Darmax at a glance
| Minimum order | From 30 pieces per style |
| Sampling | 7 to 10 days |
| Bulk production | 20 to 30 days |
| Factory certification | SGS certified |
| Certified fabrics | GRS, GOTS, OEKO-TEX available |
Sample development takes 7 to 10 days at Darmax, measured from an approved tech pack to a shipped sample. The work runs through five stages, and knowing them lets you plan your launch rather than wait blind.
What happens at each stage of sample development?
| Stage | What happens | What you receive or decide |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tech pack review | We check your measurements, construction and materials, and flag anything that cannot be made as drawn | A clarification list before anything is cut |
| 2. Materials confirmation | Fabric, trims and labels are located or sourced, and colour is checked against your reference | Confirmation of what is available, or substitutes offered |
| 3. Pattern and grading | The pattern is built or adjusted and graded across your size range | Pattern sign off |
| 4. Cutting and sewing | The sample garment is cut and assembled, including decoration such as printing or embroidery | The finished sample |
| 5. Review and dispatch | The sample is measured against spec, photographed and shipped to you | Sample plus measurement report |
The stage most brands underestimate is the first one. A tech pack with clear measurements and a locked specification usually removes an entire revision round, which is worth more than a week.
What needs to be in a tech pack before sampling?
Five things. If any one is missing, expect an extra round trip.
- Measurements per size, in centimetres or inches, with tolerance stated
- Construction details such as stitch type, seam finish, hem and cuff treatment
- Fabric and trim specification including composition, weight and any performance requirement
- Colour references such as Pantone TCX codes, plus which parts of the garment each colour applies to
- Artwork for printing, embroidery or labels, with placement and sizing marked on a flat drawing
A rough sketch can be enough if it is unambiguous. A beautiful drawing that leaves the fabric open will not be.
What most often delays a sample?
- Fabric availability. The single biggest variable. Stock fabric moves in days; a custom dye lot adds weeks.
- Silent specification changes. If measurements move after sampling starts, the pattern has to be rebuilt.
- Decoration complexity. Multi position printing, 3D embroidery or custom hardware each add a process and a supplier.
- Slow feedback. Every day you take to review the sample adds a day to the approval date.
How should you judge a sample when it arrives?
Do not judge it on looks alone. Check it in this order:
- Measure it against your own spec, at the points that matter for fit, and compare with the numbers on the factory measurement report
- Wash it once and re measure, to see shrinkage before it happens to your inventory
- Turn it inside out and look at seam finishing, thread trimming and label placement
- Wear it, and note separate comments for fit, hand feel and finish rather than one combined remark
Give feedback as a single consolidated list with a clear approve or revise decision. Piecemeal comments across several messages are a reliable way to add a week.
Frequently asked questions
How long does sample development take?
Seven to ten days from the moment the tech pack is approved and the sample fee is settled. This assumes the fabric is available from stock; a custom dye lot or an imported material can extend it.
What do I need to provide before sampling starts?
A tech pack containing your measurements, construction details, fabric and trim specification, colour references, and artwork for any decoration. The clearer the tech pack, the fewer revision rounds you will need.
How many sample revisions should I expect?
Two rounds is a normal working figure. Most brands approve after one revision. Beyond three rounds the problem is usually a specification that is still changing rather than a manufacturing issue.
Who pays for the sample?
The buyer normally pays a sample fee, which many factories credit against the bulk order once it is placed. Confirm this in writing before you start, along with whether shipping of the sample is included.
Ready to start? Send your tech pack through the quote form and we will confirm materials availability before sampling begins.
Related reading: our sample development service and what MOQ to expect as a new brand.
