Types of Cut & Sew Garment Samples
Cut and sew manufacturing is a serious undertaking for any fashion designer or brand — especially when first starting out. The importance of selecting a professional cut and sew contractor to produce your garments cannot be understated. By choosing VF-Manufacturing, not only are you guaranteeing the smoothest possible manufacturing process, you’re also choosing a professional contractor who will ensure the construction and creation of your custom cut and sew apparel is of the highest quality — from your very first sample, all the way through to large-scale production.
Sampling is a complex procedure. As thousands of garments may be produced in the manufacturing process, the importance of sampling cannot be understated. Leaping from a paper pattern straight to cutting and sewing a large-run order is one excellent way to lose thousands of dollars. Although the sampling process may seem long or complicated, sampling in the garment production industry is just as important — if not more so — than actual production.
By sampling extensively, we ensure your satisfaction with your final product.
Phase One: Garment Concept Development
Before a prototype sample is made, our experienced pattern makers and seamstresses inspect the pattern. Before we begin make a single cut or sew a single stitch, our highly-trained sewing professionals determine any issues which may arise from the pattern. In this way, VF-Manufacturing saves money and time — if we know there’s something wrong with a pattern, we’ll work to correct that before creating a sample.
Prototype and Fit Garment Samples
Cut and sew manufacturing is a complicated process — but the end result is a completely unique, customized-to-your-design garment. Prototype samples are as their name suggests — simple, primitive samples intended to display the most simplistic version of the garment intended to inspect the garment’s intended construction, measurements, and style. Prototype samples are meant to communicate the essential structure of a garment. Prototype samples are never fitted, and they may be constructed of similar analog fabric instead of the final fabric selection (this is especially true when fabric sourcing has not yet been completed).
Phase Two: Fabric Sourcing
Salesman Samples
Salesman samples are produced in a single size, and are provided to the fashion designer or brand. From there, the designer or brand passes the samples along to salesmen. Salesmen then show the samples to different retailers. Salesman samples are commonplace, but in the age of Internet marketing, the “salesman” aspect of these samples has become somewhat less relevant. Nevertheless, salesman samples are still usually provided to the customer.
Size Set Samples
The purpose of a size set sample is to test the garment’s construction and measurements in all sizes. What works on an XS garment may not work on a 2XL garment — more stitches or reinforcement may be necessary on the larger garment. Producing a set of samples to size helps us determine any issues which may arise from sizing concerns.
Phase Three: Garment Production Development
Pre-Production Garment Samples
Pre-production samples are the garment exactly as it is going to be constructed on large-scale production. Pre-production samples are created in the exact same way as the garment will eventually be produced. Pre-production samples are created using the source fabric, trimmings, and all other materials.
Cut and Sew Garment Sampling
VF-Manufacturing can bring any pattern or tech pack into life with a showroom-quality sample of your custom-created garment.
Cut and Sew Garment Sampling Costs
Pre-production samples are included free of charge with any production order. VF-Manufacturing must receive a deposit in order to proceed with garment sampling work.
The Big Picture
