Sampling and lab dips
Most first orders are lost here, not in the price negotiation. A lab dip that sits unapproved for a week pushes the dye slot, and the ship date goes with it.
We run the sampling loop so that the approval is a decision you make once, on a physical standard, with a record that still exists when the bulk arrives.
What is included
Lab dip submission
Two or three alternatives when the shade is close, each on the actual bulk fabric, with the finishing that will be applied.
Sample yardage
One to twenty metres for prototyping or fit samples, cut from the quality you will actually order.
Physical approval record
The approved dip and sample are kept, signed and dated, so the bulk argument is about an object rather than a memory.
Measurement and photos
Weight, width and hand feel recorded at sampling, so the first bulk roll has something to be compared with.
Courier coordination
The parcel is booked, tracked and delivered to the address you give us, with the freight cost agreed up front.
Sampling for approval versus sampling for fit
A dip approves a colour; yardage approves a hand feel and a behaviour in the garment. They are different decisions and they have different deadlines. We keep them separate so a fit sample never becomes the colour standard by accident.
Version control on approvals
If the shade or the base fabric changes, the approval is reissued rather than edited. An approval that drifts is worse than no approval, because it looks like evidence.
How it works
- 01
Send the colour and the base
A Pantone TCX number plus a physical reference, and the fabric quality the dip should be made on.
- 02
We submit the dip
Five to ten days at the mill, depending on the shade and the queue. Difficult colours take longer.
- 03
You approve in writing
Under a stated light source, with the tolerance noted. We photograph the approved dip and keep it.
- 04
Sample yardage and hand-off to bulk
Once both the dip and the sample are approved, the mill books the dye line. Nothing moves before that.
Timeline
| Stage | Duration | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Swatch | 3–7 days | Existing quality, no dyeing |
| Lab dip | 5–10 days | Plus your approval time |
| Sample yardage | 1–3 weeks | Depends on the mill schedule |
What we need from you
- · Colour reference: Pantone TCX and a physical standard if possible
- · The fabric quality the dip should be made on
- · How much yardage you need, and what for
- · Your courier account, or agreement to the freight charge
What we do not do
- · We do not approve a shade on a screen. Monitors lie and the fabric does not.
- · We do not start bulk on a verbal approval.
- · We do not reuse an old dip as approval for a new lot without checking it.
FAQ
Why does a lab dip take a week?
The lab has to build a recipe for that specific fabric and finish, dye a piece, compare it under a light box and adjust. Shortcuts produce shade drift in bulk.
Can I approve from a photo?
As a preview, yes. As an approval, no. The physical dip is the standard.
Who pays for samples?
Usually the buyer, sometimes credited against bulk. We tell you which before the sample is made.
What if the dip is close but not exact?
You decide whether it is acceptable, and we record the tolerance. A grey-scale rating beats "looks fine".
What happens if I reject every option?
We ask the mill to adjust the recipe, usually with a specific direction — lighter, less red, warmer. Rejecting without direction wastes a week.
Can sampling start before the fabric is chosen?
A lab dip needs a base fabric. If you are still deciding between two qualities, we sample both in parallel, which is faster than sequencing them.