What is an indent order in fashion?
An indent order is a wholesale order placed in advance for goods that will be produced to order, as opposed to an order served from existing stock.
In short
An indent order is an advance order for products that will be manufactured after the order is placed, typically for a future season. The brand collects indent orders during its sales campaign and uses them to decide production quantities. It is the counterpart to stock orders, which ship from inventory.
How does it work in practice?
During the selling period, buyers place orders from samples, line sheets or a digital showroom. Once the campaign closes, the brand aggregates the order book by style, colour and size, checks factory minimums and places purchase orders with suppliers. Goods are then delivered to retailers in the agreed delivery windows, often several months later.
- Orders placed from samples rather than physical stock
- Production quantities derived from total bookings
- Fixed delivery windows per drop
- Limited options to change quantities after confirmation
Why does it matter for fashion businesses?
Indent business reduces inventory risk for the brand, because production is based on committed demand. It also lets brands plan capacity and raw material purchasing. For retailers, indent orders mean committing budget early and accepting longer lead times, which is why many combine indent with replenishment and in-season top-ups.
How is AI changing it?
AI models predict final campaign volumes from early bookings, letting brands reserve fabric and capacity before the order book is complete. They also help forecast which styles will miss minimums and suggest buffer quantities for in-season re-orders on top of indent volumes.
Common pitfalls
Indent business depends on discipline in the order campaign. When campaigns run late or orders keep changing, production planning suffers, and the brand ends up with cuts, delays or excess stock, which undermines the very risk reduction that indent ordering is meant to deliver.
- Treating indent volumes as true consumer demand
- Ignoring expected cuts and cancellations when planning production
- Late campaign close that compresses production lead time
- No buffer for re-orders on bestsellers
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between indent and stock orders?
Indent orders are placed before production and fulfilled from goods made to order. Stock orders are fulfilled immediately or quickly from inventory already in the warehouse.
Is an indent order the same as a pre-order?
They are closely related and often used interchangeably in fashion wholesale. Indent emphasises that goods are produced to order, while pre-order emphasises the timing of the order before delivery.