan, the hand improves but CBM and sea freight cost rise quickly.
Raschel is used here because it gives more visual volume than basic polar fleece and accepts soft scenic prints better than sherpa. Compared with 360gsm PV plush digital panel printing, rotary-printed raschel is usually better for repeated all-over cloud artwork at volume. Compared with 430gsm mink blankets in zipper gift bags, 320gsm raschel is easier to ship and price for gift promotions, but it has lower perceived winter weight. Make that trade-off clear before artwork and retail packaging are approved.
Choosing 150 x 200, 160 x 220, 350gsm, or 430gsm
Choose 150 x 200 cm when the programme is a supermarket, distributor, corporate gift, or seasonal bundle where carton cube and shelf price matter. It is also safer for mixed-container Ramadan and winter gift assortments because 10–12 pieces can normally fit in one export carton. Choose 160 x 220 cm when the end user expects a bed-use blanket, the market benchmark is larger, or the artwork needs more visual presence in a zipper bag. The larger size adds roughly 17% fabric area, so the buyer should expect higher unit cost, fewer pieces per carton, and higher CBM per 1,000 pieces.
Upgrade from 320gsm to 350gsm when sample feedback says the pile looks thin after folding or the retailer wants a fuller hand but still needs promotion pricing. The 350gsm option often adds around 90 g of fabric to a 150 x 200 cm blanket and about 106 g to a 160 x 220 cm blanket before packing. Upgrade to 430gsm mink-style construction only when the retail position can absorb the heavier fabric, larger zipper bag, and freight increase. If ocean freight or last-mile handling is charged by volume, a 430gsm gift blanket can lose the margin advantage it gains from a heavier hand.
A practical spec-change trigger is carton cube. If the 160 x 220 cm blanket in a rigid zipper bag exceeds about 0.16–0.18 CBM per carton of 8–10 pieces, ask whether 150 x 200 cm, softer bag material, fewer folds, or 350gsm instead of 430gsm protects margin better. If the buyer needs a low-ticket door gift, reduce size before reducing finished GSM below about 300gsm; underweight raschel tends to create more complaints than a clearly stated smaller size. For broader weight positioning, compare fleece weight throw blanket programme planning.
Rotary screen, roller-style continuous print, and digital print
Many buyers say "roller print" when they mean any continuous fabric printing. For this product, clarify the process. Rotary screen printing uses engraved cylindrical screens, one screen per colour, with fabric running continuously through the print range. Roller printing in the stricter textile sense uses engraved rollers and is less commonly quoted for this raschel blanket category. Some suppliers use "roller-style" loosely to mean continuous all-over printing. Put "rotary screen print unless otherwise approved" or the exact approved method on the PO to avoid mixed quotations.
Rotary screen printing suits repeated cloud patterns, soft gradients, mosque-gift motifs, pastel assortments, and high-volume gift blankets. The limitation is repeat size. Depending on machine and screen circumference, repeat length may be around 64 cm, 91 cm, or another cylinder-related repeat. A large single cloud, crescent, calligraphy panel, border, or logo cannot be assumed to land in the same position on every blanket. Cutting position and repeat layout decide motif placement. If exact placement matters, use digital panel printing or redesign the artwork as an all-over repeat.
Digital panel printing gives better placement control and allows many colours without screen engraving, but brushed raschel can reduce sharpness after pile raising and shearing. Digital is useful for e-commerce micro-runs, sampling, and picture blankets. At volume, rotary screen normally wins on unit economics once screens are amortised. A practical threshold: below roughly 300–500 pieces per design, digital may be the only economical route; around 800–1,500 pieces, compare both methods; above about 2,000–3,000 pieces per design/colourway, rotary screen usually becomes more competitive if the artwork is a repeated all-over print.
For cloud blankets, three to five print colours are safer than six to eight. A typical separation is ground blue, mid blue, white, soft grey, and beige/gold. More colours increase screen cost, registration risk, washing time, and shade approval complexity. Metallic pigment should not be assumed on brushed pile; it can feel rough, lose sparkle after brushing, or shed onto the bag. If branding is required, keep the blanket as an all-over print and add a woven label, belly band, insert card, zipper bag artwork, or barcode sticker. For decoration options, see custom blanket decoration methods.
MOQ, charges, and lead-time benchmarks
Market-wide MOQ varies by base fabric, print method, colour count, packaging, and whether yarn or greige fabric is already running. For a 320gsm raschel cloud print in one size, one design, and one colourway, a realistic custom rotary-screen starting point is often 1,000–2,000 pieces. Pricing becomes cleaner at 3,000 pieces and stronger at 5,000 pieces and above because screen setup, colour matching, machine cleaning, and shade-lot control are spread over more units. For two colourways, expect the MOQ to apply per colourway unless the supplier can combine the same base fabric and print range efficiently.
Typical screen or cylinder-related charges for rotary screen printing are often quoted per colour, commonly in the range of USD 80–250 per screen depending on artwork, local engraving cost, and whether the charge is absorbed above an agreed order volume. Do not assume the buyer owns the screens. The PO should state whether screens are buyer-paid tooling, supplier production aids, reusable for repeat orders, or destroyed after the programme. If design exclusivity matters, add a clause covering artwork ownership, non-use for other customers, and screen storage period.
Sampling should be split into stages. Artwork strike-off or lab print usually takes about 5–10 working days after artwork approval and colour references. A pre-production sample from bulk-like fabric, with actual edge stitch, label, fold, zipper bag, barcode, and carton mark, often needs 7–14 working days. Bulk lead time for a standard custom order is commonly 30–45 days after PP sample, deposit, confirmed artwork, and packaging files; complex packaging, peak-season capacity, or lab testing can push this to 50–60 days. These are planning ranges, not guaranteed dates.
Commercial risk belongs in the quotation file. Polyester filament and fuel-linked processing costs can move between quotation and yarn purchase; long-validity prices should state the currency, validity date, exchange-rate assumption, and whether price is subject to reconfirmation before deposit. Repeat orders need a new shade approval because blue grounds and white cloud density can shift by yarn lot, dyestuff, paste viscosity, and brushing intensity. For repeat programmes, keep a sealed approval sample and bulk cutting from the previous lot, but allow a controlled shade tolerance rather than expecting an impossible perfect match.
Printing and pile failure modes seen in bulk
Cloud artwork exposes defects that plain dark blankets hide. Pale blue grounds show shade bands when print paste viscosity, screen pressure, dryer temperature, or pile moisture drifts. White cloud edges become dirty when pigment spreads into an over-open pile or when the fabric is brushed too hard after printing. Navy night-sky versions carry higher crocking risk, especially if packed tightly in PVC or non-woven zipper bags and stored in a hot container. For dark grounds, specify rubbing fastness to ISO 105-X12 or AATCC 8 and wash fastness to ISO 105-C06. A practical gift-market target is dry rubbing grade 3–4 and wet rubbing grade 3 minimum unless the retailer requires higher.
A common claim case is a carton that passes size and weight but fails visually after opening: half the pieces look deeper blue because the nap direction is reversed. Raschel pile has a direction. If cut panels are turned during cutting, sewing, folding, or packing, one blanket can look like a different shade from the next even when the fabric lot is the same. The production file should mark pile direction on rolls and require one-way cutting, one-way folding, and face orientation control during packing.
Another common pre-shipment failure is lint inside zipper bags. Some loose fibre after shearing is normal, but visible clumps, dusty bag interiors, or fibre transfer onto dark clothing are not acceptable for retail. Causes include over-raising, dull shearing blades, weak suction cleaning, and packing before fabric relaxation. A useful control is shake-out plus suction before folding, then a simple agreed lint check: 10 manual shakes over a dark inspection board, no visible fibre clumps larger than an agreed reference sample. If the buyer wants a lab method, agree it before bulk because many lint judgements are visual and buyer-specific.
Pilling is usually lower than cheap staple polar fleece when continuous filament yarn is used well, but edge abrasion and poor anti-pilling control can still create complaints. ISO 12945-2 Martindale pilling is a common reference method. Promotional retail may accept grade 3–4 after an agreed cycle count; premium retail should set the cycle count and grade before pricing. Anti-pilling chemistry can improve the surface but may reduce silky hand if overdosed. The trade-off is similar to anti-pilling test requirements for polar fleece blankets, although raschel pile responds differently.
Packing maths, carton cube, and compression risk
Packing must be costed before the buyer approves the size. A 150 x 200 cm, 320gsm raschel blanket in a standard zipper bag commonly packs 10–12 pieces per export carton. A workable carton may be about 58 x 38 x 48 cm for 10 pieces or 60 x 40 x 52 cm for 12 pieces, depending on fold, bag handle, and board insert. That gives roughly 0.106–0.125 CBM per carton, or about 8.8–12.5 CBM per 1,000 pieces. For 160 x 220 cm, 8–10 pieces per carton is more realistic; sample cartons around 60 x 42 x 55 cm to 62 x 45 x 58 cm give roughly 0.139–0.162 CBM per carton, or about 13.9–20.3 CBM per 1,000 pieces depending on pack count.
Carton figures must be verified with an actual packed carton after PP sample approval. A small change in zipper bag thickness, handle position, or folding board can add several CBM across a container. Export cartons should state gross weight limits; many buyers prefer cartons below about 18–22 kg for manual handling, but retailer DC rules may differ. If palletisation is required, confirm pallet size, carton stacking pattern, maximum height, and whether pallet CBM or loose-carton CBM is used for freight planning.
Compression saves freight but creates claim risk. Light compression in a zipper bag can reduce carton height by around 5–10% without much visual damage if the blanket recovers after 24 hours. Heavy compression or vacuum packing can reduce CBM more, sometimes 20–35%, but pile recovery becomes uncertain after long storage, heat, and pressure. Test one carton stored compressed for at least 7 days, then open, shake, and measure recovery after 24 hours. If the blanket still shows fold crush, dead pile, or cloudy pressure marks, do not approve that packing for gift retail. For freight-sensitive programmes, compare with vacuum compressed mink blanket costing.
Carton drop testing should be agreed for gift packs because cracked zipper bags and crushed corners cause retailer deductions even when the blanket is acceptable. A practical internal check is one full carton dropped from about 60–80 cm on one corner, three edges, and six faces, then inspected for carton rupture, bag damage, barcode scuffing, and product contamination. Retailers may require their own ISTA-style protocol; if so, use the retailer method rather than an internal shortcut.
Middle East compliance and labelling checks
Middle East buyers should separate product safety, textile labelling, and import documentation. Requirements vary by destination and retailer. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, and other markets may ask for different Arabic/English labelling, importer details, barcode format, carton marks, invoice descriptions, and test reports. Some shipments may need GCC/SASO-related conformity routes or platform registration depending on product category and destination. Do not rely on a generic "Middle East label"; confirm the destination-specific rule before printing packaging.
A typical label and pack file should include fibre content, size, country of origin, care symbols or care wording, importer/distributor details where required, SKU, barcode, batch or PO reference, and warning text if the bag creates suffocation risk. Fibre content language should match the invoice and test report, for example "100% polyester" in English and the approved Arabic translation. If recycled polyester, antimicrobial, flame-retardant, or other claims are used, the claim needs documentation and may trigger extra retailer testing. Avoid claims unless the buyer has confirmed the exact market requirement and evidence needed.
Retailers may request colour fastness, formaldehyde, azo dye, pH, fibre content, flammability, or restricted-substance checks depending on their private standard. For general textile safety planning, see textile certifications explained for buyers. For care wording, align the sewn label and insert card with blanket care washing guidance. If the buyer requires OEKO-TEX, GRS, RCS, retailer RSL, or other certification, verify scope, product class, transaction documents, and nominated lab before quotation; do not add logos to packaging until the certification route is confirmed.
Carton marks should be bilingual if requested and should match the packing list: item description, size, colour/design, PO number, SKU, barcode or carton barcode, quantity per carton, gross/net weight, carton dimensions, made-in origin, carton number, and destination. Many disputes start from mismatched barcode data, not fabric defects. Send artwork proofs for sewn label, hangtag, insert card, zipper bag, master carton, and inner carton if used, then freeze versions before mass printing.
Inspection checklist and PO clauses
Use AQL inspection as a commercial control, not as a replacement for clear specifications. A common blanket order uses ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 or ISO 2859-1, general inspection level II, with AQL 2.5 for major defects and 4.0 for minor defects; critical defects are normally not accepted. The buyer can tighten AQL for premium retail or add 100% metal detection if the retailer requires it. For a broader inspection framework, see blanket quality control inspection and AQL 2.5 promotional blanket inspection.
| Checkpoint | Suggested PO requirement | Common failure |
|---|---|---|
| Finished GSM | 320gsm ±5%, measured after relaxation | Thin hand, poor pile recovery |
| Finished size | 150 x 200 cm or 160 x 220 cm, ±2 cm | Short goods after finishing |
| Rubbing fastness | ISO 105-X12 or AATCC 8; dry 3–4, wet 3 minimum unless retailer requires higher | Navy or dark blue transfer |
| Wash fastness | ISO 105-C06, grade agreed by buyer | Shade loss, staining |
| Pilling | ISO 12945-2, grade 3–4 after agreed cycles | Edge fuzz and surface pills |
| Lint | No visible fibre clumps after agreed shake test | Dusty zipper bag, fibre transfer |
| Pile direction | One-way cutting, sewing, folding, and packing | Shade difference within carton |
| Needle/metal control | Broken needle log plus metal detection if required | Retailer critical defect |
| Carton drop | Full carton drop check from agreed height | Broken zipper bags, crushed corners |
| AQL | Major 2.5, minor 4.0, critical 0 unless otherwise agreed | Unclear rejection basis |
Useful PO clauses are short and specific. Example: "Finished blanket: 100% polyester raschel, rotary screen all-over cloud print, 320gsm ±5% after finishing, size 150 x 200 cm ±2 cm, one-way pile direction, overlocked edge, zipper gift bag, barcode sticker, export carton as approved PP sample." Example: "Bulk shade, print sharpness, pile height, lint level, fold, bag artwork, and carton marks must match approved sealed PP sample within commercial tolerance; any design, label, or packing change requires written approval before production." Example: "Inspection to ISO 2859-1, general level II, AQL major 2.5/minor 4.0/critical 0; failed retailer testing caused by unapproved material, dye, print paste, label, or packing substitution is supplier responsibility unless the buyer supplied incorrect specification or artwork."
Add ownership and liability language before deposit. State whether buyer-paid screens, packaging moulds, print files, and barcode files may be reused. State whether design exclusivity applies to the artwork, colourway, or only the buyer logo. State who pays for repeat lab testing, failed retailer testing, re-inspection, air freight for late approved rework, and disposal of rejected goods. These clauses are easier to agree before production than after a container is packed.
Approval sample pitfalls before bulk release
Do not approve a hand-cut swatch as the final product. The approval set should include print strike-off, bulk-like fabric, finished blanket, sewn label, edge stitch, fold, zipper bag, insert card, barcode, carton mark, and one fully packed carton if the order is freight-sensitive. The PP sample should be made after the real process is fixed: knitting, print method, brushing, shearing, sewing, packing, and carton compression. If the sample is digitally printed but bulk will be rotary screen printed, record that the sample is for layout only, not colour or print-hand approval.
Cloud artwork needs shade-band review under more than one light source. A pale blue ground may look acceptable under factory LED and dull under warm retail lighting. Keep one sealed master sample with the buyer, one with the factory, and one for inspection. For repeat orders, compare against the last approved bulk sample and the new production strike-off, then allow a defined commercial shade tolerance. Chasing an exact previous-lot blue without yarn, paste, and finishing duplication can delay production and still fail under angle-dependent pile viewing.
A real-style failure scenario is simple: 3,000 pieces of 160 x 220 cm navy cloud blankets pass weight and size, but pre-shipment inspection opens cartons and finds wet rubbing below buyer target, lint clumps inside 20% of zipper bags, and mixed nap direction across two sewing lines. The shipment cannot be fixed by relabelling. The factory must re-clean, re-sort pile direction if possible, replace contaminated bags, and may still fail the rubbing requirement. The prevention cost is lower: approve dark-ground fastness before bulk print, lock one-way pile handling, and inspect the first packed cartons before the full order is sealed.
Freight, Incoterms, and order planning
FOB Ningbo or FOB Shanghai is usually the cleanest Incoterm for importers with their own forwarder. CIF Jebel Ali, Dammam, Doha, Kuwait, Aqaba, or other ports can be quoted, but ocean freight validity should be short because rates move. DDP should only be used when the seller has a proven route for local customs, VAT/duty handling, and delivery appointments; otherwise delays and hidden costs become difficult to allocate. State Incoterms 2020, loading port, destination port, shipment window, partial shipment rule, and document requirements on the PO.
Order planning should include a pre-Ramadan and winter capacity buffer. A normal custom programme may need 5–10 working days for print strike-off, 7–14 working days for PP sample and packing approval, and 30–45 days for bulk after approvals. Add time for retailer lab testing, barcode registration, Arabic label approval, and booking space. If the order is tied to a fixed promotion date, approve packaging artwork early; zipper bags, printed inserts, and barcode stickers are often the bottleneck after fabric is ready.
Price changes should trigger a specification review, not only a negotiation. If polyester yarn rises sharply, the supplier may be tempted to reduce finished GSM, pile height, or bag quality unless the PO blocks substitution. If sea freight rises, review carton cube, size, and pack method before cutting fabric quality. If the retailer raises test requirements, review dye/print chemistry and lead time before accepting the same delivery date. The best blanket spec is the one that protects the promised hand, claim language, packing cube, and inspection result at the same time.
Frequently asked
What is a realistic MOQ for 320gsm raschel cloud print blankets? For custom rotary screen cloud artwork, a realistic starting point is often 1,000–2,000 pieces per design/colourway, with better pricing at 3,000 pieces and stronger economics above 5,000 pieces. Digital printing may suit lower quantities, but the hand and print sharpness after brushing must be checked.
When does rotary screen printing beat digital printing on cost? Below roughly 300–500 pieces per design, digital may be more practical. Around 800–1,500 pieces, compare both methods. Above about 2,000–3,000 pieces per repeated all-over design, rotary screen printing usually has lower unit cost once screen charges and setup are spread across the order.
How many pieces fit in one carton? For 150 x 200 cm at 320gsm in zipper bags, 10–12 pieces per carton is common, giving roughly 8.8–12.5 CBM per 1,000 pieces depending on carton size. For 160 x 220 cm, 8–10 pieces per carton is more realistic, often around 13.9–20.3 CBM per 1,000 pieces. Confirm with an actual packed PP carton.
Should Middle East buyers choose 150 x 200 cm or 160 x 220 cm? Choose 150 x 200 cm for promotion volume, lower freight, and easier shelf pricing. Choose 160 x 220 cm when the blanket is positioned for bed use or a larger gift presentation. The larger size adds about 17% fabric area, so unit cost and CBM rise together.
What tests should be written into the PO? At minimum, specify finished GSM, finished size tolerance, rubbing fastness by ISO 105-X12 or AATCC 8, wash fastness by ISO 105-C06, pilling by ISO 12945-2 if required, lint control, pile direction, needle/metal control, carton drop check, and AQL inspection level.
What labelling is needed for Middle East shipments? Confirm by destination and retailer. Many orders need Arabic/English fibre content, size, country of origin, care wording or symbols, importer details where required, SKU, barcode, batch or PO reference, and correct carton marks. GCC/SASO or retailer-specific conformity expectations should be checked before packaging is printed.
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