From perfecting a garment fit, to developing a custom size chart and connecting you with reliable and passionate suppliers - You can see why most start up and established brands prefer to keep us a secret.
We are well-connected, so let us assist you in finding exactly what you need! Our custom sourcing service is a tailored process that involves identifying and selecting the best materials, products, or manufacturers to meet your brand's specific needs and ensuring high-quality standards.
Quickly becoming one our most popular services since 2019 - our garment fitting consultations are where we evaluates how your garments are fitting on a model or a dress form. We assess the garment's design, construction, and overall fit to ensure it meets your desired vision and functionality.
With years of experience in body size charts and grading standards. We elevate your designs by ensuring an impeccable fit that reflects Australian Standards and is tailored to your target demographic. Our skilled team is dedicated to providing meticulous grading solutions, ensuring that your entire size range come to life seamlessly and customised to suit your customer.
With detailed assessments of garment measurements, fabric quality, stitching techniques, and overall craftsmanship our reports empower you to make informed decisions for the next sampling round. Being able to clearly communicate the feedback with suppliers saves time and resources in the design-to-production journey.
SAMPLING AND PRODUCTION
Let us help manage the sampling and production phases of your product development on an ongoing basis. Think of us as your go-to support team for the design, sampling and production pillars of your business.
We currently manage over 47 clients around Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom with clients ranging from 20 to 300 styles per year and from one to five manufacturers. You could say, we know the ropes!
With years of experience under our belts in new, scaling or established fashion brands, Dani has invested in her team, the systems and relationships to make it smoother for fashion brands without compromising on output or product quality.
trustworthy suppliers and manufacturers
Skip the challenges of dealing with difficult suppliers and enhance the efficiency of your sampling and production processes through our direct factory connections.
Having established extensive supplier relationships and a physical presence in China, India, and Indonesia, Spec to Sample boasts one of the most expansive networks of trustworthy suppliers and manufacturers.
One time connection fee
Estimate Production Quotations
Factory Trading terms including minimums, lead times, capacity and sampling costs provided upfront
Introduction Email directly to supplier
No commission, hidden or additional fee's
Pre-vetted suppliers with Spec to Sample visiting the facilities
* Technical packs to be supplied for quotation
One time connection fee
Bonus 5 or 10 hour retainer for consultation support
Essential Client Resources
Estimate Production Quotations
Factory Trading terms including minimums, lead times, capacity and sampling costs provided upfront
Introduction Email directly to supplier
Pre-vetted suppliers with Spec to Sample visiting the facilities
* Technical packs to be supplied for quotation
We work with a wide range of our most reliable offshore manufacturers from China, India, and Indonesia.
In addition, we have a small handful of reliable connections in the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey, and other locations around the world, depending on the project, scope of work, and minimum order quantity (MOQ).
Yes, we do! We have a small but humble supplier network that we have built over the last 8-9 years and we can proudly say we have visited each of the factory facilities including some of their key partners for printing, fabrics, trims, and embellishments over the last 6 years.
Our aim is to travel to see suppliers once annually depending on country and business or client commitments.
While we would love to offer onshore manufacturing, there are some limitations in the local industry and the cost of producing garments onshore can be prohibitively expensive when also using our services. If you are open to offshore manufacturing, we highly recommend this option as offshore manufacturers often have access to specialised machinery and high-quality techniques, which is why we prefer working with them for most of our clients.
We do understand that offshore manufacturing may not be the best fit for everyone, so we are be happy to discuss with you further through a discovery call the pros and cons of each one along with some recommendations for onshore sampling and bulk, so you can make an informed decision that works for your needs and budget.
Our MOQ (minimum order quantity) start at:
• 25-50 pcs per style/colour for ladieswear/menswear swimwear/kidswear in Indonesia/Bali
• 50-150 pcs per style/colour for ladieswear/men/swim/active in China/India
• 100-200 pcs per style/colour for fully fashioned knits & kidswear in China/India
The minimum bulk order accepted is 300-500pcs in total. Our MOQs can be negotiable depending on fabrications, manufacturing location and the customisation required across your collection.
Yes, if the quotation is accepted our manufacturers will provide samples to ensure the product meets your expectations before proceeding with bulk production however if you are requesting customised trims, hardware or materials you samples will be in substitute colours until you are ready to place your bulk production deposit.
Manufacturing costs depend on several factors, including fabric selection, trims, labor, and Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs). The costs typically include design development, fabric sourcing, sampling rounds, production, and logistics (freight). Sampling costs, in particular, can vary based on the number of sample rounds needed to perfect your product. Additional costs might include custom packaging, labeling, and any testing requirements. We’ll help you understand the breakdown of these costs, so you can budget effectively. Costs can vary significantly depending on the complexity of your design, the materials used, and the country of production.
Spec to Sample offers an in-house fabric library to assist with faster material selections, however manufacturers usually offer a variety of fabrics, including silk, tencel, modal, cotton, viscose, and blends depending on the suppliers garment and manufacturing speciality. Consider your garment's intended use, feel, and cost when selecting materials, and review swatches to evaluate options within your budget and vision.
Yes, our suppliers can definitely accommodate custom sizes and fits. Custom sizing can be particularly important for niche markets such as plus-size or petite collections. We’ll work with the supplier to ensure your specific fit requirements are met, from adjusting grading across different sizes to ensuring the correct silhouette and proportions for each size range.
Our suppliers manage quality control through sampling submissions for feedback, testing of materials before commencing production and regular inspections in the middle and final production lines. Our suppliers have dedicated quality assurance teams and are able to thoroughly answer the process and inspection procedures they conduct.
While issues are rare with our suppliers, our manufacturers will provide you with their trading terms and conditions. This document includes how they work with customers to address any issues, whether it’s defective items or deviations from the agreed purchase order. They may offer solutions like re-working, credit or refund depending on the circumstances. Its important to remember that your technical documents are true and accurate for bulk production to assist with any claims.
and the process of "sampling" has been going around in circles for the last two years while looking for a reliable manufacturing partner, sacrificing product quality or brand values.
Our Director, Dani, has transformed Spec to Sample into a transparent freelance fashion design service. She now extends her support to young creatives, emerging startups, established entrepreneurs, and even her own team, helping them bring their dream brands and visions to life—without the risks and costly mistakes typically associated with direct supplier connections.
From quitting her 9-to-5 in 2016 to starting her own fashion brand, Our Director, Dani, has transformed Spec to Sample into a transparent freelance fashion design service. She now extends her support to young creatives, emerging startups, established entrepreneurs, and even her own team, helping them bring their dream brands and visions to life—without the risks and costly mistakes typically associated with direct supplier connections.
