Clothing samples, swatch books and color books

How clothing samples are priced

A sample is one piece of one style, charged at that style's 12–50 tier price plus the decoration you choose. Decoration is quoted per method, so a sublimated jersey and an embroidered polo are priced differently even at the same garment price. When you place the bulk order for that style, the sample cost comes back as a credit on the invoice. Courier freight for the sample is quoted separately, like all our shipping.

You can see every tier for a style on our wholesale pricing page. To ask for a sample, add it to your enquiry when you start your order and name the style, color, size and decoration.

Pre-production samples of your own design

Samples are not limited to the catalog. Send a tech pack or a reference garment and we cut and sew a pre-production sample of your design in the same factory that will make the bulk. For a new private label style, this is the step where fit, fabric weight and decoration size get settled before 12 or more pieces are cut.

If you are still choosing a base cloth, start with our activewear fabric library, then order a swatch book to feel the shortlist in hand.

What swatch books and color books are for

A swatch book lets you compare our fabrics side by side for weight, stretch and hand feel before you name one in a spec. A color book shows the shades we work with, so you and your customers can pick panel colors from a physical reference instead of a screen. Add either one to your enquiry.

Worth knowing: a custom color is dyed by a partner mill for your bulk fabric, so the bulk shade can differ slightly from a sample made earlier. Approve color against the color book reference, not a photo or a monitor.

Photo, video or courier approval

For repeat styles, many buyers approve from photos or a video call. For a new fit, fabric or decoration, we courier the sample so you can check it on a body and wash it if you want to.

From approved sample to bulk

The approved sample becomes the reference for production. We send a proof for your approval before bulk production, then fabric, color, decoration and measurements are checked against the sample at garment inspection and quality control, run at AQL 2.5. To see what happens between sample and carton, read how our cut and sew production works.