Sample Development

Sample development is the process of turning a design into an approved, production-ready garment through one or more rounds of physical samples made by a supplier. Each round is reviewed against the spec, commented on and either approved or sent back for changes.

How sample development works

A brand sends a style to a supplier together with its specifications and asks for a sample. The supplier makes it, ships it and the brand reviews it, usually comparing measurements, materials and finish against the spec. Feedback goes back to the supplier and a new round follows until the sample is approved. Typical rounds include a fit sample, a pre-production sample and a salesman sample, and each one has a deadline so that the collection stays on its calendar.

Why it matters for fashion and lifestyle brands

Sampling sits between design and bulk production, so delays and unclear feedback here move straight into delivery dates. Every extra round costs time, materials and shipping, which is why brands want requests, deadlines, comments and approvals in one place instead of scattered across email threads. A clear sample history also shows what was asked, what came back and what was agreed before production starts.

Sample development and Delogue

In Delogue, each style has a Sample Request sub-tab where brands ask suppliers for samples using sample types set up in Admin. A request carries a deadline, notes, files and quantities per size and colour, and it moves through statuses such as Planned and Requested, so suppliers can be told about future samples before they are asked to start. The supplier fills in the ETD and tracking number, and the request stays linked to the style it belongs to. To see every sample across styles, the Style Sample Report shows the status and deadline of each request and lets you update status, dates or notes in bulk, while the Sample Request Overview lists requests by style, colour and size and can be exported to Excel for suppliers. See the core features of Delogue PLM.

Key takeaways

• Sample development is the series of sample rounds that takes a design to an approved, production-ready garment.
• Clear requests, deadlines and feedback in one place keep sampling rounds short and protect the delivery calendar.
• In Delogue, sample requests live on each style, and the sample reports give a full overview of status and deadlines across all styles.