# LANE FOUR ATHLETICS Drop 01 Sourcing Plan

Date: 2026-07-05  
Status: Draft for sample sourcing  
Purpose: Shortlist body and supplier routes for the first physical sample round.

## Sourcing Principle

Drop 01 should be sampled in two parallel routes:

1. Fast blank route for apparel pieces.
2. Swim-specific OEM route for box swim brief and swim cap.

The apparel route is for silhouette, print scale, photography, and first sales testing. The swim route is for durability, chlorine resistance, stretch behavior, and credibility with actual swimmers.

## Recommended First Route

| Item | First Candidate | Why It Fits | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short Sleeve Tee | United Athle 4411-01 9.1 oz Magnum Weight Big Silhouette Tee | Heavy, boxy, street-readable; best for the first black/greige hero tee. | https://united-athle.jp/ua/item/441101/ |
| Tee China ODM Route | 260-300 GSM oversized boxy tee body | Use after reference review to test a closer private-label body before full cut-and-sew. | `docs/production/l4-tee-01-sampling-brief.md` |
| Tee Alternate | United Athle 5508-01 5.6 oz Big Silhouette Tee | Lighter and easier to wear; useful if 4411 feels too heavy for pool-deck use. | https://united-athle.jp/ua/item/550801/ |
| Premium Tee Alternate | United Athle 5942-01 6.2 oz Premium Tee | Cleaner standard silhouette; good control sample for print and wash tests. | https://united-athle.jp/ua/item/594201/ |
| Sweat Top | United Athle 5763-01 12.0 oz Heavyweight Pullover Hoodie | Heavyweight, oversized mood, good for back lockup testing. | https://united-athle.jp/ua/item/576301/ |
| Sweat Pants | United Athle 5765-01 12.0 oz Heavyweight Sweat Pants | Heavyweight straight sweat pant, suitable for the street-athletics image. | https://united-athle.jp/ua/item/576501/ |
| Track Jacket | United Athle 7220-01 Cotton-like Nylon Training Jacket | Retro training jacket, city/training crossover, strong fit with the brand story. | https://united-athle.jp/ua/item/722001/ |
| Track Pants | United Athle 7219-01 Cotton-like Nylon Training Pants | Same family as jacket; balloon/loose silhouette supports a street styling direction. | https://united-athle.jp/ua/item/721901/ |
| Training Shorts | United Athle 1880-01 Nylon Easy Shorts | Works for pool deck, gym, and casual wear; good for L4 leg placement. | https://united-athle.jp/ua/item/188001/ |
| Sweat Shorts Alternate | United Athle 5199-01 8.2 oz Sweat Shorts | Good lifestyle alternate if nylon shorts feel too outdoor. | https://united-athle.jp/ua/item/519901/ |
| Box Swim Brief | Fules Design or AKF swimwear OEM route | Needs actual swimwear construction, sublimation/transfer testing, and chlorine durability. | https://fulesdesign.com/business_content/oem/ / https://www.akf-japan.jp/ |
| Original Practice Swimwear | Sanwa original practice swimwear route | Useful for custom practice-suit inquiry and swimming-specific production language. | https://www.sanwa-corp.co.jp/oem/sports/opp/ |
| Swim Cap | Sanwa original swim cap route | Custom cap inquiry path with small-lot positioning. | https://www.sanwa-corp.co.jp/oem/sports/printcap/ |
| Swim Cap Blank Check | Wundou P94 silicone cap | Good plain cap reference for size/shape if testing print placement before OEM. | https://www.wundou.com/item/p94/ |

## Sample Batches

### Batch A: Brand Signal

Make this first.

| Product | Body / Route | Color | Mark | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tee | United Athle 4411-01 | Black | White LANE4 chest + long matte L4 rubber back label | 2-3 sizes |
| Tee | United Athle 4411-01 or 5508-01 | Greige / natural / sand family | Dark LANE4 chest + long matte L4 rubber back label | 2-3 sizes |
| Swim Cap | Sanwa or blank silicone test | Black | White L4 both sides | 10-30 depending on MOQ |
| Box Swim Brief | Swim OEM | Black | White L4 hip | MOQ sample |
| Hoodie | United Athle 5763-01 | Off white / ash / black | Back lockup | 2-3 sizes |

### Batch B: Uniform Set

Make after Batch A print scale is approved.

| Product | Body / Route | Color | Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track Jacket | United Athle 7220-01 | Black / grey / stone family | LANE4 chest, optional lockup back |
| Track Pants | United Athle 7219-01 | Matching jacket | L4 lower thigh |
| Sweat Pants | United Athle 5765-01 | Black / grey | L4 upper thigh |
| Nylon Shorts | United Athle 1880-01 | Black / sand | L4 lower hem |

### Batch C: Refinement

Use only after photography and athlete fit feedback.

- White-print black range.
- Dark-print greige range.
- Tonal embroidery test.
- Woven `1994` label test.
- Neck label / hangtag / polybag system.

## Vendor Questions

Ask every apparel print vendor:

- Can you source these exact United Athle item numbers, or should we supply blanks?
- What is the minimum quantity per body/color/print position?
- Can you do matte screen print and soft-hand print?
- Can you do small embroidery or woven labels?
- Can you print on nylon track fabric without shine or peeling?
- Can you provide wash-test guidance?
- Can you provide one physical pre-production sample before full run?

Ask every swimwear OEM:

- Can you make a square-cut men's training brief / box swim brief?
- Can you produce black body with one-color white L4 mark?
- Which method is stronger for this mark: sublimation, heat transfer, or direct print?
- What chlorine-resistance testing do you recommend?
- What are the MOQ, sample fee, sample lead time, and production lead time?
- Can you share a size spec sheet and fabric options?
- Can you support hangtag, care label, and polybag packing?

Ask every swim cap vendor:

- Silicone or mesh cap: what is the MOQ for custom print?
- Can the L4 mark be printed on both sides?
- Can they match off-white ink on black silicone?
- Can they send one blank cap or one proof sample first?
- Does print distortion occur on the curved cap surface?

## Decision Gates

| Gate | Pass Condition |
|---|---|
| Body silhouette | Looks like a street-athletics brand, not generic teamwear. |
| Print scale | Front marks stay small; back/cap/swim identity carries the brand. |
| Swim credibility | Cap and swim brief survive actual pool use and look credible to swimmers. |
| Photo readiness | Products photograph well on real athletes without needing styling tricks. |
| Production simplicity | Drop 01 can launch with two ink colors and limited body colors. |

## Immediate Outreach Order

1. Apparel printer that can source United Athle and handle screen print/embroidery.
2. Swimwear OEM for box swim brief feasibility.
3. Swim cap vendor for black silicone cap with white L4.
4. Secondary apparel printer for quote comparison.

## Short Inquiry Copy

Subject: LANE FOUR ATHLETICS sample production inquiry

Hello,

We are preparing first samples for a swim-origin athletics apparel brand. We would like to confirm feasibility, MOQ, sample cost, and lead time for the following:

- United Athle body sourcing and screen print/embroidery.
- Small front chest logo prints and back lockup prints.
- Black/off-white/greige neutral body colors.
- Swim cap and square-cut training swim brief sample options.

The brand uses only one-color dark charcoal or off-white prints for the first drop. We can provide SVG logo data and placement specifications.

Please let us know the recommended process, MOQ, and sample lead time.

## Notes

- These candidates were selected from publicly available product/OEM pages checked on 2026-07-05.
- Availability, color range, MOQ, and pricing must be verified directly with vendors before ordering.
- Do not lock final dimensions until physical blanks and size specs are in hand.