The Path From Artwork to Bulk
A typical order moves through five checkpoints. Each one exists so you approve before we commit material and time — no surprises, no locked-in mistakes.
Stage by Stage
| Stage | What we do | Your sign-off | Typical time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Artwork review | Check files, advise print or embroidery method | Confirm method | Within 24h |
| 2. Tech pack | Lock fabric, GSM, color, size spec | Approve spec | 1 day |
| 3. Proto sample | Make first physical sample | Check fit & look | 5 days |
| 4. Pre-production | Confirm bulk standard on your approved proto | Sign-off | 1–2 days |
| 5. Bulk production | Run order with inline QC | Receive shipment | 7 days (repeat) |
How to Speed It Up
- Send vector artwork and a clear size chart up front.
- Approve each stage within 24h — most delays are simply waiting on feedback.
- Reuse an approved tech pack for reorders; no rebuild needed.
What a Sample Actually Shows You
A sample is the only moment you see the real garment before 100+ pieces are cut. It answers four questions you cannot answer from a screen: does the fit flatter the body, does the colour match your brand, does the print or embroidery sit where you pictured, and does the fabric feel right in hand.
- Fit — check shoulder, chest and length against your size chart.
- Hand feel — fabric weight and softness read differently in person.
- Placement — logo size and position look new at actual scale.
- Trim function — zippers, buttons and labels work as intended.
Sample Types Compared
| Type | Purpose | Lead time | Typical count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proto sample | First look at cut & sew | 5 days | 1 pc |
| Print sample | Verify colour & placement | 3–5 days | 1–3 pcs |
| Embroidery sample | Verify stitch & density | 3–5 days | 1–3 pcs |
| Pre-production | Lock bulk standard | 1–2 days | 3–5 pcs |
| Size set | Check all sizes & colours | 5–7 days | Per size / colour |
When Sampling Saves You Money
Common Reasons a Sample Gets Rejected
A rejected sample is rarely a factory failure alone. In most cases the root cause sits upstream — in the brief. These are the reasons we see most often, roughly in order of frequency.
- The size chart was never locked, so the sample was made against an assumed fit. Fix: approve the chart before the proto is cut.
- Fabric weight was described in words ("medium weight") rather than GSM. Fix: give a number, and a tolerance.
- Colour was given as a screenshot or a name rather than a Pantone reference. Fix: supply a Pantone code, or approve a lab dip.
- Artwork placement was approximated rather than dimensioned. Fix: give a measurement from a fixed reference point.
- Decoration method was not specified, so the factory chose one that was cheaper to run but wrong for the design.
- The reference sample was sent after the brief, not with it. Fix: send the reference garment with the tech pack so both arrive together.
- Trims were left to the factory's default and came back different from expectation. Fix: list trims explicitly (see our trims guide).
- Feedback was given as "make it better" rather than as specific corrections. Fix: list each change as a measurement, a colour code or a method name.
What to Check When the Sample Arrives
The sample is the last cheap moment in the whole process. Every issue found here costs a remake; the same issue found in bulk costs a full run. Work through the following in order, and record findings against the tech pack.
- Measure it — do not just try it on. Put a tape against the size chart and record each dimension. Fit opinions vary; measurements do not.
- Check the fabric hand and weight feel — place it beside your reference garment if you have one.
- Compare colour against your approved reference, in daylight and indoors. Colour that reads correctly under one light may not under another.
- Inspect the decoration — placement, size, colour and edge definition. Photograph it at the same angle as your artwork for an honest comparison.
- Test the trims by hand — zip action, drawcord ends, label edges, elastic recovery.
- Wash one sample if the style is new. Shrinkage and colour bleeding appear here, not in the fitting room.
- Check the inside as carefully as the outside — seam finishes, loose threads and the label placement all show how the operator worked.
- Write feedback as a numbered list of specific corrections, and reference the measurement or colour code for each. Vague feedback produces another vague sample.
FAQ
Do I need a sample for a reorder?
Only if something changed — fabric, fit or artwork. From a locked tech pack, reorders go straight to pre-production, which is faster and cheaper.
Can I request changes after the sample?
Yes, that is the point. Most brands do one or two rounds. Tell us what to adjust and we re-make before bulk.
How many samples should I order?
One proto is enough to judge a new style. Add a size set if your range spans more than three sizes, so the extremes are verified too.