Case Study: Custom Wired Edge Ribbon for a Uniform Supplier in Portugal
Source:Gallery Lighting Systems /
Time:2026-09-18
Wired Edge Ribbon for a Uniform Supplier in Portugal
A Uniform Supplier approached us with a wired edge ribbon 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
- MOQ that was quoted per colourway rather than per style
- Shade drift between the approved lab dip and the bulk lot
- Elastic that lost recovery after three washes
What we specified
| Item | Wired Edge Ribbon |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Uniform Supplier |
| Market | Portugal |
| Order volume | 20,000 pieces across 3 specifications |
| Base material | Recycled PET |
| Standard size | 10# Gauge |
| Finish | Enzyme Wash Finish |
| Sampling rounds | 2 |
| Delivery window | 8 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | Bluesign |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the specification around Recycled PET and locked the tolerance before bulk.
- The finish was moved to Powder 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
- 20,000 pieces delivered inside the 8-week window.
- Unit cost held within 4.5% 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
Keep one accountable owner on both sides. Most delays come from hand-offs, not from machines.
Planning something similar?
Tell us the item, the quantity and the delivery window. We will quote it with the sub-processes named, so the lead time you approve is the lead time you get.
