Sample Policy: Cost, Timeline, and Deduction Rules
Two Sample Tracks — Find Yours First
Almost every question about sample cost and timing comes down to one thing: are you sampling a style we already make, or a style we’re building for you? The two work differently at every step.
| Catalog sample | Custom development sample | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A style from our existing catalog, as shown | A style built to your spec, or an existing style with changes |
| Fee | $7–15 per piece, plus logo application if branded | $50–120 per piece, by construction |
| Timeline | 1–3 business days as shown, 3–7 with your logo | 7–14 business days from confirmed spec |
| Fee deductible? | No — catalog pricing carries no development cost | Yes, against a qualifying bulk order |
| Who it’s for | Wholesale buyers, resellers, first-time buyers testing quality | Brands developing their own product |
If you’re not sure which track you’re on: if you can point at a product on our site and say “that one, as is,” it’s a catalog sample. Anything else — new color, your own fabric, changed construction — is development.
Sample Fees
| Sample type | Fee | Why it costs what it costs |
|---|---|---|
| Catalog style, as shown | $7–15 / piece | Already in production. No setup, no development. |
| Catalog style with your logo | $7–15 / piece + logo application, charged separately (below) | The garment already exists — branding is priced on its own |
| Catalog style, new color (seamless) | $50–100 / color | Yarn sourcing and machine parameter adjustment for the new colorway |
| New custom design, cut-and-sew | $50–80 / piece | Pattern making and sewing setup — lower tooling cost than seamless |
| New custom design, seamless | $80–120 / piece | Full development cycle: knitting program setup and trial runs |
The gap between $15 and $120 is tooling, not margin. Catalog styles are already in production. A new seamless design has to be programmed and test-knitted on a circular knitting machine before a single piece exists (Santoni patent) — that cost lands on the first sample whether you order one piece or ten.
This is also why the two construction methods price differently. Cut-and-sew works from patterns and fabric already in house. Seamless circular-knit is a machine setup. Same reason their bulk minimums differ.
Logo application on sample orders
This is charged separately from the garment — the figures below cover branding only, not the sample itself.
| Sample pieces | Logo application, per piece |
|---|---|
| 1 piece | around $10 |
| 3–5 pieces | $3–5 |
| Production quantities | quoted with your order |
Two things sit behind that price: a one-time setup per design (film, screen, or plate for your artwork), and an operator applying and checking each piece by hand. On a single sample, the setup lands entirely on that one piece. Across a few, it spreads out — which is why the per-piece figure drops so sharply between one and five.
If you’re branding samples at all, order a few rather than one. Five pieces costs roughly the same in total as two at single-piece pricing, and leaves you with samples to photograph, show buyers, or send to a partner.
These figures apply to the sampling stage only. Branded orders from our catalog start at 50 pieces, where logo application is quoted as part of the unit price rather than charged separately.
Rush service
Sampling can be expedited for $100 per sample order. Useful when you’re working against a launch date or a peak-season deadline. Tell your sales contact at inquiry — rush capacity depends on current scheduling, so it’s confirmed case by case rather than guaranteed.
Shipping
Sample fees don’t include shipping. Freight is quoted separately by destination, or you can send us your own courier account number and we’ll ship on it. Sample shipments go by express courier — see Shipping Options for how bulk freight differs.
Sample Deduction Rules
This applies to custom and OEM orders. Sample fees on wholesale catalog orders are not deductible — catalog styles are already priced at wholesale, with no development cost built into the unit price. There’s nothing to credit back.
For custom and OEM development, your sample fee is not a sunk cost. It’s fully credited against your bulk order.
Conditions:
- The bulk order reaches that style’s production minimum, or around 200 pieces where the fabric is already in house. This isn’t an automatic rule — ask your sales contact whether your order qualifies.
- The credit is applied to your final payment, not the deposit
- New clients qualify on their first bulk order — you don’t need order history with us
The logic: the sample fee exists to cover development. Once you commit to production, that development is paid for by the order itself, so we hand the fee back.
Established accounts
Clients with annual purchases above $500,000 receive samples at no charge. Above $300,000, complimentary samples may also be offered. Either way, we verify against your purchase history in our own system — there’s no application or paperwork on your side.
Sample Timeline
All timelines below are business days, not calendar days. Chinese New Year is the one period where these windows extend meaningfully — your sales contact will confirm dates in advance.
| What you’re sampling | Time | Clock starts |
|---|---|---|
| Catalog style, as shown | 1–3 business days | Payment received |
| Catalog style with your logo | 3–7 business days | Payment received and artwork confirmed |
| New color, or a style built to your spec | 7–14 business days | Full spec confirmed |
Catalog style, as shown: 1–3 days
These are held in stock, so there’s no sampling cycle at all — we’re packing, not making. This is the fastest way to get our product in your hands and check fabric weight, compression, and grading before committing to anything.
Catalog style with your logo: 3–7 days
The product already exists; we’re applying your branding to it. The clock starts once payment is in and your artwork and placement are confirmed — so send print-ready files rather than a screenshot if you want the short end of that range.
New color or new style: 7–14 days
This is where actual development happens — sourcing yarn for your color, adjusting machine parameters, or making patterns for a new style. The clock starts once requirements and technical details are confirmed, not when you first contact us. Spec confirmation usually takes a round or two of questions about fabric, grading, and construction.
What pushes it toward 14 rather than 7:
- Style complexity — new construction takes longer than a variation on an existing block
- Specialty fabric or trims we need to source
- Seamless rather than cut-and-sew — machine setup is part of the cycle
- Current production scheduling — Q3 and Q4 run tight, plan earlier if you’re targeting peak season
Revisions: 1 free
If the first sample doesn’t match what you had in mind, tell us what needs to change and we’ll remake it at no charge. The revised sample runs on the same cycle as the original, so budget for a second round in your timeline — one revision is normal, not a sign something went wrong.
Payment and Handover
Sample orders are paid in full up front. The amounts are small enough that splitting them adds more admin than it’s worth, and the timelines above run from that payment.
Bulk orders work in two steps:
- Deposit, typically 30% — we start. Production is scheduled as soon as the deposit clears. You don’t wait for the balance to get into the queue.
- Balance paid in full — we ship. Shipping timelines start from full payment, not from order placement.
The practical effect on a bulk order: it’s being made while you’re arranging the balance, so it’s ready to move the moment payment lands rather than starting from zero.
What We Need From You
To quote a sample fee and timeline, send:
- Style — a description, reference images, or a link to the catalog style
- Fabric and color — target fabric, and Pantone reference if you have one
- Sizing — which sizes, and your own size chart if you have one
- Logo and packaging — placement, method (heat transfer, woven label, embroidery), and any packaging requirements
The more of this that arrives up front, the sooner the clock starts.
After You Approve the Sample
Bulk production runs about 25 business days. The clock starts when full payment clears, not at sample approval — see the payment section above. Fully custom programs can run longer depending on fabric sourcing and how many specs are still open at approval.
Minimums at that stage depend on how much of the product is yours — catalog styles start at 20 pieces unbranded and 50 with your logo, counted across the whole order, while anything built to your spec is counted per style and per color. See Shapewear MOQ by Customization Level for the full tier table and how each tier is counted.
See Production and Shipping Lead Times for the full bulk timeline, and Stock Styles vs Custom Designs if you’re still deciding which route fits.
Can the sample fee be refunded?
It’s a credit, not a refund. For custom and OEM orders, the fee comes off your final payment once the bulk order meets the threshold. Catalog sample fees aren’t credited — catalog pricing doesn’t carry development cost to begin with.
What order quantity qualifies for the deduction?
For custom and OEM orders, from around 200 pieces where the fabric is already in house; otherwise that style’s production minimum. It’s not an automatic rule, so ask your sales contact whether your order qualifies.New clients qualify on their first bulk order.
What if I’m not satisfied with the sample?
One free revision is included. Tell us specifically what needs to change — measurements, compression, fabric hand, color — and we’ll remake it at no charge on the same cycle as the original sample.
Does the sample fee include shipping?
No. Freight is quoted separately by destination, or you can ship on your own courier account.
How fast can I get a sample if I’m on a deadline?
Catalog styles ship in 1–3 business days with no rush fee, and 3–7 with your logo on them. Development samples run 7–14 business days and can be expedited for $100, subject to current scheduling.
Can I order samples in multiple sizes or colors?
Yes. Each size or colorway is priced as a separate sample. For seamless color changes, the $50–100 fee is per color, not per piece.
Do I need a sample before placing a bulk order?
Not required, but strongly recommended for anything custom. For unbranded catalog styles, many buyers skip the formal sample entirely and place a small wholesale order instead — you pay normal wholesale pricing rather than a sample fee, and what arrives is sellable stock.
What happens to the sample after approval?
That depends on what you want it to do. If the sample is meant to set the production standard, we keep an approved reference in house and check the bulk run against it — a physical benchmark rather than just a spec sheet. Say so at approval and we’ll record it. Otherwise the sample is simply yours to keep.
Ready to sample? Contact us with your style requirements and target market, and we’ll come back with a sample fee, timeline, and the minimums that apply to your route.
