How does fabric choice affect price?

Silk is a commodity, and its price reflects the density of the weave. Momme is the unit used to measure that density: the higher the number, the more silk is woven into the fabric per square metre, and the more the fabric costs per metre. Read our full guide to understanding momme weight. The three fabrics LS Silk offers span a meaningful range. Silk chiffon at 8mm is the lightest and most economical per metre, though its translucent, floating quality means it suits certain designs and uses better than others. Silk twill and crêpe de chine at 14mm sit in the mid-range and are where most institutional and artist commissions land. They offer the right balance of structure, print clarity,…

How does size affect the price per unit?

Silk is printed in lengths across a fixed fabric width, most commonly 114cm or 140cm. The size you choose for your scarf determines how many pieces can be cut from each metre of fabric, which directly affects the cost per unit. Sizes that align naturally with the fabric width use the material efficiently, with minimal offcut. Sizes that fall awkwardly across the width generate waste, and that waste is costed into the per-unit price. A small adjustment of a few centimetres can sometimes make a meaningful difference to the overall budget, particularly on smaller runs. It is the kind of thing we will flag when we review your brief.

Why does sampling cost more than bulk production?

Sampling occupies its own line in the budget. When production begins on a sample, it requires calibrating machinery, loading a specific file, and producing a small number of pieces on a dedicated run outside the normal production rhythm. That process costs more per unit than bulk production, which is why sampling is charged at a different rate. It is not a margin exercise. It is a genuine reflection of the effort involved. The sample cost is an investment in accuracy. It is what prevents a misaligned colour or an unexpected scale issue from appearing across a full run. At LS Silk, we will always advise clearly on whether sampling is essential for your particular design and colour…

How does quantity affect the per-unit price in practice?

At smaller quantities, thirty to fifty pieces, the per-unit cost is higher but the total commitment is lower. For an artist testing a design as merchandise, or a school commissioning a one-off project, this is often exactly the right scale. At mid quantities, one hundred to two hundred pieces, the per-unit cost drops meaningfully. This is the range that makes the most sense for gallery retail programmes, institutional gifting, and small corporate runs. At larger quantities, three hundred or more, the per-unit cost continues to fall, and the project starts to look more like a product programme than a one-off commission.

Custom Silk Scarves: How Much Does It Actually Cost in New Zealand?

Q: What drives the cost of a custom silk scarf?

Every quote for a custom silk scarf project comes down to five variables. Change any one of them and the number shifts. Understanding each one puts you in a much better position to shape the outcome.

Q: What if I have a fixed budget?

We are sometimes asked for a ballpark figure before a brief has been discussed. The honest answer is that the range is wide enough that a number without context is not very useful. What we can do — and what we find more useful than a ballpark — is work backwards from a budget. Tell us what you have to work with, and we will tell you what is achievable within it. The brief is where all of this becomes concrete. The quote that follows is specific, itemised, and honest about what each element costs and why. Read our guide on how to brief a custom silk scarf project to prepare for that conversation.

Quick answer: At LS Silk, a custom silk scarf costs NZ$64 to NZ$72 each for 30 to 100 pieces and NZ$102 to NZ$172 each for 2 to 20 pieces, for a 65 cm silk twill scarf with a hand-rolled hem, excluding GST. A single finished sample is NZ$197. Size, silk, quantity and hem finish change the price, and the Custom Studio shows yours straight away. Prices are as at October 2026.

The question almost every new customer asks first is what a custom silk scarf costs. Here is a straight answer, with real numbers, and an explanation of what moves them.

How much does a custom silk scarf cost?

These are LS Silk prices per piece in New Zealand dollars for silk twill at 14 momme with a hand-rolled hem, excluding GST and delivery.

Size	Finished sample	2 to 5 pieces	17 to 20 pieces	30 to 49 pieces	50 to 100 pieces
Classic square, 65 × 65 cm	NZ$197	NZ$172	NZ$102	NZ$72	NZ$64
Large square, 89 × 89 cm	NZ$222	NZ$185	NZ$110	NZ$77	NZ$71

A 31 cm pocket square costs NZ$135 as a finished sample and NZ$47 to NZ$52 each in a production run. The Custom Studio shows the current price for every combination, so treat it as the final word if a figure here has changed.

What drives the cost of a custom silk scarf?

Four choices set the price: silk, size, quantity and hem finish. A finished sample and colour matching are optional extras.

How does the silk affect price?

Silk twill at 14 momme is the starting price. Silk twill at 16 momme and crêpe de Chine at 14 momme cost a little more: on a 65 cm scarf in a run of 30 to 49, they are NZ$77 and NZ$83 each against NZ$72. Momme measures how much silk is in the cloth, so a higher number means a heavier, denser fabric. Read our guide to momme weight and our silk comparison guide to choose between them.

How does size affect the price per piece?

A larger scarf uses more silk, so it costs more. The Custom Studio offers four squares: 31 cm, 53 cm, 65 cm and 89 cm. The step from a 65 cm scarf to an 89 cm scarf adds about NZ$5 to NZ$7 a piece in a production run. Our size guide explains what each size is used for.

How much does quantity affect cost?

Quantity is the biggest lever. Setting up a design, checking the artwork and calibrating colour cost the same whether you order two scarves or one hundred, so each piece carries less of that cost as the run grows. Prices fall in steps:

Small run, 2 to 20 pieces per design: NZ$172 down to NZ$102 each for a 65 cm scarf. Right for an artist testing a design, a wedding party or a one-off gift.
Production run, 30 to 49 pieces: NZ$72 each.
Production run, 50 to 100 pieces: NZ$64 each.
More than 100 pieces: quoted individually. Email support@lovesilk.co.nz.

There is no band for 21 to 29 pieces, for a simple reason: 30 pieces at the production price cost the same in total as 20 pieces at the small-run price. If you need 25, order 30 and keep the spares.

Does the hem finish change the cost?

Only slightly. A machine hem is NZ$2 less per piece than a hand-rolled hem. Choose on look and feel, not on budget. Our guide to hand-rolled vs machine hems shows the difference.

What does a finished sample cost?

A finished sample costs NZ$135 to NZ$222 depending on size. It is one complete scarf in your chosen silk and finish. We print two and send you the better one; the other is kept as the colour reference for your production run. If you go on to order a production run of 50 or more pieces of the same design within six months, we credit half the sample price against it. A sample is optional, and we recommend it when colour is critical or the order is large.

What else is added to the price?

GST: prices are shown excluding GST, and 15% GST is added in the order summary.
Delivery: charged at courier rates for the parcel weight, usually NZ$7 to NZ$17, tracked.
Colour matching: if a brand colour must match a Pantone TCX reference, we print colour variations on silk for your approval for a small extra charge, shown in the Studio.

What if I need something outside the standard range?

The Custom Studio covers the choices most customers need. Silk chiffon, long and skinny scarves, other sizes, heavier silk, woven labels and gift packaging are available by quote. Email support@lovesilk.co.nz with what you have in mind.

What if I have a fixed budget?

Work backwards in the Custom Studio. Change the size, silk, finish or quantity and the price updates with it, so you can see in a minute what your budget buys. Dropping from an 89 cm scarf to a 65 cm scarf, or moving from 20 pieces to 30, often makes more difference than any other change. Our guide on how to brief a custom silk scarf project helps you settle the choices first.

Ready to start? Choose your size, silk and finish and see your price straight away. See your price in the Custom Studio →

Need more than 100 pieces, or something outside the standard range? Email support@lovesilk.co.nz.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a custom silk scarf cost in New Zealand?

At LS Silk, a 65 cm silk twill scarf with a hand-rolled hem costs NZ$64 to NZ$72 each for 30 to 100 pieces and NZ$102 to NZ$172 each for 2 to 20 pieces, excluding GST. A finished sample is NZ$197.

What is the minimum order for custom silk scarves?

One. You can order a single finished sample, a small run of 2 to 20 pieces, or a production run of 30 to 100 pieces per design. For more than 100 pieces, email support@lovesilk.co.nz for a quote.

Is there a charge for a sample?

Yes. A finished sample costs NZ$135 to NZ$222 depending on size. It is optional. If you go on to order a production run of 50 or more pieces of the same design within six months, we credit half the sample price against it.

Does a hand-rolled hem cost more?

A little. A machine hem is NZ$2 less per piece than a hand-rolled hem.

Do prices include GST and delivery?

No. Prices are shown excluding GST and delivery. Both are added in the order summary before you pay, so you see the full total first.

Why is there no price for 21 to 29 pieces?

Thirty pieces at the production price cost the same in total as 20 pieces at the small-run price, so 30 is the better order.

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