Textile Sample Development and Prototyping
A good sample saves time, cost and misunderstandings later in production. This page is for brands, wholesalers, hotels and importers planning a private label or custom textile order with DRU Textile in Denizli, Turkey. It explains what to include in your sample brief, how sample costs and timing are handled, how revisions work and how the approved sample becomes the reference for bulk production.
What to Send in Your Sample Brief
The clearer the brief, the closer the first sample will be to what you have in mind. You do not need a full tech pack to start: a reference product, photos or a short written description is enough for a first conversation, and we can build the details together.
If you already have specifications, send them in one place so nothing gets lost between emails. The list below covers the points we usually ask about.
- Product type and intended use, for example a baby bodysuit, hotel towel, bathrobe, duvet cover set or roll fabric
- Sizes or dimensions, with a size chart or measurement sheet if you have one
- Material and construction: cotton, organic cotton, modal, bamboo or blends; knitted or woven structure; target GSM or thread count
- Colours, with Pantone references or a physical swatch where possible
- Print, embroidery or jacquard artwork, with the required placement and size
- Label, hangtag and packaging requirements
- Certification needs, such as OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 or GOTS materials
- Target price level, expected quantities and target market
- A reference sample or photos of a product you like, with notes on what to keep or change
Sample Cost: What Is Free and What Is Agreed per Project
For baby and children's textiles and for home textiles, we offer a free pre-production sample. This lets you check the fabric, workmanship, sizing and finishing before you commit to a production order.
For other product groups, such as hotel textiles and custom fabric development, sample terms are agreed per project. They depend on how much new development the sample needs, for example a new fabric construction, a new print or a jacquard design.
Whatever the product group, sample terms, including shipping, are confirmed in writing before any work starts. That way both sides know exactly what the sample covers.
How Our Sampling Process Works
Sampling sits between the product brief and production in our eight-step process: product brief, sourcing, sample, approval, production, quality control, packaging and export. Each stage is tracked, so you always know where your sample stands.
- 1Brief review
We go through your brief, ask about any missing points and confirm what the sample needs to show: fit, fabric, colour, print, embroidery, labels or packaging.
- 2Material sourcing
We select or develop the yarn, fabric and accessories, for example YKK® zips for sleeping bags, or Ring, Zero Twist and Micro Cotton yarns for terry products.
- 3Colour and print checks
Where the product has a dyed colour or a print, colour is checked first with a lab dip or a print strike-off on the actual fabric, before the full sample is cut and sewn.
- 4Sample making
The sample is made with the agreed fabric, trims, embroidery and labels, as close as possible to the production method, so it truly represents the bulk order.
- 5Your review
We send the sample with its key specifications. You check fit, measurements, hand feel, colour and finishing, and send your comments in writing.
- 6Revision
If changes are needed, we update the sample and note exactly what was changed, so every round is traceable.
- 7Approval
Once you approve, the sample is labelled as the reference for production and production planning can begin.
Sample Timing and Revision Rounds
Sample timing is agreed per project. A sample made from an existing fabric is generally quicker than one that needs a new knitted or woven construction, a new print or a jacquard design, so we give you a timing once the brief is clear.
The number of revision rounds is also agreed per project. A complete brief and one consolidated list of comments per round are the best way to keep rounds to a minimum; feedback spread across several messages tends to slow things down.
If a requested change affects cost, such as a heavier GSM, an extra colour or a different accessory, we let you know before making the next sample. Factors that typically add time to sampling include:
- A new fabric construction, GSM or thread count
- A new print design that needs one or more strike-offs
- Jacquard or dobby border designs that need a weaving set-up
- Custom accessories, labels or special packaging
Sample Types You May See During Development
Not every project needs every type of sample. The names below are common industry terms; which samples your project needs is agreed at brief stage.
| Sample type | Purpose | Typically used when |
|---|---|---|
| Prototype or development sample | Shows the first interpretation of your idea: construction, shape and material | You are starting a new product or changing an existing one significantly |
| Fit or size sample | Checks measurements, fit and comfort across the size range | Garments such as bodysuits, pyjama sets, sleeping bags or bathrobes |
| Lab dip | Matches a dyed colour to your Pantone reference or swatch | Plain dyed fabrics and products |
| Strike-off | Shows a print or colourway on the actual fabric | Printed fabrics, bed linen or printed baby products |
| Pre-production sample | Confirms the final product with production fabric, trims, labels and packaging | Just before bulk production; this is typically the sample that is approved |
From Approved Sample to Production Reference
Approval turns the sample into the reference for your order. The approved sample, together with the agreed specifications, is what production follows and what our quality control checks against.
We recommend keeping one approved sample on each side, labelled with the date and order details. If a question comes up during production, both sides can compare against the same physical reference rather than relying on photos or memory.
Production planning starts after approval. As a guide, production lead times are 20-45 days for baby and children's textiles and 20-40 days for hotel textiles; for home textiles and fabric orders, timing is agreed per order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start Your Sample Request
Send us your brief, reference photos or tech pack and we will come back with material options and sample terms for your project. Free pre-production samples apply to baby and home textiles.