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In the fashion and apparel sector, garment samples play a crucial role in connecting design ideas with finished products. They act as vital checkpoints throughout the production process, ensuring quality, proper fit, and fulfilling customer requirements.
A deeper understanding of various types of garment samples can help designers, apparel manufacturers, and clothing brand owners optimize production and uphold high apparel standards.
Let’s explore all the essential types of garment samples and their significance in apparel production.
Garment Sampling in Apparel Manufacturing
Sampling refers to creating a product prototype prior to initiating mass production. The same approach is applied when producing clothing samples. Creating these clothing samples is necessary before placing bulk orders in industrial garment manufacturing, where brands purchase clothing in large quantities.
Key Purposes of Garment Samples:
Garment samples serve various important purposes including:
Design Verification: They assist in confirming the feasibility of the design, ensuring that the envisioned concept can be realistically executed.
Fit Evaluation: Samples are important for assessing the fit and comfort of a garment, enabling modifications to achieve the intended fit across various sizes.
Sales and Promotion: They are frequently utilized to present the final product to retailers and clothing brand owners, helping to secure orders before full-scale production.
Quality Assurance: By inspecting the materials, construction, and finishing touches, samples contribute to sustaining high-quality standards.
09 Essential Types of Garment Samples
Here are the different types of garment samples created and utilized in the apparel manufacturing industry.
Mock-Up Samples – Rough Drafts for Design and Material Testing
The mock-up sample represents the initial interpretation of a designer's concept. Occasionally, an idea may not translate well from paper to fabric, making the mock-up essential in such cases.
It does not require any additional trims and is solely intended to assess the viability of the garment. Not all designs necessitate a mock-up, so not every designer or factory utilizes these sample types.
Prototype Samples – Initial Design Concept Sample
The proto sample is the first type of sample created based on a design sketch or concept. This phase of sampling typically involves matching the fabric’s weight quality, and type.
During the development of the proto sample, the actual fabric intended for production may not yet be available. The initial sample is produced in just one size, with the quantity of the first samples depending on the buyer's specifications.
It is recommended to create three samples. Two of these should be sent to the customer for review, while the customer returns one sample to the manufacturer, and the third is kept as the factory’s reference sample for the proto.
Fit Samples – Evaluating Size, Fit, and Comfort
The fitting sample is another crucial aspect of apparel design. The process for creating a fit sample includes a spec sheet that details all measurements and design specifications. This document serves as a guide for developing a fit sample based on the criteria listed in the spec sheet.
As indicated by its name, the primary goal of the fit sample is to determine if it fits properly on a human model. The measurements applied to the fit sample are derived from the height and specifications outlined in the spec sheet. Similarly, the fitting sample is produced in a medium size based on the first sample. Typically, two or three fit samples are made.
Size Set Samples – Ensuring Uniform Sizing Across All Variants
After the fit sample is approved, the base pattern for each size needs to be assessed in order to create clothing samples for the entire size range. Each size set sampling should include three models made with the specified fabric and finishing of the final product.
Production can be started once this process is completed and the brand has granted approval to the clothing manufacturers. It is important to include precise size range specifications in your tech packs.
Salesman Samples – Showcasing Products to Retailers and Buyers
Salesman samples (SMS), as the name suggests, are used for promoting and marketing a clothing line. These samples are made in standard sizes using finalized fabrics and finishing details.
Salesman samples are typically displayed in boutiques or showcased at well-known fashion trade shows to secure orders from retailers and buyers. They are crafted with great precision and attention to detail to maximize their chances of success.
Pre-Production Samples – The Final Approval Before Mass Production
A pre-production (PP) sample is the initial sample created in the production vicinity. It is made using the specific fabrics designated for the design and includes all order specifications related to measurements, embroidery, final finishes, and washes.
The final product sample is sent to the brand owner or retailer for approval. Once approved, the apparel manufacturers can start bulk production of the product.
Digital Garment Samples – 3D Virtual Models
Any garment sample that is created using computer software or displays the 3D representation of the garment is referred to as a digital garment sample. In this digital sample, the brand or business can observe and review all details, including fabric drapes, stress points, measurements, and fitting guidelines.
Advancements in technology have enabled most clothing manufacturers to utilize digital garment samples to minimize approval and processing times. Additionally, buyers can modify the product by providing comments and feedback on the displayed sample, which can be processed as if it were a physical sample.
Press Samples – Perfect Pieces for Promotional Content
Press samples are identical copies of the final marketable product, typically in a model’s sample size. They are utilized for capturing promotional materials such as collection campaigns for advertising, lookbooks, and e-commerce, and can also be loaned to magazines for editorial photo shoots.
GPT Samples – Assessing Durability and Compliance
GPT stands for Garment’s Performance Test. In this sampling method, one piece from the bulk production is selected and sent to a testing laboratory to evaluate the garment's performance. The garment performance test includes assessments like tensile strength, seam slippage, button pull strength, chemical testing of metals, print quality, and colorfastness of dyes and prints.
The various tests are conducted in the laboratory to mimic conditions from the perspective of buyers and customers. Generally, brands and businesses do not request GPT sample reports; they may only require reports on specific parameters.
The Bottom Line
Every successful clothing production and the introduction of a fashion line rely on an understanding of the various types of apparel samples. Each sample, ranging from salesman samples to prototypes, serves a specific purpose in the development and enhancement of apparel.
By recognizing the importance of sampling, aspiring business owners can acquire important insights on how to launch a clothing line and make informed choices that enhance the quality of their offerings and the satisfaction of their clients. Consequently, for those aiming to create a clothing line, acknowledging the significance of garment sampling within the apparel industry is essential for achieving success in today's fiercely competitive market.
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