1. Scope & Legal Website Terms
These terms and conditions govern your use of this website and all professional services, garment sampling, tech pack development, and bulk manufacturing solutions provided by Hawthorn International Ltd. By engaging our services, requesting a quotation, or completing an order, you agree to accept these terms in full. If you disagree with any part of these conditions, you must refrain from ordering or using our services.
Hawthorn International Ltd is a company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (Company Registration No. 08937806, VAT Reg. No. GB211320185). All business transactions are governed exclusively under UK commercial contract principles and international B2B trade practices.
Business-to-Business Notice: Hawthorn operates strictly as a commercial B2B manufacturer. We provide bespoke apparel production solutions for fashion start-ups, brand owners, retail chains, and corporate buyers. We do not sell directly to end consumers.
2. Basis of Contract & Commercial Orders
An order placed by a customer constitutes a formal offer to purchase custom garments or manufacturing services under these terms. The contract between Hawthorn and the client becomes legally binding only upon our issuance of a written order confirmation or invoice acceptance.
Commercial Terms & Quotations
- Quotation Validity: Price quotes provided by our merchandising team are valid for seven (7) business days from the date of issue due to market fluctuations in raw materials, yarn spinning, and shipping freight.
- Exclusion of External Terms: Any general terms, purchase order conditions, or purchasing clauses provided by the customer that conflict with these terms are explicitly excluded.
- Informational Material: Product images, fabric swatch representations, weight descriptions, or promotional graphics provided online or in digital catalogs are intended solely for illustrative purposes and do not form part of a strict legal contract.
3. Product Specifications & Color Matching
Custom clothing manufacturing requires strict technical documentation. The buyer is responsible for verifying that all specifications, tech packs, size charts, and bill of materials (BOM) submitted to Hawthorn are accurate and complete prior to bulk approval.
Pantone Matching & Handcrafted Variances
For custom dyeing, screen printing, embroidery, or fabric finishing, accurate Pantone (PMS) color codes must be supplied by the customer. Colors viewed on digital screens or non-calibrated monitors vary significantly and cannot serve as a legal reference for physical fabric dyeing.
Because all garments manufactured by Hawthorn are cut, sewn, and finished by hand on modern production lines, minor industrial variances in dimensions, weight, and stitch alignment are standard in international textile production.
- Tolerance Limits: A dimensional tolerance of up to ±0.5 inches (±1.3 cm) per measurement point against graded size charts is accepted as normal standard industry practice.
- Color Bath Variances: Natural variations in fabric dye lots across different raw material batches may occur within recognized textile industry standards.
4. Prototypes, Pre-Production Samples & Approvals
To safeguard product consistency, Hawthorn provides pre-production sampling for approval prior to initiating full-scale bulk garment manufacturing.
Sampling & Sign-Off Rules
- Sample Approval: Bulk manufacturing will not proceed until the client confirms pre-production sample approval in writing via email or formal sign-off document.
- Irrevocable Confirmation: Approval of a prototype or pre-production sample signifies full buyer confirmation that garments produced matching the approved sample (within acceptable industrial tolerances) will satisfy all contract specifications.
- Non-Refundable Prototype Costs: Fees associated with custom pattern cutting, grading, prototype assembly, digital mockups, or custom fabric sampling cover non-recoverable labor, mill setup, and shipping expenses and are strictly non-refundable.
5. Delivery, International Freight & Yield Tolerances
Hawthorn arranges international logistics via global express courier networks (DHL, FedEx, UPS) and commercial air/sea freight carriers to deliver completed bulk orders to clients worldwide.
Delivery Conditions & Shipping Guidelines
Estimated delivery dates, sampling lead times, and bulk turnaround schedules are approximate milestones. Time for delivery is not of the essence, and Hawthorn bears no liability for shipping delays caused by customs clearances, port congestions, carrier scheduling changes, or Force Majeure events.
Bulk Yield Tolerance (Over/Under Run Policy)
In custom garment manufacturing, raw fabric yields, cutting efficiencies, and rigorous four-stage quality inspections naturally create minor batch size variations. Clients accept a standard yield tolerance of five percent (5%) over or under the ordered quantity as full satisfaction of the manufacturing agreement.
- If final delivered unit count falls within the 5% tolerance, the final invoice will be adjusted pro-rata.
- If shortfall exceeds 5%, Hawthorn will, at its sole discretion, issue a pro-rata credit or produce replacement units in the subsequent production run.
6. Quality Control & Warranty Claims
Hawthorn operates a mandatory four-stage Quality Control (QC) process: raw material inspection, in-line stitching checks, end-of-line auditing against size charts, and final pre-pack review. We warrant that garments supplied will be free from material defects in workmanship and fabric structure upon delivery.
Defect Notification & Claim Inspection
In the rare event that a client receives garments failing to comply with approved pre-production sample specifications:
- 7-Day Claim Window: Written notice of any defect or non-conformity must be submitted within seven (7) calendar days of delivery confirmation.
- Inspection Opportunity: The buyer must provide detailed photographical evidence, measurement tables, and allow Hawthorn reasonable opportunity to inspect returned units.
- Remedies: For verified manufacturing defects, Hawthorn will, at its option, repair the affected garments, replace defective units, or issue a credit note equal to the defective item value.
7. Risk, Title & Ownership Rights
Risk of loss or damage to goods passes to the buyer upon dispatch from our facility or hand-over to designated logistics couriers. Legal title and ownership of all manufactured products remain with Hawthorn International Ltd until invoice totals, freight fees, and applicable taxes are paid in full in cleared funds.
Until full payment is received, the buyer must store goods separately, maintain proper insurance, and refrain from reselling or altering delivered items.
8. Pricing, Deposits & Commercial Payment Terms
Contract pricing is locked upon formal invoice generation. Prices exclude local Value Added Tax (VAT), customs import duties, tariff taxes, and destination freight unless explicitly quoted as DDP (Delivered Duty Paid).
Non-Refundable Initial Deposits
All upfront deposits paid to initiate pattern drafting, fabric mill sampling, trim development, or raw material procurement are strictly non-refundable. Deposits secure production line capacity and cover non-recoverable initial setup costs, engineering labor, and material commitments made on behalf of the customer.
9. Limitation of Liability & Legal Protections
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Hawthorn International Ltd shall not be liable to the customer for any loss of profit, loss of revenue, loss of business opportunity, indirect damages, or consequential loss arising under or in connection with any manufacturing agreement.
Our total cumulative commercial liability for any breach, claim, or failure of performance shall strictly not exceed the total contract price paid by the customer for the specific order giving rise to the claim.
10. Inactivity, Storage Fees & Governing Law
Effective garment production requires responsive communication. If a client becomes unresponsive or inactive for over thirty (30) calendar days during active project development, Hawthorn reserves the right to adjust contract timelines and issue invoices for completed work.
Materials, custom fabrics, or brand trims stored in our facilities due to customer-requested pauses exceeding sixty (60) days will incur a standard storage fee starting at £150 per month plus VAT.
Governing Law & Exclusive Jurisdiction
These terms and conditions, along with all commercial contracts between Hawthorn International Ltd and international clients, are governed exclusively by the laws of England and Wales. Both parties irrevocably agree that the courts of England shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising from commercial business transactions.
