Samples first, so production has no surprises.

Drawings and specifications can describe a garment, but only a sample shows how it behaves: how the fabric drapes, where the seams sit, how the collar rolls and how the garment feels on a body. Sample development is the stage where those questions are answered while changes are still cheap.

This page explains what sample development involves, the types of sample you may see, how to review one properly, how many rounds to expect and how the approved sample becomes the reference for bulk. It is written for brands and buyers who want fewer surprises when the full order arrives.

Different samples answer different questions, and it helps to know which you are looking at.

• Development or proto sample the first physical version, to check design, pattern and general construction.
• Fit sample cut in the base size, to review fit on a body.
• Fabric or lab dip sample swatches that show fabric hand and colour.
• Pre-production sample sewn in the final fabric and trims, close to what bulk will be.
• Size set samples in several sizes to check grading.

Not every project needs all of these, and we help you decide which are worth doing for your product.

A good review is systematic, and it is worth doing before you comment.

1. 01

   Check the measurements against the tech pack and size chart.

2. 02

   Try the garment on, and move in it.

3. 03

   Look at fabric, colour and handfeel against your reference.

4. 04

   Inspect seams, stitching, labels and trims.

5. 05

   Wash a sample and check shrinkage, colour and stability.

Write comments clearly and mark them on photographs where possible. Specific comments such as shoulder too wide by 1 centimetre lead to faster, better revisions than general ones such as feels off.

A simple, well-specified garment may be right in one or two rounds. A complex garment, a new fit or a technical fabric may take three or four. The more complete the tech pack and the clearer your comments, the fewer rounds you need.

We advise honestly on whether a sample is close enough to approve or whether another round is worth doing, and we record every change so that nothing is lost between rounds.

A sample is only useful if it represents what bulk will be. That means using the final fabric where possible, the final trims, the right construction and the right decoration. If a sample uses a substitute fabric, we tell you, and we explain what may differ in bulk.

Colour needs particular care. A sample in the wrong colour can mislead, so we agree colour references early and use lab dips or swatches where needed. If decoration matters, such as embroidery or print, we make a sample of it on the real fabric.

When you approve a sample, it becomes the reference for production. We keep the sample, the final tech pack and the pattern together, and bulk is checked against them. The approval should be clear and recorded: which sample, which version, any remaining notes.

Because the approved sample is kept, a reorder works to the same standard, and if any question arises about whether the bulk matches, there is a physical reference to compare against.

Not every purchase needs a development sample. If you are buying from our ready stock in Germany, you can order a single piece to see the garment before committing to a larger quantity, and the stock page shows what is available. This is a useful way to test a fit, a fabric or a finish, particularly for retailers and brands deciding on a new style.

For made-to-order, a development sample is the usual first step, and a quote and sample cost little relative to the risk of committing without seeing the product.

The number of sample rounds depends on how complete your brief is. With a tech pack, a reference garment and clear measurements, a fit sample and a pre-production sample are often enough. If measurements, fabric details or other specifics are missing, further rounds follow. Changes after approval also trigger new samples, so it pays to bundle change requests instead of sending them one by one.

It helps to respond in writing to every round: what is right, what should change and what is binding. That way the status can be traced, and we avoid misunderstandings. A sample in the real bulk fabric gives the most reliable preview of the run. If fabric or decoration deviate, we tell you openly. We do not state fixed times per sample round in advance, but we tell you early what is realistic.

Send us your sketches, tech pack or reference garment. We will respond in writing with questions, a suggested route and a sample plan. Made-to-order starts from 50 pieces per style, and a sample is the clearest way to decide whether to proceed.