Can I order a single prototype before bulk production?
Yes. No bulk run starts without an approved sample. The sample is produced as a separate development item — typically 7–10 days after the spec and materials are confirmed — and it is charged separately because it carries its own pattern, cutting and finishing. One to three rounds is normal; each revision round adds roughly 7–14 days.
What the sample actually proves
The sample is not a preview, it is the reference. It fixes the measurements, the fabric hand, the stitch density, the artwork position and the trims. Bulk is measured against it.
That is why changing fabric after sample approval is the most expensive mistake in the process: the fit, the shrinkage allowance and the grade all need to be rebuilt.
| Stage | Purpose | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fit sample | Pattern, measurements, silhouette | 7–10 days |
| Revision round | Adjust fit or details | 7–14 days each |
| Pre-production sample | Confirm bulk fabric, trims and decoration | 7–10 days |
| Bulk | Production against the approved sample | 25–35 days |
Keeping sample rounds to a minimum
Most extra rounds come from an incomplete brief, not from the factory. Send measurements from a garment you already sell, state the fabric weight, and mark the artwork position on a photo.
Change one variable per round. If you change fabric and fit together, you cannot tell which change produced the result.
Field example
A Toronto brand needed a boxy hoodie with a dropped shoulder. Round one came back too close to the body because the brief said “oversized” without measurements. VANRD rebuilt the block with a measured reference garment, and round two was approved — two rounds instead of the four the brand had budgeted.
Numbers that matter
- Sampling: 7–10 days after spec and materials are confirmed
- Revision rounds: roughly 7–14 days each; 1–3 rounds is normal
- Bulk only starts after pre-production approval
- Change one variable per round to keep the result readable
- Service Process
- Fabrics & Techniques
- Sweater & Knitwear Manufacturer
- OEM/ODM Apparel Manufacturing by Brand Type
- Custom Headwear Manufacturer
- Streetwear Manufacturer
- Custom Clothing Quality Control
- Tracksuit Manufacturer
- T-Shirt & Jersey Manufacturer
- Pants & Bottoms Manufacturer
- Hoodie & Sweatshirt Manufacturer
- Jacket Manufacturer
