How we work
From design submission to global shipping
The complete manufacturing sequence: what happens at each stage, what we do, what you do, and what you receive at the end of it.
The sequence
Ten stages, each with a defined output
The point of writing this out is that there is no stage where you are waiting without knowing what you are waiting for. Every step produces something you can act on.
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Design submission
A written acknowledgement confirming what was received and what is still needed.
You
Send a tech pack, a flat sketch, a reference garment, or even a photograph with notes.
Us
Read the submission, identify anything missing, and come back with questions the same working day where possible.
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Technical review & quotation
A quotation with the construction method, material options and any specification caveats stated explicitly.
You
Answer construction and material questions, and confirm the target price and quantity.
Us
Break the garment into construction steps, identify the fabric and trims, and flag anything that will not reproduce at a production price.
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Fabric sourcing & approval
Approved fabric and trim swatches, retained as the production standard.
You
Approve a fabric and colour against a physical swatch or a courier sample.
Us
Source against the specification, order swatches, and confirm weight, stretch, recovery and colour against the intended use.
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Sample development
A physical sample with a note of what was changed and why.
You
Receive the sample and assess fit, proportion and fabric hand.
Us
Draft the pattern, cut and make the sample in-house, and record every deviation from the brief.
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Fit review & revision
A corrected sample and a locked pattern for bulk cutting.
You
Return structured comments — ideally on-body photographs with marked corrections.
Us
Update the pattern, correct the sample, and confirm the revised fit before bulk is authorised.
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Approval & pre-production
A signed-off pre-production standard — the physical reference every bulk piece is measured against.
You
Approve the final sample in writing and confirm the order quantity per size and colour.
Us
Issue the pre-production sample, confirm the size breakdown, and book fabric and trims against the confirmed quantity.
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Bulk production
A dated production schedule and in-line inspection records.
You
Receive a production schedule with the key dates marked.
Us
Cut, sew, finish and press under one roof, with in-line checks at cutting, sewing and finishing.
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Quality control
An inspection record with measurements and defect findings against the agreed standard.
You
Review the inspection result and, if you wish, nominate a third-party inspector.
Us
Measure against the approved sample, check workmanship and colour consistency, and record the findings.
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Packaging & labelling
Packed cartons with a packing list showing size, colour and quantity per carton.
You
Supply brand labels, hangtags and any market-specific labelling requirements.
Us
Apply your labels, fold or hang to the agreed method, and pack to the carton specification.
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Global shipping
Shipping documents and tracking, with consolidated dispatch for multi-style orders.
You
Nominate a freight forwarder, or ask us to arrange consolidation.
Us
Book the shipment, prepare the export documentation, and consolidate multi-style orders into as few shipments as possible.
On this page
Ready to start?
Send what you have and we will place it on this sequence and tell you the realistic dates.
Where things go wrong
The three stages that decide a delivery
Technical review
An incomplete brief at this stage does not fail immediately. It fails at sampling, three weeks later, when the fabric has already been booked. This is the cheapest place in the whole process to ask questions.
Approval & pre-production
The pre-production sample is the standard every bulk piece is measured against. Approving it by eye, without a measurement sheet, removes the basis for any later quality conversation.
Packaging & labelling
The most avoidable failure in the whole sequence. Goods made perfectly, packed to the wrong specification, and refused at the destination. Ask for the pack spec before production finishes, not after.
Questions
About working with us
How do I start a project with you?
Send whatever you have — a tech pack, a sketch, a reference photo, or a sample garment. We read it, tell you what is missing, and come back with a quotation and a sample plan. There is no cost and no obligation in that first exchange.
The nine-point checklist is the fastest route because it covers the details we would otherwise have to ask for one email at a time.
What is the minimum order quantity?
Minimum order quantity depends on the style, and specifically on which material is driving the minimum — a stock fabric in one colour behaves very differently from a bespoke fabric in four.
We publish the real figure at quotation stage rather than quoting a headline number that changes once the fabric is chosen. In-stock styles can be ordered by the piece, so you can test the workmanship before committing to a production run.
Can I order a sample before committing to bulk?
Yes. Sampling before bulk is the standard route here, and it is the cheapest way to reduce risk. A sample costs a fraction of a production run, and it is the only way to judge fit, proportion and fabric hand on a real garment.
The approved sample is then retained as the physical standard that bulk production is measured against.
What do you need from me to quote?
Four things make a quotation accurate rather than indicative: the design intent, the target price, the expected quantity, and the date the goods need to be in hand.
Design intent can be a tech pack, a sketch, a reference photograph or a sample garment. The other three decide which materials and construction methods are even available to you.
Do you work from a reference photo rather than a tech pack?
Yes. We read the construction from photographs and reference garments, identify the fabric and finish methods, and tell you honestly what will and will not reproduce at a production price.
What we cannot do is guarantee a match to a garment we have never handled. If the reference is important, sending the physical garment shortens the process considerably.
How long does production take?
Lead time depends on the style, the material and the finishing involved, so it is confirmed at quotation against your actual specification rather than published as a single number.
What we will do is work backwards from the date the goods must arrive, and tell you at quotation whether that date is achievable — rather than confirming a schedule and missing it.
Can you work with my own pattern and materials?
Yes. That is the cut, make and finish route: you supply the graded pattern, the approved sample and the materials, and we cut, sew, finish, inspect and pack to your specification.
In that arrangement our responsibility covers workmanship and construction. The quality of incoming material remains with you, which is worth being explicit about before the order.
Do you handle labels, packaging and shipping?
Yes. Woven labels, size labels, care labelling matched to your destination market, hangtags, packing to your specification and export documentation are all part of the service.
Tell us the sales channel — retail-ready, e-commerce and wholesale packing are three different specifications, and packing to the wrong one costs a re-pack.
Which markets do you ship to?
We ship internationally, with consolidated dispatch for multi-style orders so that several styles do not become several shipments.
Freight method is chosen backwards from the date the goods need to arrive. If you have a nominated forwarder, we are happy to work with them.
Start a project
Start at stage one
Send a tech pack, a sketch or a reference photo. The first reply tells you what is missing and what the realistic schedule looks like.