In this guide · 9 practical sections
Know which sample you are reviewing
A development sample explores construction; a fit sample checks dimensions and balance; a pre-production sample confirms agreed production details. Not every project needs the same sequence. State which materials and details are final and which are temporary before judging a sample.
Review systematically
Measure using the agreed method, check movement, review seams inside and outside, assess fabric hand feel and opacity, and confirm artwork size and placement. Compare the sample to a dated specification. Consolidate feedback into one revision rather than sending disconnected instructions across several conversations.
Our order-linked sample policy
For new projects, sampling follows a confirmed order rather than an uncommitted standalone sample request. One sample per agreed model and colour is included after order confirmation. A further sample required because of a change after sampling is charged at twenty times the quoted unit price. Confirm the exact scope in your written offer.
Timing and approval
The standard sample estimate is 7–14 days after order confirmation and receipt of the required specifications and available materials. Custom fabrics, special trims and revisions add time. Bulk production is usually 4–6 weeks on the confirmed schedule; material procurement and shipping are separate planning items.
When the sample feels different from the photograph
Light, styling and image processing do not communicate hand feel. Compare the physical sample against an agreed swatch and record GSM, structure, composition, finish, drape and washed appearance. Describe the difference precisely: too stiff, too thin, overly brushed or insufficient recovery. Decide whether the correction is a material change, finishing trial or pattern change, and request the cost and schedule impact before another sample.
Sample approval is a set of decisions
Review fit, measurements, fabric, shade, workmanship, decoration, trims, labels and packing separately. Record pass, revise or pending for each. A fit sample in substitute fabric cannot approve final colour or hand feel. A pre-production sample should identify any substitutions explicitly. At Tuğhan Textile, sampling is linked to an agreed order; the project quotation confirms development scope, payment and timing.
What happens when a sample is revised?
Combine comments into one numbered revision rather than sending contradictory changes across several messages. Identify any new design request separately from correction of an agreed requirement. Ask which work is included and which incurs a further development charge. Bulk timing depends on written approvals and material readiness; a sample dispatch date is not automatically a production start date.
Who approves what?
| Stage | Typical owner | Evidence to keep | Risk to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brief review | Brand / developer | Visuals, BOM, POM, quantity split | Unresolved construction or impossible cost target |
| Material review | Supplier + brand approval | Composition, gsm, width, shade and finish | Material substituted without approval |
| Pattern / fit | Pattern maker + brand fit review | Base size, measurement method, revision notes | Body chart mistaken for garment chart |
| Decoration trial | Decorator + brand approval | Actual substrate, artwork and placement | Bulk starts from a screen-only colour approval |
| Pre-production approval | Brand + production team | Identified sample and controlled file | Conflicting instructions in separate messages |
| Bulk controls | Production / QC | First-off and inline records | An issue repeats through the whole run |
| Final release | Brand / agreed inspector | Measurements, workmanship, packing, exceptions | Missing labels, wrong breakdown or unapproved deviations |
Turn sample feedback into an actionable change.
| Weak feedback | Clearer instruction |
|---|---|
| Make it longer | Sample R1: HPS length measured 68 cm; target 70 cm after agreed care. Review pattern adjustment. |
| The neck looks wrong | Record relaxed neck width/depth and rib appearance; compare to the identified fit reference. |
| Print should be higher | Move artwork top edge to the stated distance below the centre-front neck seam; keep artwork size unchanged. |
| Waist is too tight | Record relaxed and agreed stretched waist, wearer fit feedback and target values. Review elastic and pattern together. |
| Quality is not good | Identify seam/panel, photograph the issue, describe the observed defect and reference the acceptance criterion. |
Downloadable checklist: select the relevant approval items below and keep a copy with your sample notes.
Questions, answered
Can I receive a free sample before ordering?
The standard policy is one sample per model and colour after order confirmation. We do not begin sample development for unconfirmed startup enquiries.
What happens if I change the design after the sample?
The change is reviewed for cost and timing. A new sample caused by a post-sample change is charged at unit price × 20 under the standard policy.
What is a size set?
Samples in selected or all sizes used to evaluate the grading and fit across the range; agree which sizes and materials are required.
Can I approve fit with a different fabric?
It may communicate shape, but fabric differences can invalidate drape, recovery and shrinkage conclusions. Identify temporary materials and confirm the final sample route.
How should I write fit feedback?
Name the POM, record actual and target values, state the exact change and reference the sample/file revision. Avoid vague or conflicting instructions.
Can I approve from photos alone?
Photos can help review visible details but cannot fully establish hand feel, fit or hidden construction. Agree which approvals require physical review.
Why does the sample look softer online than it feels in my hand?
A photograph cannot establish hand feel. Compare the physical material, finish and washed result with an approved swatch, then describe the specific difference and agree the development response.
Can I approve fit now and colour later?
Yes, if the approval record explicitly separates the decisions. Do not let an approval of one property be interpreted as permission to start production with other properties still pending.
Is the first sample automatically the final production standard?
Only after the relevant properties are reviewed and approved. Identify substitutions and unresolved issues; keep the approved sample ID and specification revision in the record.