What we do
Sample Development
Physical samples in 8–15 days from our in-house sample room, with 1–2 revision rounds.
Samples are made by our own sample room — hand-cut and sewn by the same team that will run your bulk. Every sample is measured against your spec sheet and photographed before it ships.
Cost and timing
A standard sample costs from US$50 per piece and takes 8–15 days once all details are confirmed. Complex construction, printing or embroidery adds time and cost, quoted upfront.
Revisions
You fit the sample and send comments. Because pattern, sample and production sit in one factory, most styles are confirmed within 1–2 revision rounds instead of five.
Choose the sample that answers the next decision
Sampling works best as a sequence of questions. One sample may validate silhouette, another final materials and another the exact production method. Naming the purpose prevents teams from judging an early prototype as though it were a pre-production sample.
Prototype and fit sample
The first prototype proves proportion, construction approach and basic feasibility. Substitute fabric or trims may be used only when they do not invalidate the decision. A fit sample then tests measurements, balance and movement in the intended or closely comparable material. Comments from this stage update the pattern and technical package together.
Salesman and photo samples
Sales, showroom and campaign samples prioritise correct appearance and brand presentation before bulk. They should be clearly identified if materials or processes are not yet production-approved. When several colours or sizes are needed, we agree which approval is shared and which variation requires its own review.
Pre-production and size-set samples
The pre-production sample is the physical standard for bulk: approved pattern, fabric, colour, trims, labels, decoration, construction and finishing. A size set checks the grade and critical measurements beyond the base size. Production should not start from an earlier sample when these elements have changed.
Prepare a complete development package
Sample speed depends less on sewing time than on how quickly open decisions are resolved. A complete package lets the sample room build once, measure once and return focused questions before cutting.
Technical inputs
Send flat sketches, a measurement chart with points of measure, construction notes, bill of materials, colour references, artwork files and label placement. Mark tolerances and identify the sample size. If the pack is incomplete, state which details are open so we can propose them rather than treating placeholders as approval.
Physical references
Reference garments, swatches and trims communicate details that images may miss. Label each item with what to follow: fit, fabric, wash, stitch, collar, pocket or finishing. We photograph and measure important references on receipt, then connect them to the sample record so the right detail reaches the pattern, sourcing and sewing teams.
Commercial boundaries
Quantity, target price, target market and launch date influence which construction and materials are realistic. A sample can be beautiful but commercially unusable if it depends on a trim minimum above the order or a hand process outside the budget. Sharing the boundaries lets us engineer the sample toward production from the first round.
How the in-house sample process works
Pattern, sourcing, cutting, sewing and decoration are coordinated as one development record. This keeps questions close to the people who can resolve them and gives bulk production a traceable approved standard.
Technical review before cutting
We review the pack for missing measurements, conflicting construction, fabric suitability, trim availability and decoration risk. Open points are grouped into one question list. Once the direction is confirmed, the pattern and material allocation are released to the sample room under a version number.
Make, measure and document
The sample is cut and sewn using the agreed method, then measured against the specification. We photograph the garment and flag deviations or workmanship issues before shipping. For printed or embroidered styles, the artwork approval, strike-off or sew-out is linked to the garment sample so scale and placement can be reviewed together.
Revise with one controlled comment set
Buyer comments are consolidated, dated and mapped to pattern, specification, material or workmanship changes. We confirm ambiguous requests before starting the revision. This version discipline is why most straightforward styles can be closed within one or two focused rounds instead of drifting through repeated untracked samples.
Review a sample like a production standard
A productive review separates fit, measurement, materials, workmanship and visual preference. It records evidence clearly enough that another person can reproduce the decision.
Fit and movement
Review the garment on the intended body or form, fastened and styled as designed. Photograph front, back, side and any tension or drag lines. Test reach, sitting, walking or other relevant movement. Compare the result with the intended silhouette before changing isolated measurements that may only be symptoms of a balance issue.
Measurements and tolerances
Condition and measure the sample using the same points and method in the tech pack. Record actual values rather than only pass or fail. A tolerance is the acceptable production range around the target; it should not be used to avoid correcting a sample that consistently misses the intended value.
Materials, colour and workmanship
Confirm fabric hand, shade, shrinkage result, trims, label content, decoration and packaging as separate approval lines. Check seam appearance, stitch density, pressing, symmetry and finishing. Mark any substitute component so it cannot accidentally carry forward to the pre-production standard.
Move from approval to bulk without losing detail
The value of sampling is realised only when the approved decisions reach production. We close the development record before bulk and use it as the reference for material, cutting, sewing, decoration and final inspection.
Close the bill of materials
Every fabric, trim, label, colour, artwork and packaging item is matched to an approved reference or specification. Purchase quantities and lead times are checked against the order. This prevents a visually similar but unapproved component from entering bulk because its status was never made explicit.
Hold a pre-production review
The production team reviews the approved sample, technical package, workmanship points and known risks before the line starts. Critical operations and inspection checkpoints are identified. If the production method needs to differ from the sample method, the change is tested and approved before it becomes a bulk shortcut.
Keep the approved sample available
A sealed approval sample and its measurement record remain the physical reference for in-line and final checks. Future repeats use the same controlled file, with new approvals for material lots and any requested changes. This creates continuity without assuming that a repeat order is risk-free.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a clothing sample take?
A standard sample normally takes 8–15 days after fabric, measurements, construction and artwork are confirmed. Custom fabric, complex decoration or unresolved technical details can extend the schedule.
How much does a sample cost?
Standard samples start around US$50 per piece. The exact charge depends on material minimums, pattern work, construction, wash and decoration. We quote it before development begins.
Can sample fees be refunded with a bulk order?
This depends on the style, development work and order value. Any credit is stated in the quotation rather than assumed. Fabric, trim, courier and third-party test charges may be treated separately.
What happens if the first sample is not approved?
Send one consolidated comment set with measurements and photos. We update the pattern, specification and affected materials, confirm the revision scope and make the next sample against the new version.
Standards & buyer references
Read the primary sources
Independent references for checking terminology, test methods and market requirements while preparing your order.
External resources are provided for general reference. Your brand or importer should confirm the standards and legal requirements that apply to each product and sales market.
Continue planning
Connect the next production decision
Pattern making & grading
Build the base pattern and measurement logic the sample will validate.
Explore →Technical guideWhat a factory needs in a tech pack
Organise measurements, construction, materials and artwork for development.
Explore →Finish approvalPrinting & embroidery
Approve artwork, strike-offs and sew-outs with the garment sample.
Explore →Planning guideHow to start a clothing brand
See where sampling fits in the route from idea to production order.
Explore →Start your production run
Send your tech pack — get a quote in 5 hours
Share your design, target quantity and delivery country. We reply with fabric options, a sample plan and a bulk estimate.