You cannot compare two cosmetic-bag quotations until both suppliers quote against the same brief. A transparent zip pouch, a lined textile makeup bag, a structured PU case and a coordinated retail set can all sit under the same category name, while the films, linings, zippers, print methods and packing behind them are completely different.
Write the construction, materials, dimensions, colour and artwork references, assortment, packing and target market first. Send that version to every candidate. The result is a quote comparison based on the same bag, followed by sample evidence you can approve before a deposit.
The brief comes before the quote
One SKU—or one clearly defined set—is enough to start. If it changes while suppliers are quoting, reopen the affected rows rather than combining old and new offers.
| Brief field | What the buyer should record |
|---|---|
| Product use | Travel pouch, beauty gift, retail set, promotional item or another named use |
| Construction | Flat pouch, gusseted bag, structured case, transparent panel, framed opening or set |
| Dimensions | External and usable internal dimensions, measurement method and buyer-defined tolerance |
| Shell and lining | Material identification, construction, colour reference, surface finish and lining |
| Closure and hardware | Zipper, slider, puller, snap, handle, strap or other parts actually used |
| Branding | Artwork version, logo method, placement, colour and approved appearance reference |
| Assortment | SKUs, sizes, colours and quantities required for each variant |
| Packing | Stuffing or insert, inner protection, retail card or box, set arrangement and carton marks |
| Target market | Destination and the compliance questions that need qualified review |
| Change control | Which materials, components, colours or packing details cannot change without approval |
A product name is not a specification. The useful details are the ones that would make you stop the order if they changed.
For broader bag-channel and category context, see the China Bag Wholesale Guide.
A material name is not a construction record
“PVC,” “TPU,” “PU,” “nylon” or “polyester” is only the start of the description. A usable offer also identifies the shell or film, relevant thickness or fabric construction, finish, colour reference, lining, reinforcement and substitution rule.
The material-and-construction record sent back with the quote should cover:
- supplier material code and plain-language description;
- colour, transparency or finish reference;
- thickness, weight or construction measurement used for the order;
- backing, coating, lamination or lining details where present;
- report or data-sheet identity, including the material or component it covers;
- any proposed substitute shown as a separate option rather than a silent replacement.
SGS separates bag-and-accessory work into materials and components, product performance and destination-market regulatory requirements.[6] Treat those as three rows, not one.
What should come back with the sample
Label the physical sample with an ID that points back to the brief version, material references, artwork, components and packing used to make it.
A practical sample record includes:
- dated photos of the outside, inside, seams, corners, closure, logo and packing;
- measured dimensions and the method used;
- shell, lining, colour and finish references;
- zipper, slider, puller, handle or strap references where present;
- print, embroidery, label or plate version;
- inner protection, retail pack and carton reference;
- every known deviation from the brief;
- the person and date for approval, correction or rejection.
An unexplained deviation leaves that row open. Put the change on the record, ask for a revised sample, or restart the affected quote.
Why MOQ alone is not a comparison
One supplier may quote a total-order minimum, another a minimum for each colour, and a third a minimum for each artwork or material batch. Set packing and retail accessories can change the basis again.
Use a blank sheet and fill it only with written supplier responses. Missing cells stay open.
| Comparison row | Supplier A | Supplier B | Unresolved difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total order quantity | |||
| Minimum by colour | |||
| Minimum by design or artwork | |||
| Set composition and size mix | |||
| Shell, lining and construction | |||
| Zipper and other components | |||
| Sample scope and revision route | |||
| Tooling, screen or plate charges | |||
| Inner and retail packing | |||
| Carton data and marks | |||
| Lead-time definition and start point | |||
| Quote validity and exclusions |
A low total can still hide a missing lining, an unpriced logo step, a different retail pack or an unexpected colour split. Leave the row open until the difference is written down rather than estimated.
Transparent film and textile shells need different checks
Pick the sample plan from the construction. Transparent film makes optical marks easy to see; dyed or printed textiles raise different questions around colour transfer, rubbing and lining.
| Construction | Buyer screening at sample stage | Laboratory evidence when needed | Record the decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transparent film or panel | View under agreed lighting; record surface marks, visible haze, edge finish, weld or seam, print and closure | A qualified laboratory may use a relevant abrasion or optical method agreed for the actual material | Accept, revise or reject with photos and sample ID |
| Dyed or printed textile | Compare colour and artwork references; inspect rubbing transfer where relevant; review lining, seams and closure | Agree the relevant colour-fastness method, specimen, conditions and acceptance grade | Record the method and result against the approved reference |
| PU or coated construction | Confirm substrate, coating/finish, colour, edge treatment, lining and flex points such as a gusset crease | Define the material and target-market test scope with a qualified laboratory | Name the exact material/component and report sample |
| Mixed construction or set | Check each material and the junctions between them; compare every piece in the set | Build a component-specific plan instead of relying on one generic report | Approve all set members and their packing together |
ASTM D1044 covers one surface-abrasion method for transparent plastics by measuring changes in optical properties, including haze; treat it as a possible lab method for an agreed transparent sheet or film, not a finished-bag pass mark.[2]
For dyed or printed textiles, ISO 105-X12:2016 covers colour rubbing off and staining other materials.[3] Agree the specimen, conditioning, procedure and acceptance grade before the test. Direct access to ISO’s page was blocked during this research run, so this bounded method scope was checked against ISO’s official result metadata.
SGS includes appearance, colour and odour among characteristics that can be evaluated.[7] A sealed-sample odour note can record buyer acceptance, but it says nothing by itself about toxicity, restricted substances or compliance.
Test the zipper and hardware actually fitted
The component list should match the bag in front of you: zipper chain, slider, puller, snap, buckle, handle, strap or other hardware. Each row needs an agreed check and a place to record the result.
ASTM D2061 covers strength tests for zippers and zipper parts, with different methods suited to different zipper constructions.[1] Use the applicable method agreed with the supplier or laboratory rather than borrowing one cycle count or pass level for every cosmetic bag.
Intertek identifies fastenings, buckles and handles among bag and luggage component-strength targets and also refers to colour-fastness testing.[5] On a flat pouch, that may leave only the zipper and puller; on a handled vanity case, the handle and its attachment enter the plan as well.
Record the sample ID, method or buyer protocol, conditions, result, photos and decision. A proposed zipper or puller change after approval reopens the affected rows.
Retail packing and transport protection are two approvals
First approve how the customer should receive the bag or set: shape support, surface protection, insert, card, inner pack, set order and retail box where applicable. Then deal with the outer carton and the actual distribution route.
ISTA separates screening, partial-simulation and general-simulation package tests; it also says partial-simulation tests are not intended to predict shipping performance.[4] Choose the procedure or written protocol from the route, package and decision you need, rather than accepting “drop test passed” with no scope.
For a set, approve the size relationship, colour relationship, logo placement, hardware finish and packing position together. A later component swap or pack rearrangement sends that row back for review.
Compliance documents have to match the order
A “REACH certificate” with no scope is not a finished-product answer. The European Commission states that REACH places responsibility on industry to manage chemical risks and provide safety information on substances.[8] Ask which material or component and which current requirement the document covers, then confirm that the tested sample matches the ordered construction.
Build the file around the destination and sales channel. For each requirement, record the material or component, applicable rule, report owner, test sample, method or scope, issue date and link to the actual order.
Other destinations or product features can require different review. A qualified laboratory or compliance adviser should confirm the current scope for the actual SKU rather than reuse a checklist from another product.
The pre-deposit call: pass, correct or reject
Each candidate ends with one status: pass, hold for correction or reject.
| Gate | Pass condition | Keep on file |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen brief | Supplier accepted the same version and listed all deviations | Signed brief + deviation list |
| Comparable quote | Material, construction, MOQ, assortment, packing and exclusions are visible | Filled comparison sheet + dated quote |
| Sample identity | Physical sample is tied to specifications, components, artwork and packing | Sample ID + photos + sign-off |
| Construction-specific checks | Transparent-film, textile and component checks match what is being bought | Method, conditions, result + decision |
| Market file | Requirements have named materials/components, owners and current scope | Reports + specialist confirmation where needed |
| Change control | Substitutions need written review before bulk use | Contact + trigger + approval route |
| Open issues | No unresolved row can change product, cost, packing or compliance scope | Closed action list + owner + date |
Hold for correction fits a missing document or sample revision that the supplier is prepared to close. Reject fits a hidden material decision, a sample that cannot be tied to the quote, or an important change the supplier will not document.
Where verification and final inspection belong
Company identity, business evidence, references and payment controls belong in How to Verify Bag Suppliers in China Before You Pay. Full production and pre-shipment checks belong in Quality Control for Bags from China. The cosmetic-bag brief and sample record become inputs to those later controls.
When you want a China-side team to run the brief, sample follow-up and agreed QC coordination, the Bao66 bag sourcing service or broader China sourcing service can pick up at the relevant step.
Send the frozen brief, destination market and unresolved rows through the contact page. We can tell you whether the proposed scope is workable before production starts.
Sources
[1] ASTM D2061: Standard Test Methods for Strength Tests for Zippers
[2] ASTM D1044: Resistance of Transparent Plastics to Surface Abrasion
[3] ISO 105-X12:2016: Textiles — Colour Fastness to Rubbing
[4] ISTA: Test Procedures
[5] Intertek: Luggage and Bags Testing
[6] SGS: Bags & Accessories
[7] SGS: Physical and Chemical Testing
[8] European Commission: REACH Regulation
