8 Steps to a Perfect Sample for your Buyer.
With increased competition and growing dynamism of the number of designs spilled over the fashion markets, one has to critically understand the sample development process. Vasanth Kothari, Assistant Professor, DFT, NIFT Bangalore along with Team Apparel Online, throws light on the industry practices in sampling development currently in use… Defined as “The concept, perception and ideas of a fashion designer, developed into product samples, in systematic stages of product development, with technical clarity, and quality in a development”, sampling plays a pivotal role in attracting buyers and confirming the order. With the ever evolving sampling process— before placing any order to the factory— the buyers now want to be sure if the factory is capable of producing the styles with the desired level of quality. Design Development
Mostly done by the buyer either in-house or at the vendor’s site, the process of making the sample from a sketch is often called prototyping/development sample/line development, the purpose of which is mostly to figure out if the actual production is possible or not for the developed design.
Proto Sample
Developed at a very initial stage to get the order confirmed, dummy fabric and trims are used to produce this sample, needed to see the manufacturing ability and the cost-effectiveness of the vendor. Briefed by the buyer with customized specifics the sample is made, and if any, a general proto request is responded within 7-10 days by merchandiser.
Fit Sample
To eliminate issues like quality parameters, fitting errors or slight change in style, it is necessary to ensure the fit of the garment either on a live model or on dummy fit, with the actual fabric and trims and it gets a green signal only when the buyer and the exporter are in sync.
AD or Photo Shoot Sample
In order to promote the new style in the market, the buyer asks for an AD sample, which is worn by models in photo shoots, which are then used as marketing tools, to see the response of the consumer before the final collection is launched.
GPT Sample (Garment Performance Test)
Done along with size set sample to perform the physical and chemical testing on garment to ensure the performance of the garment in terms of shrinkage, colour fastness and seam performance. Wash sample is made and submitted to the buyer to judge the feel of fabric after washing for denim and shirt washing programme.
Pre-production Sample (PP Sample)
Considered a contract between the buyer and the vendor, the PP sample becomes the standard for production, i.e. bulk production should be identical to the PP sample.
TOP Sample (Top of Production)
TOP represents the actual production line, the quality of garment in the production, for the buyer to evaluate the actual manufacturing of the style and to ensure whether bulk production is in accordance to the submitted sample.With increased competition and growing dynamism of the number of designs spilled over the fashion markets, one has to critically understand the sample development process. Vasanth Kothari, Assistant Professor, DFT, NIFT Bangalore along with Team Apparel Online, throws light on the industry practices in sampling development currently in use… Defined as “The concept, perception and ideas of a fashion designer, developed into product samples, in systematic stages of product development, with technical clarity, and quality in a development”, sampling plays a pivotal role in attracting buyers and confirming the order. With the ever evolving sampling process— before placing any order to the factory— the buyers now want to be sure if the factory is capable of producing the styles with the desired level of quality.
Design Development
Mostly done by the buyer either in-house or at the vendor’s site, the process of making the sample from a sketch is often called prototyping/development sample/line development, the purpose of which is mostly to figure out if the actual production is possible or not for the developed design.Proto Sample
Developed at a very initial stage to get the order confirmed, dummy fabric and trims are used to produce this sample, needed to see the manufacturing ability and the cost-effectiveness of the vendor. Briefed by the buyer with customized specifics the sample is made, and if any, a general proto request is responded within 7-10 days by merchandiser.Fit Sample
To eliminate issues like quality parameters, fitting errors or slight change in style, it is necessary to ensure the fit of the garment either on a live model or on dummy fit, with the actual fabric and trims and it gets a green signal only when the buyer and the exporter are in sync.AD or Photo Shoot Sample
In order to promote the new style in the market, the buyer asks for an AD sample, which is worn by models in photo shoots, which are then used as marketing tools, to see the response of the consumer before the final collection is launched.GPT Sample (Garment Performance Test)
Done along with size set sample to perform the physical and chemical testing on garment to ensure the performance of the garment in terms of shrinkage, colour fastness and seam performance. Wash sample is made and submitted to the buyer to judge the feel of fabric after washing for denim and shirt washing programme.Pre-production Sample (PP Sample)
Considered a contract between the buyer and the vendor, the PP sample becomes the standard for production, i.e. bulk production should be identical to the PP sample.TOP Sample (Top of Production)
TOP represents the actual production line, the quality of garment in the production, for the buyer to evaluate the actual manufacturing of the style and to ensure whether bulk production is in accordance to the submitted sample.
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