SAMPLES
Sample is a small quantity intended to show what the whole is
like. In RMG industry, a sample is a garment given to a buyer that
represents all such items related to an offer or shipment. So a
sample establishes a standard of quality by which the rest of the
items are judged.
TYPES OF SAMPLES
1. Proto/Design sample
2. SMS/Development /Request Sample
3. Fit/Green Seal/Initial sample
4. Pre-Production/PP/Red Seal sample
5. Size set sample
6. Production/Gold Seal sample
7. Shipment sample
TYPES OF SAMPLES
8. Photo Shoot/ Promotional sample
9. Lab Test sample
10. Commercial sample
11. TOP sample
12. Counter sample
13. Mock Up sample
14. Style reference sample
Proto/Design sample
• Buyer requests for this sample before placing a bulk order.
• Buyer sends Tech Pack with all garment detailing.
• These samples are developed during the preliminary stage of
product development.
• They are made by similar but not always exact fabrics &
trims.
• Buyer wants to see the design mainly.
• Capability and workmanship of the factory in making the
products are also checked through these samples.
SMS/Development /Request sample
• Buyer requests for this sample before placing a bulk order.
• These are the samples used by the buyer for promotion or sales of
their product.
• Salesman sample are generated from approved proto sample.
• Buyer sends Tech Pack with all garment detailing.
• Need to prepare samples following the T/P.
• Capability and workmanship of the factory in making the products
are also checked through these samples.
• If buyer chooses the samples, he advises the factory to quote
price.
• After price confirmation, order is placed.
• Sometimes Buyers get them generated by their own product
development cell or by any of their vendor factory.
FIT SAMPLE
• This is the first sample sent to buyer after receiving an order.
• It is prepared following the improved T/P provided by buyer.
• Fabric should be of actual composition & construction, Trims
& Accessories may be used from available stock.
• For artwork, only placement is checked.
• Size wise quantity is mentioned by the buyer.
• Buyer minutely examines styling, measurements and fitting
of the samples wearing to live models.
• May need 2nd, 3rd submissions.
• It is also known as green seal or initial sample.
PP SAMPLE
• PP sample means Pre Production sample.
• It is prepared following approved Fit sample comments.
• Size wise quantity is mentioned by the buyer.
• Fabrics, Trims & Accessories all must be 100% actual.
• For artwork, color, quality, size & placement all are checked.
• Buyer minutely examines all points of the samples to give
approval.
• When buyer seal or tag the samples with comment, it is called
approved sample.
• Bulk production is done following approved PP sample.
• May need 2nd, 3rd submissions.
• It is also known as Red seal sample.
SIZE SET SAMPLE
• These samples are made by covering all sizes in an order.
• Sometimes jumping size sets are prepared by excluding some
sizes.
• It is prepared following approved PP sample.
• Size wise grading is checked by these samples.
• Size wise quantity is mentioned by the buyer.
• Fabrics, Trims & Accessories all are to be 100% actual.
• For some buyers, it is ok to check the accuracy of the
samples by factory quality control team.
PRODUCTION SAMPLE
• Samples are sent from production floor maintaining high quality.
• Size wise quantity is mentioned by the buyer.
• Buyer takes these samples to see if the production is being done
with the correct materials and following the technical
specifications and approved sample.
• Frequently it covers all sizes and colors in the order.
• Samples should be like approved PP samples.
• Production sample speaks out the quality level of the product to
the buyer.
• It is also known as Gold seal sample.
SHIPMENT SAMPLE
• Samples are sent from production floor maintaining high
quality.
• Size wise quantity is mentioned by the buyer.
• Samples must accompany all trims & accessories including
hanger, poly & carton.
• Buyer takes these samples to see what kind of garments are
going to be shipped.
• Shipment may be cancelled or held upon any mismatch with
PP samples.
PHOTO SHOOT/PROMOTIONAL
SAMPLE
• Samples are sent following buyer’s specified styles.
• Size wise quantity is mentioned by the buyer.
• Buyer takes these samples to take photographs of live
models wearing the garments and display them in the store.
• Purpose is attracting the consumers of upcoming products.
• Sometimes buyers perform meeting with their retailers or
customers with these samples.
LAB TEST SAMPLE
• These samples are not sent to buyer.
• They are sent to testing company for various types of
garment tests.
• Samples are made with all actual materials.
• Sometimes need to remake samples for retest.
• Common tests are fiber composition test, color fastness test,
flammability test, azo test etc.
• Any negative result may cancel the shipment.
COMMERCIAL SAMPLE
• These samples are sent against small test order.
• Made with buyer’s specified materials.
• Buyer takes these samples to know how much appeal these
products can create in a market.
• Quantity is much more than other type of samples.
• Buyer always pays for these samples.
TOP SAMPLE
• TOP means Top Of Production.
• Generally samples with high quality materials and appealing
designs are stored at factory for attracting buyers.
• They are displayed before new buyers to attract them and to
get new orders.
• Sometimes buyer also seeks TOP samples from factories to
display in his show room.
COUNTER SAMPLE
Every factory preserves at least 1 piece of sample against some
of the submissions to buyer. This sample is known as counter
sample. Without counter sample, no future reference is possible.
. We may reproduce a number of counter samples against the
available approved sample. Generally counter samples are kept
for below ---
SMS
Fit sample
PP sample
MOCK UP SAMPLE
Sometimes complete garment samples are not sent to the buyer.
Rather only the part of a garment (sleeve, collar, front/back
panel etc.) is sent for buyer’s approval. This is known as mock up
sample. It is made as per buyer’s requirement to serve particular
purpose.
STYLE REFERENCE SAMPLE
• This sample that is prepared following another sample
received from buyer.
• This sample is made to see the workmanship and to justify
the factory skill.
• Garments material and color are not considered for this
sample.
• Mainly new buyers want style reference samples before
placing orders to a factory.