A PP (pre-production) sample is the final approved garment made with the intended bulk fabric, trims, decoration and construction. It becomes the physical reference for bulk production and quality inspection.
Almost every bulk production problem we see could have been caught at the sample stage. A sample is cheap; a wrong bulk order is not. Yet sampling is the step first-time founders rush hardest — usually because they're excited, and because nobody explained what each sample is actually for. Here's the process, and what you should be checking at each stage.
Sampling usually runs: proto/fit sample (does the design work?) → PP sample (pre-production — made exactly as bulk will be) → bulk. The PP sample is the contract: once you approve it, it becomes the physical standard your production is checked against. Approving it carelessly is the single most expensive mistake in apparel.
Stage 1 — Proto / fit sample
The first physical version of your style. Its job is to answer "does this actually work?" — the pattern, the proportions, the construction. It's often made in whatever suitable fabric is on hand rather than your final one, because at this stage you're testing shape, not colour.
- Check: overall fit and silhouette, key measurements against your spec, how the construction reads.
- Expect changes: this stage exists to be corrected. Comments here are cheap.
- Multiple rounds are normal for a complex style — a second fit sample after revisions is common.
Stage 2 — PP (pre-production) sample
This is the one that matters. A PP sample is made in your actual bulk fabric, actual trims, actual decoration and actual construction — the way every unit in your order will be made. It's the last checkpoint before the factory cuts your fabric.
Because it's built like bulk, it also proves the factory can repeat it: correct fabric weight and hand, correct colour, decoration applied properly, labels in the right place, finishing to standard.
What to check before you approve a PP sample
Go through it deliberately — ideally with your tech pack open beside it:
Measurements
Check the key points of measure against your spec, and confirm they're within agreed tolerance.
Fabric
Weight, hand feel and stretch — is it the fabric you signed off, not a substitute?
Colour
Compare against your reference or lab dip, in good light. Colour is the most common late-stage dispute.
Decoration
Print, embroidery or applique — placement, size, and how it's holding on the fabric.
Trims & labels
Main label, care and size labels, drawcords, zips — correct items, correct positions.
Finishing
Seams, topstitching, inside cleanliness. Turn it inside out — that's where quality shows.
Also worth doing: try it on, and if you can, put it through a wash to see how it behaves. Approve in writing, with any final comments listed explicitly.
Why the PP sample protects you
Once approved, the PP sample becomes the physical reference standard for your order — what bulk is inspected against. That's what turns "it doesn't look like I imagined" into an objective comparison. Without an approved PP sample, quality discussions come down to memory and opinion, and neither side wins.
Once bulk is complete, the approved PP sample also becomes the physical reference for garment quality control and AQL inspection before shipment.
How to keep sampling fast
- Send a clear brief — a tech pack or a reference garment with your changes spelled out. Ambiguity is what creates extra rounds.
- Give consolidated feedback — one complete list beats a drip of messages.
- Be specific and measurable — "2cm longer in the body" beats "a bit longer".
- Decide fabric and colour early — these often have the longest lead times. Use our clothing production lead-time guide to plan sampling, sourcing, bulk, QC and delivery around the launch date.
- Don't skip PP to save time — it's the cheapest insurance in the whole process.
Start with a sample
We develop your style through fit and PP samples before bulk, so what you approve is what ships — and our sample fee is deductible from your first bulk order. See our custom clothing manufacturer page, or our OEM/ODM clothing manufacturer page to start development.
Sampling FAQ
What is a PP sample?
A pre-production sample — made in your actual bulk fabric, trims, decoration and construction. It's the final approval before production, and once approved it becomes the standard your bulk is checked against.
What's the difference between a fit sample and a PP sample?
A fit sample tests the pattern and proportions, often in a substitute fabric. A PP sample is built exactly like bulk — correct fabric, trims and decoration — and is the one you sign off on.
How many sample rounds are normal?
Simple styles can be approved in one or two rounds; complex styles take more. Clear, consolidated, measurable feedback is the main thing that reduces rounds.
Do I pay for samples?
Yes, there's a sample fee — and it's deductible from your first bulk order, so it applies to your production when you move forward.
Can I skip sampling to save time?
We don't recommend it. A sample is the cheapest way to catch a problem; correcting it after bulk is cut is the most expensive.