You've signed off the tech pack, agreed a target price and sent the PO. Now what? For a lot of brands, the first month with a new manufacturer is a black box. Samples arrive, comments go back and forth, and suddenly it's week five and nobody is sure if bulk has started.

It doesn't have to work like that. Here's what the first 30 days look like on our floor in Sialkot, stage by stage, and what we need from you at each step to keep things moving.

Days 1–5: Tech pack review and fabric booking

Before anything is cut, our product development team reads the tech pack line by line. We check measurements against the grade rule, confirm fabric composition and GSM, and flag anything that's unclear: a missing tolerance, a trim with no supplier, a print with no Pantone reference.

At the same time we book fabric. If it's a stock base we can usually knit or source it within days. If it needs a custom lab dip, we start dyeing trials now, because colour approval is often the longest single step in the whole process.

Days 5–12: Proto sample

The first sample is about fit and construction, not perfection. It may be made in a substitute colour or a close fabric while the real one is being dyed. Our pattern maker builds the base pattern, a sample machinist sews it, and our QC team measures it against your spec sheet before it leaves the building.

You'll get the sample with a measurement report showing every point of measure, the spec, the actual and the difference. That report is what makes your fit comments fast and specific.

Days 12–20: Fit comments and grading

Once your fit comments come back, we correct the base pattern and grade it across your size range. Grading is where a lot of problems hide. A pattern that fits perfectly in a medium can go wrong at XS or 3XL if the grade rules are off, so we check the extreme sizes too.

If changes are significant, we make a second fit sample. Most styles need two rounds. Very technical garments, like compression or fitted outerwear, can need three.

Days 20–26: Pre-production sample (PPS)

The PPS is the garment bulk will be judged against. It's made in the correct fabric, colour, trims, labels and branding, using the final graded pattern. We send it to you for sealing and keep a matching counter-sample on our side.

“The PPS is a contract you can hold. If bulk doesn't match it, we haven't done our job.”

Days 26–30: Pre-production meeting and cutting

Before the first lay is cut, our production, quality and merchandising teams sit down with the sealed sample. We go through critical operations, known risk points and the inspection plan. Then the marker is made, fabric is relaxed and inspected, and cutting begins.

What speeds things up

• A complete tech pack with tolerances, trims and artwork files in vector format.
• Pantone or physical colour standards sent on day one.
• One person on your side who can approve fit and colour.
• Fit comments returned within 48 hours of receiving a sample.
• A clear size range and size ratio for the first order.