How Long Does Clothing Sampling Take?
Sampling takes 7 days at our factory, counted from the moment we have your tech pack or reference sample and the sample fee. Bulk follows in 30 days.
7 min read
Sampling takes 7 days. The clock starts when two things are in place: your tech pack or reference sample, and the sample fee. It does not start when you first send an email, and it does not start when a photo of your design arrives without a measurement sheet. After the sample is approved and the bulk deposit is paid, bulk production takes 30 days. Ask for the sample fee before you send anything — it depends on the style and the fabric, and knowing the number prevents the most common delay of all, which is a sample that sits waiting for payment approval.
The 7-day sampling window, day by day
| Day | What happens | What we need from you |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | Inputs confirmed, sample fee paid, clock starts | Tech pack or reference sample, quantity, target market |
| Day 1 | Fabric and trim sourcing confirmed, pattern started | Fabric approval if you are nominating your own |
| Days 2–3 | Pattern made and graded, fabric cut, trims pulled | Answers to clarification questions, same day if possible |
| Days 4–6 | Sample sewn, first fitting adjustments on the stand | Nothing, unless you change the brief |
| Day 7 | Measurement check against spec, photos taken, sample shipped | Shipping address and courier account or shipping fee |
Two details decide whether this holds. First, the input quality. A complete tech pack means days 2–3 run as planned; a single reference photo without measurements means we spend day 1 asking questions. A clear reference photo plus your target quantity and market is still enough for a first quote, and we will tell you what is still missing before sampling starts. Second, the answering speed. A clarification that takes three days to come back adds three days to the calendar, because the sample room cannot guess a measurement.
What counts as a complete sampling input
| Input | Why it matters | If it is missing |
|---|---|---|
| Tech pack with measurements per size | Sets the fit target | Sample is built to our base block, fit becomes a guess |
| Construction notes | Seams, lining, interfacing, finish | Revised sample round for details |
| Fabric direction or approval | Weight, stretch, colour | Fabric substitution, second round |
| Trims and labels | Zips, buttons, care labels, branding | Sample cannot be presented as final |
| Size to sample | Which size is measured | Only one size is made; others follow after approval |
| Target market | Compliance and sizing conventions | Rework risk at the label stage |
The single most expensive omission is the measurement sheet. Everything else can be fixed in a comment round. A missing measurement sheet usually means the sample comes back wearable but not the fit you had in mind, and a second round has its own 7-day clock.
Sampling and bulk are two different clocks
| Stage | Duration | Starts from |
|---|---|---|
| Sampling | 7 days | Tech pack or reference sample plus the sample fee |
| Second sample round, if needed | 7 days | Your comments and any revised details |
| Bulk production | 30 days | Deposit received and sample confirmed, both in place |
| Repeat order | Faster than 30 days | Deposit, with the pattern and fabric already locked |
Bulk is 30 days, and the trigger is a pair of conditions, not one. If the deposit arrives on day 1 and you approve the sample on day 5, the 30 days start on day 5. Sellers who treat "sample approved" and "deposit paid" as two separate weeks routinely lose a week or two of a launch window without noticing.
What slows sampling down
- The sample fee is unresolved. The clock cannot start until it is settled. Ask for the number early.
- Fabric has to be dyed. Custom fabric adds the mill's own lead time before the sample can even be cut; the 7 days is sample-room time, not fabric time.
- Printing or embroidery is involved. These run at partner workshops, so they add their own schedule to the sample round. We say so up front rather than promising 7 days for a printed sample.
- The style is a first of its kind for the line. Unusual constructions need a trial, and a trial is a day or two of the window.
- Comment rounds without priorities. Ten comments of equal weight produce a second sample and a third. Mark what is a must-fix and what is a nice-to-have.
- Peak-season booking. Capacity figures reflect regular monthly output, and peak scheduling needs prior booking. Sampling competes with bulk for the sample room's time.
How to shorten the loop without lowering the standard
- Send the measurement sheet with the reference photo. The photo shows the direction; the measurements define the fit.
- Nominate stock fabric for the first sample. The first sample is for fit, not for final fabric, unless the fabric changes the fit — a stretch knit does, a print does not.
- Ask for the sample fee for your style before sending. It depends on the style and the fabric.
- Batch your comments. One consolidated reply beats five emails over a week.
- Approve a physical sample, not a photo. We keep your approved sample and pattern on file so a repeat order reproduces the same fit and we can compare the dye lot against it before cutting.
- Pay the deposit while the sample is in transit to you. The two conditions then start at almost the same time.
After sampling: what the numbers look like
Once the sample is approved and the deposit is in, bulk runs 30 days. During bulk we confirm fabric weight, shrinkage and shade before cutting, check the first piece off the line against spec, and pass every finished piece through a needle detector before packing. We agree a defect rate cap in writing before production starts, and pieces above the cap are remade or credited at our cost. Third-party inspection is welcome, and we schedule the line so your inspector sees the bulk goods rather than a staged sample.
All the commercial numbers — sampling time, bulk time, MOQ, payment methods and after-sales — are on our working terms. The style-level limits and process lists per category are on the manufacturing capabilities page. When you have the style and the target quantity, send it through the enquiry form and we reply within 24 hours with a price, fabric options and a sampling date.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 7-day sampling clock start when I send my design?
No. It starts when both the tech pack or reference sample and the sample fee are in place. If the design arrives without measurements, the sample room has to ask questions first, and if the fee is unresolved, the sample cannot be scheduled. Tell us your style and we will quote the sample fee before you send files.
Can sampling be faster than 7 days?
Sometimes, for a simple repeat of a style we have already made, because the pattern is on file and only fabric confirmation is needed. For a new style, the 7 days covers pattern, cutting, sewing and measurement check, and squeezing it usually means skipping the measurement check — which is the one step that protects your fit. If you have a hard launch date, tell us the date at enquiry stage and we will say honestly whether it is achievable.
How many sample rounds should I budget for, and does the sample count toward the bulk quantity?
Budget for one and plan for two. The first sample tests fit and construction; the second fixes comments. We keep the approved sample and pattern on file, so a repeat order does not need a new sample round. The sample itself is a single piece made before bulk cutting: it is not deducted from your order quantity, and it is not free — the fee depends on the style and the fabric, and we quote it per style before sampling begins.