Case Study: Custom Hem Tape for a Theatre Costume Workshop in France
Source:Metal Cup Trophies /
Time:2026-09-18
Hem Tape for a Theatre Costume Workshop in France
A Theatre Costume Workshop approached us with a hem tape requirement for the France 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
- A compliance document that arrived after the goods were already shipped
- MOQ that was quoted per colourway rather than per style
- A spec that lived in an email instead of a tech pack
What we specified
| Item | Hem Tape |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Theatre Costume Workshop |
| Market | France |
| Order volume | 10,000 pieces across 3 specifications |
| Base material | Zinc Alloy |
| Standard size | 20 mm Width |
| Finish | Silicone Wash Finish |
| Sampling rounds | 4 |
| Delivery window | 8 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | Sedex SMETA |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the specification around Zinc Alloy and locked the tolerance before bulk.
- The finish was moved to UV Printing 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 8-week window.
- Unit cost held within 1.5% of the original quotation.
- Inspection-related rejection stayed under 0.5%.
- 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.
