Case Study: Custom Braided Elastic for a Bag and Luggage Maker in Kenya
Source:Custom Branded Soccer Balls /
Time:2026-09-18
Braided Elastic for a Bag and Luggage Maker in Kenya
A Bag and Luggage Maker approached us with a braided elastic 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
- Shade drift between the approved lab dip and the bulk lot
- A trim that passed sampling but failed in-line because it was never cycle tested
- Reorders that quietly changed supplier and changed the hand feel
What we specified
| Item | Braided Elastic |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Bag and Luggage Maker |
| Market | Kenya |
| Order volume | 5,000 pieces across 3 specifications |
| Base material | POM Plastic |
| Standard size | 25 mm Width |
| Finish | Enzyme Wash Finish |
| Sampling rounds | 4 |
| Delivery window | 6 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | ISO 14001 |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the specification around POM Plastic and locked the tolerance before bulk.
- The finish was moved to Piece-Dyed 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
- 5,000 pieces delivered inside the 6-week window.
- Unit cost held within 3.0% of the original quotation.
- Inspection-related rejection stayed under 2.0%.
- The specification is now on file, so reorders reproduce the approved sample.
What we would repeat
Lock the material standard before sampling. Once the base changes, every downstream approval has to be redone and the calendar slips.
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.
