Publication record
Written by Vi, Founder & Production Coordinator at VI MADE.
Published
01
Confirm the inputs before sample making begins
A sample is useful only when it tests a sufficiently clear product direction. Before making begins, the team needs to understand the intended silhouette, measurements or fit reference, construction, materials, trims, finishing, and the decisions the sample is expected to resolve.
If fabric or trims are still being sourced, or the design remains open, that development time should not be counted as sample-making time.
- Reference, sketch, existing garment, or tech pack
- Measurement and fit direction
- Construction and finishing expectations
- Fabric, trims, color, labels, and branding inputs
- Questions the first sample must answer
02
Use the first sample as a decision checkpoint
The first sample is not automatically a production approval. It makes the product tangible so fit, proportion, measurements, fabric behavior, construction, finishing, and missing information can be reviewed together.
Feedback should be consolidated into one recorded revision set. Conflicting or rolling feedback can create avoidable remakes and make it difficult to identify which version is approved.
- Review fit, proportion, and measurements
- Check construction method and internal finishing
- Assess material behavior, trims, and color
- Record every agreed revision against the same sample version
- Confirm whether another sample is required before production
03
Separate sample-making time from the full sampling timeline
The typical 7–14 business day range applies to making the first sample after product direction and materials are confirmed. Complex construction, unavailable materials, pattern development, multiple variants, fitting rounds, revisions, or workshop scheduling can extend the timeline.
International shipping is planned separately. A remote client may review photos, video, measurements, or a physical sample depending on the approval point and project scope.
- Input clarification and material sourcing happen before making
- First-sample making starts after required inputs are confirmed
- Fit review and revisions happen after the first sample
- Physical sample shipping adds destination-dependent time
04
Record the production reference before release
Production should follow a defined reference: the approved sample, specification, construction notes, materials, quantities, and other recorded requirements. Approval should identify which sample version and which written changes govern the order.
Quality checks can compare production against that reference, but inspection does not guarantee that every unit will be defect-free. Tolerances, inspection method, sample size or AQL where relevant, and the decision path for exceptions belong in the project scope.
Approving a sample closes a development checkpoint; it does not remove the need for production follow-up and agreed quality controls.