Do you charge for samples?
Not with an order: a pre-production sample is produced free of charge with any production order, once the production deposit is received. If you want a sample before committing to production at all, we can do that, but we have to charge for it — typically $40–100 for a decorated garment, depending on the method, and credited against the bulk order if it goes ahead.
What the free sample is
The real garment, in the real fabric, with the real decoration and your label — made on the same line as bulk, before bulk starts, so that what you approve is what two hundred pieces will match. It is photographed and sent, or couriered to you if you want it in hand. Nothing is cut for bulk until it is approved in writing. It is free with an order because it is part of making the order properly, not a favour.
Why a standalone sample is charged
A single decorated garment carries every setup a run does — a screen, a digitising file, a press changeover, a cutting of one — spread across one piece. Charging for it is the only way to make it without building the cost into everyone else's orders. The charge is stated up front, and it comes off the bulk order if you proceed, so a brand that samples and then orders pays nothing extra for having been careful.
Cheaper ways to check before committing
A free digital mockup on the actual garment at the actual print size shows placement and scale before anything is made. A blank sample — the garment with no decoration — costs less than a decorated one and answers the fabric and fit question, which is usually the real one. And for a few pieces to test a design in the market, print on demand on selected stock items starts at one piece.
Related questions
- Do I get a sample with every order?
- Yes — a pre-production sample, free, once the deposit is received, approved before bulk.
- How long does a sample take?
- About a week for a decorated stock garment; around two for cut-and-sew, including the pattern.
- Can I get a blank sample to check the fabric?
- Yes — it is the cheapest physical check, and the one we recommend before a hoodie run.
- Is the sample charge refunded if I order?
- It is credited against the bulk order.
Where to go next
More questions on pricing and payment
How much does custom clothing cost to make?
It depends on three things: the garment and its fabric weight, how it is decorated, and how many you order — which is why we quote rather…
Why does the price per piece fall as I order more?
Two effects, both real. Setup costs — screens, digitising, label origination, laying the cutting table, running the first pieces — are…
When do I pay for a custom clothing order?
In two parts: a production deposit before the sample is made, and the balance before dispatch. Nothing is charged before you have a price…
Ask us the rest
Send the garment, the quantity and any date you are working to. A real price and a mockup come back, usually within a working day.
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