Why is the price of the same dress different by several times?

Have you ever seen two identical-looking dresses, but one sells for $20 and the other for $200? It’s not just branding—it’s layers of hidden costs¹ that most people never think about.

The price gap between similar dresses often comes from fabric quality², production complexity, brand positioning³, and hidden costs such as marketing and logistics. Understanding these components is key to decoding the pricing logic in fashion.

I used to think price differences were just about "fame." Until I ran my own factory and began OEM work for both budget and luxury clients—I finally saw the real breakdown behind the scenes.

The style is the same, but the price is very different? You may have overlooked these "hidden costs"

Some dresses look almost identical, but the price tags tell a different story. Why?

Even when the design is similar, materials, processing, and branding decisions can make one dress three to five times more expensive than another.

Fashion Workshop

How does the difference in fabric composition affect the price? How much difference is there between polyester, viscose and silk?

Fabric is the core. It touches the skin. It decides the feel and the fall.

Silk can be 10 to 15 times more expensive than polyester, while viscose sits somewhere in the middle.

Are there details such as lining, boning, invisible zipper, etc.? Additional processes can also raise the price

These are the parts most customers won’t notice—until they wear the dress.

Each additional detail, like lining or boning, adds hours of labor and increases cost by 10-30%.

A dress with boning requires careful placement and extra stitching. An invisible zipper takes more skill and time than a regular one. These steps aren’t flashy, but they shape the fit—and the price.

Does brand positioning determine the selling price? Pricing comparison of fast fashion vs designer brands

What’s the real difference between a fast fashion label and a designer brand?

Brand positioning defines target customers, profit margins, and marketing budgets—this can turn a $10 dress into a $150 product.

Why can ZARA and Sandro be 5 times different for the same A-line skirt?

ZARA works on scale, Sandro works on exclusivity.

ZARA makes tens of thousands of units per style; Sandro might only make a few hundred, each with finer finishes and higher quality fabrics.

• ZARA: focus on speed, low unit cost, minimal marketing per piece
• Sandro: invests in packaging, boutiques, and brand storytelling

How to calculate design patents and brand added value? Where is the premium point?

Ideas have value, and some brands charge for it.

A unique silhouette, protected by design patents, can add $20 to $50 to a garment. Brand equity adds even more.

Does the production cost determine the retail price? The perspective of the OEM factory reveals the real quotation

You might think production cost is the base for price markup. Not always.

In reality, retail prices can be 4 to 10 times the production cost, depending on volume, brand level, and sales channels.

What proportion does the pattern making fee, sample fee and labor cost account for respectively?

These costs are small in numbers but big in decision-making.

Pattern making and sampling can cost 30-50% of the development budget, while labor varies based on region and complexity.

How big is the cost gap between small batch production and large goods? Does the minimum order quantity have a significant impact?

The smaller the order, the higher the unit cost.

Minimum order quantity (MOQ) is critical. Small batches can cost 1.5 to 3 times more per piece than large production runs.

Big brands spread fixed costs across thousands of pieces. Small brands absorb them in just hundreds—this makes a big price difference.

Where are the invisible places for the premium point of the dress? From supply chain to marketing strategy

The customer sees the price tag, but doesn’t see the hidden ecosystem behind it.

From eco-certifications to influencer campaigns, these hidden costs build a brand’s story—and the price.

Do you use environmentally friendly fabrics or special certifications? Are you willing to pay for the green premium?

Green isn’t cheap.

Eco-certified fabrics like TENCEL™ or GOTS cotton can be 2-4 times more expensive than regular materials. These costs reflect responsibility, not just raw value.

Some buyers happily pay for it. Others don’t. But the premium is real, and it's growing.

How are the costs of shooting, models, and operations allocated to the price of each piece?

The dress price covers more than just the dress.

Each campaign photo, each social media ad, even model fees—these get averaged into every unit's cost. Sometimes it’s $2 per dress, sometimes it’s $20.

Conclusion

Even if two dresses look the same, their prices reflect different choices—from fabric to brand strategy. The premium is in the invisible.