Custom Sportswear Samples: What To Expect.

A finished piece laid flat, the way you will see it when you review a sample.

Why Sample First, Zero Minimum, And How Long It Takes

A design on a screen is a promise. A sample is the first proof. It lets you hold the fabric, try the fit, check the print and see the stitching before you commit to a full run. Almost every expensive surprise in custom sportswear, such as a fabric that feels wrong or a logo sitting too low, is cheap to fix at sample stage and expensive to fix after bulk.

Sampling is also how you test the manufacturer. How clearly they confirm details, how quickly they answer questions and how closely the sample matches the brief tell you a lot about how bulk will go. Our manufacturer checklist treats a mandatory sample step as a good sign.

Zero minimum and timing

Samples have no minimum at True Fit. One piece is fine. That is separate from the bulk minimum of 20 pieces per style, explained in our MOQ guide.

A sample takes 8–10 days. This is an estimate, not a guarantee. It depends on fabric availability, how complex the garment is and public holidays, and it is confirmed for each order. If anything is delayed, we flag it as soon as we know. Production runs on working days, excluding Pakistani public holidays, and courier time to you is separate and depends on your destination. Bulk takes about 18 working days after you approve the sample; our production timeline guide shows how the two fit together.

What To Send, And What Gets Locked Before Production

You do not need a finished design or a tech pack. A reference photo, a rough sketch or a description is enough, and a reference image helps most because it shows cut, panels, construction and placements that words cannot. The more of this you can give, the closer the first sample lands:

• A reference garment, photo or sketch of the style you want.
• What it is for and who wears it: match, training, gym, casual.
• Fabric preferences, or how it should feel and perform. Our fabric weight guide helps here.
• Colors (Pantone references if you have them) and logo or artwork files.
• Where each logo, number or name goes, and the decoration method.
• Sizes and measurements, or the size you want the sample made in.
• Labels, hang tags and any special trims.

If you want to prepare a fuller specification, see how to create a tech pack.

What gets locked

Before the sample is cut, we confirm the details with you and lock them, so the sample and the bulk order are made to the same specification. Typically this covers:

• Fabric: composition, weight (GSM) and finish.
• Colors and any color-matching references.
• Pattern and construction: cut, panels, seams, collars, cuffs, waistbands.
• Measurements and the size chart.
• Decoration: method, size and placement for every logo, number and name.
• Labels, trims and packaging.

Locking details early has a practical purpose. A change after sample approval is the single most common cause of delay, because it means a new round before bulk can begin.

Photos While It Is Made, And How To Review And Approve It

Photos and video during the build

You should not have to wait in silence for 8–10 days. We share photos and videos while the sample is being made, so you can catch a problem, such as a placement that looks off, before it is finished. When the sample is complete, we send a pre-shipment video so you can see the finished piece before it travels.

Bulk orders get a private live tracking page with photo updates at each step; see how order tracking works.

Reviewing and approving

Give yourself enough time to review properly, because every day taken is a day added to the overall timeline. Check the sample against the locked specification, not against the picture in your head. Our quality control checklist gives the full list. A short version:

1. Feel the fabric and compare it to your reference garment.
2. Measure the key points against the size chart.
3. Try it on, or on someone who matches the target size, and move in it.
4. Check the decoration positions, colors and edges.
5. Wash it once, following the care label, and check again.
6. Reply with a clear decision.

Bulk production starts only after you approve the sample in writing. A confirmation on WhatsApp or by email is enough. Because bulk follows the approved sample, approve it only when you are happy. If you are unsure about one detail, say so and ask a question first; a quick clarification now is far cheaper than a change later. Once the sample is approved, that approval is the reference the bulk order is checked against.

How To Give Feedback That Works

Good feedback is specific, measurable and complete. Vague notes mean another round.

• Be specific: "the chest print sits 3 cm lower than the mock-up" beats "the logo looks wrong".
• Attach a photo or a measurement, ideally with a tape measure in the frame.
• Send everything in one message. A single list of all changes lets us fix everything in one round.
• Separate faults from changes. Say whether something differs from what you approved, or whether you now want it different.
• Say what is right, so nothing correct gets altered by mistake.

A useful format is a numbered list, one line per point, each with a photo or measurement and the outcome you want: "1. Chest logo: 3 cm lower than the mock-up, please raise to match. 2. Sleeve length: 1 cm short of the size chart. 3. Everything else approved." A list like this is easy to act on and easy to check on the next sample.

If The Sample Is Not Accurate

There are two different situations, and they are treated differently on purpose.

Our error. If the sample does not match what we agreed and locked, such as the wrong fabric, a misplaced logo or a measurement outside the spec, we remake it free of charge. You cover only the shipping on the remake.

Your change. If the sample matches the approved specification but you now want something different, such as another color, a new placement or a different cut, that is a new sample round on standard terms. This is why a clear specification matters: it is what separates a fault from a change.

What This Means At True Fit

Samples have no minimum and take 8–10 days. Samples are paid in full up front, against an official invoice with a TF# number; payment details only ever come from us on such an invoice, and sample payments are made by bank transfer (for example through Wise). Pricing depends on the exact spec and is confirmed in a written quotation, with shipping included. See our payment options for how to pay safely, or the samples page for the step-by-step sample process.

The sample fee credit. If your first bulk order of the same style is 50 pieces or more, the sample fee for that style is credited toward it. Three rules apply. You need to mention it when you order. It is worked out per style, not pooled across styles. And it applies to that style's first bulk order only. For example, if you sampled three styles and your first bulk order is 60 pieces of the first, 30 of the second and 25 of the third, only the first qualifies, because the other two are under 50 on their own.

Your designs stay your property. To see how sampling fits the full order flow, read our process page, or contact us to start a sample.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a minimum order for a custom sportswear sample?

No. Samples have no minimum at True Fit Sportswear, and one piece is fine. The bulk minimum of 20 pieces per style only applies once you move to a production order.

How long does a custom sportswear sample take?

A sample takes 8–10 days. That is an estimate confirmed for each order, and it depends on fabric availability and how complex the garment is. If anything is delayed we flag it as soon as we know. Courier time to you is separate.

Do I get my sample fee back if I place a bulk order?

Yes, if your first bulk order of the same style is 50 pieces or more, the sample fee for that style is credited toward it. You need to mention this when you place the order, and it is worked out per style, so quantities of different styles are not added together.

What if the sample is not right?

If it is wrong because of our error, we remake it free of charge, and you cover only the shipping on the remake. If the sample matches what you approved but you now want something different, that is a new sample round on standard terms.

More questions? Browse the full FAQ.