How do I actually import a product from China as a small D2C brand with no existing supply chain?

Start on Alibaba to benchmark price and MOQ, but don't place a real order there blind, get 3+ quotes, order paid samples, and use Trade Assurance for your first payment so you're not wiring money to a stranger. Pair it with a freight forwarder who has an Indian customs broker on staff, because clearing customs is where first-timers lose the most time and money, not the factory relationship.