Why sampling is not a formality
A buyer approves a beautiful sample, bulk arrives, and the hijabs are close but not the same: the edge is overlocked instead of rolled, the navy reads slightly purple under shop lights, the print sits off-center when folded. When the buyer asks why, the answer is often that the sample was approved by photo, or that nobody wrote down which sample was the reference.
Sampling exists to prevent this. Each round answers a specific question, and the approved piece becomes physical evidence of what was agreed. The process below is the sequence we coordinate with partner workshops in the Yiwu cluster.
The sample types and what each one answers
| Sample | Question it answers | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| Stock sample | Is this fabric and style right for our customers? | Ships in days |
| Lab dip | Does the custom color match our reference on this fabric? | Part of custom sampling, about 7 working days in published examples |
| Strike-off | Does the print show the right colors, scale and placement on this fabric? | About 7 working days, up to around two weeks for new prints |
| Sewn sample | Is the finished hijab right: size, edge, construction, label? | After lab dip or strike-off approval |
| Pre-production sample | Is bulk fabric and finishing set up as approved? | Before bulk cutting, where the program calls for it |
Timings are typical reference ranges from supplier published practice and are confirmed in writing for each program.
Stock samples: the fast first filter
Stock samples are existing products in existing colors. They tell you how a fabric handles, how opaque it is, how an edge finish looks and whether a size suits your customers. They are also the quickest way to compare two or three fabrics side by side. Ask for stock samples in a neutral and a mid-tone color, because opacity and sheen read differently on each. If you plan to sell on photographs, photograph the stock samples yourself under your own lighting.
Lab dips: matching a custom color
A lab dip is a small piece of your chosen fabric dyed to your color reference. The workshop or its dye house usually sends more than one option, each slightly different, so you can pick the closest. Judge lab dips under consistent light, ideally daylight-equivalent, and look at them next to the reference rather than from memory. Check that the dip is on the same fabric as bulk; a color dipped on cotton tells you little about the same color on chiffon. Once approved, sign and date the dip, keep half, and return half as the workshop's reference. Our color matching guide goes deeper.
Strike-offs: checking a print
A strike-off is a test print of your artwork on the bulk fabric. It shows whether the colors in your file reproduce on that fabric, whether the scale is right, and where the repeat or placement falls on the finished size. On a square hijab, check the design folded into a triangle as well as flat, because that is how customers will see it. On a rectangle, check where the design lands at the ends, which often show most when worn. See custom printed hijabs for artwork preparation.
Sewn samples: the finished piece
The sewn sample brings everything together: approved fabric and color or print, finished size, edge finish, any sewn construction for instant styles and caps, and labels. This is the sample bulk is measured against, so check it carefully.
- Measure it. Length and width for rectangles and squares, circumference and stretch for caps and instant styles, against the spec sheet.
- Check the edge. Name the finish and look at it closely: stitch density, evenness, any puckering on light fabrics.
- Check opacity. Hold it against light and against a contrasting background.
- Wear-test it. Ask people who wear the style to try it: grip, slip, comfort, how it holds a pin.
- Wash-test it. Wash per the intended care instruction and look for shrinkage, color loss and edge distortion.
- Check labels. Fiber content, country of origin, care and your identity, in the agreed position.
When to ask for a pre-production sample
For larger programs, custom colors on new fabrics, or anything with sewn construction, a pre-production sample taken from bulk fabric before cutting is worth the time. It catches differences between the sample fabric and the bulk fabric, which can come from a new dye lot or a different roll. For small stock-color runs it is usually unnecessary. We suggest when it is worth it on the production process plan for your program.
How many rounds to expect
Stock programs often need one round. Custom colors often need one or two rounds of lab dips. New prints may need a second strike-off if colors shift on the fabric. Each extra round adds time, so build it into the plan, especially before Ramadan and Eid when bulk lead times lengthen. Clear comments shorten rounds: instead of "too dark", say "lighter, closer to the reference, less red".
Samples for sewn and specialist styles
Instant hijabs, caps, al-amira sets, khimars and niqabs carry more construction than a flat scarf, and their samples deserve a slightly longer checklist. Check elastic tension after repeated stretching, because elastic that feels right on day one can relax after a few wears. Check ties, snaps and seams for strength and comfort where they sit against the head. For sized styles, ask for the sample in more than one size, since a pattern that works in an adult size does not always grade cleanly into a smaller one. For kids' styles, trims and small parts are part of the compliance plan, so the sample is also the moment to confirm the test route. The more construction a style has, the more a written measurement chart on the spec sheet saves arguments later.
What to put in writing
- Which sample is the approved reference for each color, design and style.
- The spec sheet version the approval refers to.
- Any accepted deviation, written as a comment on the approval.
- Who holds the reference samples and where.
- Sample timing and the bulk lead time that starts after approval.
Sampling time is part of your lead time. Check the reference ranges on MOQ and lead time, then request samples through the sample request form.