Walmart Supplier
Guidelines & Requirements
For Walmart Retail Stores and Walmart eCom (1P) production. This manual sets the standards every supplier must follow to ship successfully.
Quick reference
The few details suppliers look up most often. Keep this page bookmarked.
- Bulk fabric submitted for testing and approved
- Labelling layouts approved by ME labelling team
- Full garment test passed (UL or BV) — all colors, full size set
- PP sample approved by ME production
- 3rd-party bulk inspection passed
- Acknowledgment letter on file with Kelly
Testing requirements
All Walmart Retail and Walmart eCom (1P) shipments require passed fabric testing followed by passed full-garment testing. Both must be complete before booking is approved.
Step 1 · Fabric testing
Purpose: to confirm the actual fibre content of the fabric being used in bulk, so that the care-label content statement on bulk production matches what is later found during full-garment testing. This is not a pre-check of the fabric against restricted-substance limits.
- Submit bulk fabric for testing as soon as ready
- Submit passed report to your production coordinator and the ME labelling team alongside your labelling layouts for approval
- The fabric content listed on the care label must match the fabric-test results
- You may use a testing company of your choice for fabric testing only — but it is strongly suggested to use the same WM-nominated lab (UL or BV) you will use for full-garment testing, to reduce discrepancies
- If discrepancies appear between fabric and full-garment results, you are responsible for changing any and all labels prior to shipment
Step 2 · Full-garment testing
- Submit store-ready samples from bulk production — proper labels and packaging in place
- All colors and a full size set, submitted at the same time
- Labs select specimens from your submission for physical and chemical tests
- No separate reporting to Walmart is required — UL or BV notify Walmart directly
- Standard turn-around: 3–5 business days from lab receipt
- Samples must be sent while bulk goods are still in the factory. A passed report is required in hand before booking can be approved
Nominated laboratories
Walmart nominates two third-party labs for full-garment testing. Use either one — talk to your production coordinator if you are unsure which is closer or faster for your region.
Testing costs
Test fees are billed by the lab directly to the supplier. The figures below are reference estimates — your final invoice may vary based on construction, fibre content, and special requirements.
| Scenario | Sizes | Estimated cost (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard size set | 5 | $350.70 | Most apparel programs |
| Extended size set | 8 | $426.90 | Programs requiring extended sizes |
Photo sample requirements
Photo samples are used by Walmart for online imagery. They must be production-quality and arrive on time — late or off-spec photo samples delay the listing.
- Photo samples must be made in the exact bulk fabric, color, and trims
- Submit in the size and quantity specified in your original order email
- Each sample must be tagged with a completed ME sample tag (see Appendix A)
- Submit to ME — not directly to Walmart — for review and forwarding
Fit & spec
All samples must measure to spec. Discrepancies are flagged at fit review and may require resubmission.
- Measurements must match the approved spec sheet provided with the original PO
- Tolerance per Mark Edwards standards — confirm with Maria Naddaf if unclear
- Fit comments are returned by ME — implement before submitting PP samples
- Final fit approval is required before bulk production begins
Labelling, paper trims & packing
All labels, trims, and packing materials must be approved before bulk production. Care labels in particular must match the passed fabric-test results exactly.
- Submit labelling layouts to the ME labelling team alongside your passed fabric report
- Care label fiber content must match fabric-test results
- Hangtags, polybag stickers, and carton labels must follow ME and Walmart specifications
- Packaging must be compliant with Walmart packaging requirements — see compliance documents
- Any deviation requires written approval from the ME labelling team before production
Sample submission procedure
It is the supplier’s responsibility to ensure all samples are submitted properly, following all standards and requirements. Two parallel tracks exist: ME for fit and approval, the nominated lab for testing.
Fit, PP, photo & TOP samples → ME
Submitted to Mark Edwards production for review and approval.
- Each sample tagged with a completed ME sample tag (Appendix A)
- Must measure to spec requirements
- Correct size and quantity per sample stage (proto / fit / PP / photo / production) and customer requirements
- Correct fabric content, weight, color, hand-feel, and trims for the stage
- Submitted to the production team per the required timeline
Fabric & full-garment testing → nominated lab
Submitted directly to UL Solutions or Bureau Veritas. No separate Walmart submission required.
- Communicate directly with one of the WM nominated laboratories (UL or BV)
- Test request forms must be filled out online — follow the lab’s instructions
- A copy of the completed test request form must accompany every full-garment sample
- Samples must be sent while bulk goods are still in the factory
3rd-party bulk inspection
- Standard inline and final shipment inspections apply
- Follow the regular inspection process detailed in your original PO production email
- A passed final inspection is required before bookings can be approved
Logistics
- Standard booking and logistics rules apply
- All logistics queries — booking, routing, documents — go directly to angela.maragos@markedwards.com
- Refer to your original PO production email for routing and incoterms
Compliance documents
Walmart requires a complete compliance package for every supplier. Mark Edwards files these documents centrally — suppliers do not sign Walmart compliance forms directly. Contact Kelly if you have questions about a specific compliance requirement.
Who’s who
Your day-to-day contacts at Mark Edwards. Reach out to the right person directly — it speeds everything up.
ME sample tag
To be used for fit, PP, photo, and TOP samples submitted directly to Mark Edwards for approval. Not for samples submitted to the nominated lab.
UL Solutions onboarding document
Provided by UL Solutions for new suppliers onboarding to the Walmart program. Follow the instructions in these pages exactly, and contact LST.UL.WMOnsiteSupport@ul.com with any questions.
Brand authorization — Forever 21
Letter of Authorization (LOA) from F21 IPCO, LLC / Authentic Brands Group confirming that Mark Edwards is the licensed manufacturer of Forever 21 branded goods for Walmart. Factories may be asked to present this document to Chinese customs and export control authorities as proof of authorized production of trademarked goods.
How to use this document. When shipping Forever 21 branded goods out of China, customs may request proof that the factory is producing under a valid brand licence. Download the current LOA from this page and include it with your export documentation. Do not rely on a saved or printed copy — LOAs are reissued periodically and only the version posted here is current.
Authorized product categories
The LOA covers Forever 21 branded production of the following Women’s categories: Sportswear (shirts, polo shirts, pants, shorts, vests, jackets, dresses, skirts, knit/woven/fleece sweaters, sweatshirts, sweatpants, unconstructed coats, denim, blazers, jumpsuits, rompers); Activewear (performance tops, sweatshirts, sweatpants, yoga pants, capris, tracksuits, skirts, running shorts, sports bras); Non-Performance Outerwear (coats, jackets, ponchos, windbreakers, vests, rain jackets); Sleepwear (sleep shirts, sleep pants, sleep shorts, onesies, footed pajamas, robes, nightgowns, chemises); and Loungewear (lounge tops and bottoms).
If you are producing a category not listed above, contact your Mark Edwards production coordinator before presenting this letter — the LOA authorization is limited to the categories listed. Production outside those categories requires a separate authorization.
Glossary
Common terms and acronyms used in this manual and in day-to-day correspondence with Mark Edwards.
- 1P
- First-party. Goods sold by Walmart directly to the customer (as opposed to 3P / marketplace, where Walmart is only the platform). This manual covers 1P production for Walmart Retail Stores and Walmart eCom.
- PP / PP Sample
- Pre-Production sample. The sample made before bulk cutting begins, in actual bulk fabric and trims. PP approval by Mark Edwards is required before bulk production may start.
- TOP
- Top-of-Production sample. A finished garment pulled from the first units off the bulk line, used to confirm that bulk matches the approved PP. Submitted to Mark Edwards immediately when bulk production begins.
- GSP
- General Specification Protocol. Walmart’s published technical specification protocols used by UL Solutions and Bureau Veritas to test garments for Walmart programs. Different garment categories follow different GSPs — your Mark Edwards production coordinator will confirm which protocol applies.
- BCY / FCY
- Base currency / Foreign currency. BCY is the base (reporting) currency of Mark Edwards. FCY is the currency the supplier is paid in. Both will be specified on each purchase order.
- PO
- Purchase Order. The official order document issued by Mark Edwards to the supplier. The PO governs quantities, fabric, trim, pricing, ship dates, routing, and incoterms for each production run.
- EDI
- Electronic Data Interchange. The structured electronic format Walmart uses to transmit purchase orders, ASNs, and invoices between Mark Edwards and Walmart. Suppliers do not interact with Walmart EDI directly — all PO data is re-issued to suppliers by Mark Edwards.
- UL / UL Solutions
- One of two Walmart-nominated third-party testing laboratories for this program. See Section 03 — Nominated laboratories.
- BV / Bureau Veritas
- The second Walmart-nominated third-party testing laboratory. Either UL or BV may be used; both are accepted by Walmart for this program. See Section 03 — Nominated laboratories.
- OTA
- Online Testing Application. The UL Solutions web portal where suppliers register and submit test requests electronically. See Appendix B for UL onboarding documentation.
- Dept # / Dept 34
- Walmart department number. Walmart organizes its merchandise by internal department numbers. Mark Edwards Apparel sells into Walmart Department 34. The Dept # appears on every PO and shipping label.
- ME
- Mark Edwards / Mark Edwards Apparel — the company you are producing for. References to “ME labelling team”, “ME production”, “ME sample tag”, etc. all refer to internal Mark Edwards teams or items provided by Mark Edwards.
- Full-garment test
- The complete suite of physical and chemical tests required by Walmart on the finished garment (as opposed to fabric-only testing). Must be passed in all colors and the full size set before bulk shipment is approved.
- Inline / Final inspection
- Third-party quality inspections performed at the factory: inline during production, and final once the order is packed but before it ships. A passed final inspection is required before booking.
If you encounter a term not listed here, contact your Mark Edwards production coordinator before guessing — many of these terms have specific contractual meaning under the Walmart program.
Document control
Confidentiality terms and the revision history for this manual. Check this section to confirm you are working from the latest version.
Confidentiality
This manual and its contents are confidential to Mark Edwards Apparel and the receiving factory. The information contained herein — including customer details, internal contacts, laboratory arrangements, pricing, and process documents — is proprietary to Mark Edwards. It is shared with the receiving factory solely for the purpose of producing goods on behalf of Mark Edwards.
Suppliers may not reproduce, distribute, disclose, or use this manual or any information contained within it for any purpose outside of their direct production relationship with Mark Edwards, without prior written permission from Mark Edwards Apparel.
Revision history
This manual will be updated as Walmart programs, regulatory requirements, or internal procedures change. Suppliers will be sent the most up-to-date version for review and confirmation. Check the version pill in the sidebar against the row marked Current below.
| Version | Date | Status | Summary of changes | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v1.2 | July 2026 | Current | Added “applicable limits & regulations” framing to the Testing section (Section 2); clarified that fabric testing is to confirm actual fibre content for accurate care labelling, not a restricted-substance pre-check; added a “Shipping samples to the lab” callout (Section 8) confirming local UL/BV submission with factory-paid courier and no customs paperwork; added Olga Chepeleva and Anne-Marie as backup contacts when Kelly is unavailable (Section 12). | Kelly DePooter |
| v1.1 | June 2026 | Superseded | Added Appendix C with the Forever 21 Letter of Authorization (valid through May 30, 2027) for China customs / export control. Updated LOA metadata to include validity date. | Kelly DePooter |
| v1.0 | June 2026 | Superseded | Initial release of the Walmart supplier manual for Mark Edwards Asian factories. | Kelly DePooter |
When a new version is issued, the previous version is superseded in full. Suppliers must complete a new acknowledgment for each major revision.
Supplier acknowledgment
By signing below, you certify that you have read and agree to adhere to the Walmart guidelines and requirements detailed in this manual. Should you have any questions or require clarification on any point, communicate directly with Kelly DePooter or Olga Chepeleva.