Wool is the one stole category where getting the calendar wrong costs more than getting the fabric wrong. A woolen stole ordered in September arrives in December, which is halfway through the season you were buying for. Every buyer learns this once. A woolen stoles bulk supplier India buyers return to is one who tells you the production reality in July rather than agreeing to a timeline in September and missing it. This guide covers wool grades, micron counts, the specification that matters and the ordering calendar that makes the difference between full price sell through and a January discount.
Wool grades a woolen stoles bulk supplier India works with
Wool is graded by fibre diameter measured in microns, and micron count drives both softness and price. Lower micron means finer fibre, softer hand and higher cost.
Merino wool runs 18 to 24 microns and is the benchmark for soft, next to skin wool. It is the most widely traded fine wool in stole production and the safest specification for premium retail.
Lambswool comes from a sheep’s first shearing, typically 20 to 25 microns, and is softer than standard wool but coarser than fine merino. It sits at a reasonable price point for mid market winter ranges.
Standard sheep wool runs above 25 microns and can feel scratchy against the skin. It suits outerwear weight stoles and heavier wraps rather than pieces worn against the neck.
Acrylic and wool blends appear widely in the Indian trade under names including cashmilon. These are not wool and should not be sold as such, though they are legitimate products at their own price point with better washability and lower cost.
Any woolen stoles bulk supplier India quoting a fine wool product should state the micron count. The Central Wool Development Board publishes Indian wool grading information for reference.
GSM, size and construction
Woolen stoles run heavier than any other fibre in the category. Expect 180 to 320 GSM depending on wool type and intended market. Northern European and Canadian retail wants the heavier end. Milder climate markets want 180 to 220.
Standard dimensions are 70 by 200 centimetres, with wider 90 by 200 formats sold as wraps. Wool is bulkier than viscose or cotton at the same dimensions, which affects both packing volume and freight cost, so factor that into your landed cost calculation rather than working from the per piece price alone.
Construction affects warmth and appearance. Plain weave is the baseline. Twill and herringbone add structure and a classic menswear look that sells consistently in European markets. Jacquard builds pattern into the weave rather than printing it on, which survives washing and carries a higher perceived value.
Finish matters on wool more than on lighter fibres. Milling and raising produce a softer surface at the cost of some durability. Ask which finish has been applied, since an aggressively raised wool stole feels wonderful in the showroom and pills within a season.
Pricing: what moves the number on wool
Micron count first. The gap between a 24 micron and an 18 micron merino stole at the same dimensions is substantial, because you are buying a materially different fibre.
Weight second. Wool is priced largely by fibre content, so a 300 GSM stole costs meaningfully more than a 200 GSM piece of the same wool. This is a straightforward relationship and one of the easier places to adjust a range to hit a target retail price.
Yarn dyeing costs more than piece dyeing and enables woven checks, stripes and herringbone patterns. Most quality woolen stoles are yarn dyed.
Blending down is where quotes get confusing. A wool acrylic blend at 70/30 costs considerably less than pure wool and is a legitimate product. A supplier quoting pure wool at a blend price is quoting a blend. Ask for the fibre composition report on the first order from any new woolen stoles bulk supplier India.
MOQ, sampling and lead times
Minimum order quantity for woolen stoles generally sits at 100 pieces per design for stock styles and 200 for custom work. Wool minimums can run higher on custom colours because yarn dyeing requires a viable lot size.
Sample in the actual weight you intend to buy. A 200 GSM sample tells you very little about how a 280 GSM production piece will feel and drape. Pay for the sample and expect the cost credited against the bulk order.
Lead times run 10 to 15 working days for stock styles with your label, 20 to 25 for custom printed work, 30 to 40 for embroidery and 45 to 60 working days for custom woven designs including jacquard. Yarn dyed woven wool sits at the longer end because the yarn must be dyed before weaving begins.
The ordering calendar that actually works
Work backwards from your retail season rather than forwards from today.
For a Northern Hemisphere winter range hitting shelves in October, place custom woven wool orders by June and stock label orders by August. Add 25 to 35 days for sea freight or 5 to 10 for air. A June order arrives comfortably. A September order does not.
For Southern Hemisphere winter retail in June, reverse the calendar and order between January and March.
Sea freight is worth planning for on wool specifically. Woolen stoles are bulky relative to their weight, and air freight on volumetric weight makes a heavy wool programme expensive. Buyers who plan far enough ahead to ship by sea protect several points of margin.
Buyers building a complete winter offer should read alongside this the guides to merino wool stole and shawl sourcing, cashmere stole grades and pashmina stole specifications, since the four fibres cover different price tiers of the same seasonal shelf.
Quality checks on a woolen stole delivery
Check micron and fibre content against the specification, ideally with a laboratory report on a first order from a new supplier. Wool substitution is harder to detect by hand than silk substitution and more common than most buyers assume.
Check GSM by weighing a piece and dividing by area, and compare against the approved sample.
Check shade consistency across cartons. Yarn dyed wool holds colour well but lot variation still occurs.
Check for pilling by rubbing the surface firmly. A heavily raised finish that fuzzes under moderate pressure will fuzz in a customer’s wardrobe.
Check moth treatment. Wool in transit and storage is vulnerable, and reputable suppliers treat and pack accordingly.
Confirm care labelling specifies dry clean or hand wash in cold water. The care label requirements for textile export differ by destination market and incorrect labelling creates a customs problem rather than a presentation one.
Savita Shawls as a woolen stoles bulk supplier India
Savita Fashions LLP, trading as Savita Shawls, has manufactured stoles, shawls and scarves from Gurgaon, Haryana since 1984 and supplies buyers in more than 20 countries including the UK, USA, Germany, France, Sweden, Denmark, Canada and Australia, which between them cover most of the serious cold weather retail markets. GST registration is 06AFPFS3876N1Z0 and IEC is AFPFS3876N, verifiable on the GST portal. The company is registered with FIEO and AEPC.
As a woolen stoles bulk supplier India terms are 100 pieces per stock design and 200 pieces per custom or OEM design, with corporate gifting from 50 pieces with branding. Samples dispatch within 5 to 7 business days with the cost credited against the bulk order. Production runs 10 to 15 working days for stock styles with your label and 45 to 60 working days for custom woven designs including jacquard and kani.
The wool range covers merino, lambswool and blends alongside pashmina and cashmere at the luxury end, so a single winter programme can span several price tiers from one supplier. The fine wool stole range and the winter scarf and stole range show the formats available. Private label covers woven inner labels, care labels in your destination language, hangtags and branded packaging, with Pantone matching and lab dip approval before bulk dyeing. Buyers new to the category should start with the guide to choosing a stole manufacturer.
Frequently asked questions
What micron count should I specify for woolen stoles?
For premium retail worn against the skin, specify 18 to 20 micron fine merino. For mid market winter ranges, 21 to 24 micron merino or lambswool works well. Above 25 microns the fabric can feel scratchy at the neck and suits outerwear weight wraps instead. Always ask a supplier to state micron count rather than describing wool generically.
When should I place a woolen stole order?
Work backwards from your retail season. For a Northern Hemisphere winter range on shelves in October, place custom woven orders by June and stock label orders by August, then add 25 to 35 days for sea freight or 5 to 10 days for air. For Southern Hemisphere winter retail in June, order between January and March.
What GSM is right for a woolen stole?
Woolen stoles run 180 to 320 GSM. Northern European, Canadian and Scandinavian retail generally wants 250 GSM and above. Milder climate markets suit 180 to 220 GSM. Wool is bulkier than other fibres at the same weight, so heavier specifications increase freight cost as well as unit cost. Factor both into landed cost.
What is the minimum order from a woolen stoles bulk supplier India?
Most Indian suppliers set minimums at 100 pieces per design for stock styles and 200 pieces for custom or OEM work. Wool minimums can run higher on custom colours, because yarn dyeing requires a viable lot size to be economical. Savita Shawls works to 100 and 200 pieces, with corporate gifting from 50 pieces with branding.
How do I verify that a stole is genuinely wool?
Request a fibre composition report from a testing laboratory on the first order with a new supplier. Wool substitution with acrylic is harder to detect by hand than silk substitution and appears regularly in the trade. A burn test on a fringe thread gives an indication, since wool smells of burnt hair and self extinguishes while acrylic melts into a hard bead.
What is the difference between merino and lambswool?
Merino refers to the sheep breed and produces fibre of 18 to 24 microns, valued for fineness and softness. Lambswool comes from a sheep’s first shearing regardless of breed, typically 20 to 25 microns. Merino is generally finer and more consistent. Lambswool sits at a lower price point suitable for mid market winter ranges.
Should I ship wool by air or sea?
Sea freight, wherever the calendar allows. Woolen stoles are bulky relative to their weight, and air freight priced on volumetric weight makes a heavy wool programme considerably more expensive. Sea freight takes 25 to 35 days to the UK and Europe. Buyers who order early enough to ship by sea protect several points of margin.
How long does a bulk woolen stole order take?
Stock styles with your own label take 10 to 15 working days. Custom printed work takes 20 to 25 working days. Embroidered stoles take 30 to 40 working days. Custom woven designs including jacquard take 45 to 60 working days, since yarn must be dyed before weaving begins. Add freight on top of production time.
Ready to order
Send your requirement with wool type, micron preference, GSM, dimensions and quantity per design, and Savita Shawls will return pricing, confirmed lead times and sample availability. Samples ship within 5 to 7 business days with the cost credited against your bulk order. Given the seasonal calendar, contacting a woolen stoles bulk supplier India early is worth more than negotiating hard late. Start with a winter stole quote request, email sales@savitashawls.com or call +91 7696677766.
