Case Study: Custom Hemp Fabric for a Bag and Luggage Maker in Portugal

Hemp Fabric for a Bag and Luggage Maker in Portugal

A Bag and Luggage Maker approached us with a hemp fabric requirement for the Portugal 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

How it was resolved

1. We rebuilt the specification around Polyester and locked the tolerance before bulk.
2. The finish was moved to Antique Copper Finish after strike-off tests showed better durability.
3. A pre-production sample was approved and retained as the golden reference.
4. Production ran with in-line inspection and a mid-run photo report.
5. 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 1.5%.
• The specification is now on file, so reorders reproduce the approved sample.

What we would repeat

Approve a pre-production sample made from the actual bulk base material. Substitute material behaves differently in finishing.

Planning something similar?

If you are comparing suppliers, send us the spec they quoted against. We will quote the same spec and show you where the difference sits.