Sample to Bulk: The Apparel Production Timeline

Buyers ask how long an order takes, but the honest answer has two halves: the time the factory needs, and the time the brand spends deciding. The factory half is predictable. The brand half is where schedules slip.

The Five Stages

1. Brief and quote

You send a tech pack or a reference garment; we confirm the construction, fabrics and price. A complete brief shortens this stage considerably. See the tech pack checklist.

2. Sampling — 7–10 working days

We make the pattern and a first sample in 7–10 working days. This is the stage where you check fit, fabric and details before committing to a full run.

3. Sample approval — your time

You review the sample, send comments, and we amend if needed. Each round adds another sampling cycle, so the clearest way to save time is to give consolidated, specific comments rather than one at a time. How to approve a garment sample explains what to check.

4. Bulk production — 28–35 days

Once the sample and quantity are approved, bulk production takes 28–35 days. Minimum order is 30 pieces per style per colourway, so a small test run follows the same sequence as a large one.

5. Shipping

We ship DDP worldwide or FOB Sambrial, depending on the terms you choose. Transit time depends on destination and route, so confirm it when you agree the incoterm. Shipping incoterms compares the options.

Where Time Is Actually Lost

• Slow sample feedback. Every week between receiving a sample and replying is a week added to the delivery date.
• Changing the design after approval. A late change restarts patterns and can mean re-cutting.
• Artwork and label files arriving late. Logos, care labels and hang tags should be ready before bulk starts.
• Fabric or colour changes. Agree these at sampling, not afterwards.

Planning Back from a Season

If you are launching for a hunting season, work backwards from the retail date and add margin at the approval stage, where delays are most likely. The US hunting season guide maps the calendar. Our process page shows the same stages in more detail.