How to Order Clothing Samples from a Chinese Factory (Fees, Timeline, Checklist)
The sample stage is where good orders are made and bad orders are prevented. Here's how it works at a small-batch womenswear factory, what it costs, and how to get the most out of each round.
Sample types and what they're for
| Sample | Purpose | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Stock sample | Judge sewing quality & fabric of an existing style | Unit price (from 2 pcs) |
| Counter sample | Factory copies your reference garment or photo | USD 30–80, refunded against bulk |
| Pre-production (PP) sample | Final sign-off in bulk fabric & trims before cutting | Usually included in custom orders |
Realistic timeline
Counter and PP samples take 7–12 days to make, plus 3–7 days express shipping. Budget two sample rounds (one revision) into any launch plan — first samples are rarely perfect, and that's normal.
The arrival checklist
- Measure before you try on. Check key points against the spec sheet: bust, waist, hip, length, sleeve. Note deviations in cm.
- Stress the seams. Pull crotch, underarm and waistband seams; check stitch density (8–12 SPI for knits is standard).
- Wash one sample. One wash cycle reveals shrinkage, twisting and print durability before you own 300 units of the problem.
- Photograph everything. Front, back, interior, labels — your comments thread becomes the production reference.
Writing fit comments factories can act on
"It feels off" can't be sewn. "Raise the front rise 1.5 cm; take the waist in 2 cm; keep hip as is" can. Comment in measurements against specific points, one line per change, and confirm what should NOT change — pattern rooms act on deltas, not vibes.
Ready to test? Request stock samples or a counter sample quote — we ship samples worldwide in 7–12 days.