Case Study: Custom Size Label for a School Uniform Buyer in Italy
Source:Dried Lavender Bundles /
Time:2026-09-18
Size Label for a School Uniform Buyer in Italy
A School Uniform Buyer approached us with a size label requirement for the Italy 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
- Elastic that lost recovery after three washes
- Shrinkage that only showed up after the first wash
- A trim that passed sampling but failed in-line because it was never cycle tested
What we specified
| Item | Size Label |
|---|---|
| Client type | A School Uniform Buyer |
| Market | Italy |
| Order volume | 10,000 pieces across 6 specifications |
| Base material | Wood |
| Standard size | 25 mm Width |
| Finish | Antique Copper Finish |
| Sampling rounds | 4 |
| Delivery window | 5 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | ISO 105 Colour Fastness |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the specification around Wood and locked the tolerance before bulk.
- The finish was moved to Soft-Touch Rubber 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
- 10,000 pieces delivered inside the 5-week window.
- Unit cost held within 1.5% of the original quotation.
- Inspection-related rejection stayed under 1.0%.
- The specification is now on file, so reorders reproduce the approved sample.
What we would repeat
Fix the specification count early. Adding variants after production starts is the most expensive change a client can request.
Planning something similar?
Share the programme details and we will propose two alternatives — one optimised for unit cost, one for lead time — and let you choose.
