Case Study: Custom Velvet Fabric for a Workwear Distributor in China
Source:Sewn-In Weave/Weft /
Time:2026-09-18
Velvet Fabric for a Workwear Distributor in China
A Workwear Distributor approached us with a velvet fabric requirement for the China market. The brief was specific: a defined look, a hard launch date and a unit cost that had to survive freight and duty. This case study records what was specified, what went wrong in sampling and how the bulk order was delivered.
The challenge
- Cartons packed to the factory ratio instead of the buyer's size ratio
- A trim that passed sampling but failed in-line because it was never cycle tested
- Shade drift between the approved lab dip and the bulk lot
What we specified
| Item | Velvet Fabric |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Workwear Distributor |
| Market | China |
| Order volume | 5,000 pieces across 3 specifications |
| Base material | Brass |
| Standard size | 400 gsm |
| Finish | Nickel-Free Electroplating |
| Sampling rounds | 3 |
| Delivery window | 5 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | Sedex SMETA |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the specification around Brass and locked the tolerance before bulk.
- The finish was moved to Matte Black Coating after strike-off tests showed better durability.
- A pre-production sample was approved and retained as the golden reference.
- Production ran with in-line inspection and a mid-run photo report.
- Cartons were packed to the client's own barcode and ratio specification.
Result
- 5,000 pieces delivered inside the 5-week window.
- Unit cost held within 4.5% of the original quotation.
- Inspection-related rejection stayed under 1.5%.
- The specification is now on file, so reorders reproduce the approved sample.
What we would repeat
Keep one accountable owner on both sides. Most delays come from hand-offs, not from machines.
Planning something similar?
Send the reference sample or tech pack and we will come back with a costed specification, a sampling timetable and the compliance documents your market requires.
