Case Study: Custom Overlocking Thread for an Airline Catering Supplier in Kenya
Source:Succulent Gift Boxes /
Time:2026-09-18
Overlocking Thread for an Airline Catering Supplier in Kenya
An Airline Catering Supplier approached us with a overlocking thread requirement for the Kenya 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
- An interlining that bubbled after the first press
- Reorders that quietly changed supplier and changed the hand feel
- A spec that lived in an email instead of a tech pack
What we specified
| Item | Overlocking Thread |
|---|---|
| Client type | An Airline Catering Supplier |
| Market | Kenya |
| Order volume | 20,000 pieces across 6 specifications |
| Base material | Brass |
| Standard size | 8# Gauge |
| Finish | Piece-Dyed Finish |
| Sampling rounds | 2 |
| Delivery window | 4 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | CPSIA |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the specification around Brass and locked the tolerance before bulk.
- The finish was moved to Brushed Silver Finish 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
- 20,000 pieces delivered inside the 4-week window.
- Unit cost held within 3.0% 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?
Share the programme details and we will propose two alternatives — one optimised for unit cost, one for lead time — and let you choose.
