How long do samples take?

Samples take 3–7 days at SLSPOLO, from pattern and fabric through to the finished sample. Bulk production takes 15–25 days and starts only after the sample is approved in writing. New fabric development, a new colourway or custom trims add to that window.

What happens inside a sample round

A round starts the day we have what we need: a tech pack or reference sample, measurements, and a fabric direction.

Pattern and first cut. The block is confirmed or developed, graded across your size set and cut. Where fabric is still being booked, a proto sample can be sewn in a similar cloth so fit is checked first.
Sample sewing. Sewn on the sampling line with the construction and finishing the bulk order will use.
Decoration and trims. Print, embroidery, badges or labels applied as specified, or held with the closest available item while a custom trim run is in production.
Check and send. Measured against your specification, photographed, sent out.
Corrections and the next round. Comments come back, the pattern or construction is adjusted, and a revised sample is made. That is a further round rather than a continuation of the first.

Most styles settle in one or two rounds; a new block can take three.

What you need to send

A tech pack, or reference photos plus measurements taken off a physical sample
The size set and grading, or the size range you sell
Fabric direction: composition, weight if known, hand feel, stretch
Artwork for print or embroidery, with placement and size
Trim direction: woven label, hangtag, jacquard patch or silicone badge
Target quantity per colour, and whether you ship EXW, FOB Shenzhen / Yantian or DDP

A full tech pack is not a condition for starting — a physical reference sample is enough.

What makes a round take longer

Fabric that has to be developed. A construction new to us is sourced and tested before cutting rather than substituted, and mill lead time sits in front of the sampling clock.
A new colourway. Colour is dyed and approved against your standard before the sample is sewn, so the lab dip step precedes the round.
Custom trims. Woven labels and hangtags carry a supplier minimum of 1,000 per design; jacquard patches and silicone badges 300. Those runs take their own time, so a first sample may carry a placeholder.
Bonded or seam-sealed construction. Adhesive film, temperature, pressure and dwell time are set for the specific fabric pairing, adding a validation step.
Scope changes mid-round. A change to the block, fabric or decoration restarts the affected steps.

The pattern room and sampling line sit inside the Dongguan plant at 5th Floor, No.31 Jianshe Road, Daning Community, Humen Town, Dongguan, Guangdong 523900, which is what keeps sampling to 3–7 days. Buyers who want to see it can arrange a factory visit in person or by live video.

Why we ask for written approval before bulk

The approved sample is the reference the bulk order is built against. Confirm it in writing and it sets the fabric, measurements, construction, decoration and packing for the run, with inline and final inspection to AQL 2.5 checked against it. Bulk is booked after approval, not in parallel with sampling.

Sampling is also where cost is settled. Fabric, trims and decoration are confirmed on the sample before a bulk price is fixed. See polo shirt manufacturing and the minimum order page.

Send a tech pack, a reference sample or a sketch with the target fabric and quantities; contact SLSPOLO to start a round.

Questions buyers ask next

Do I pay for samples?

Yes, sampling is charged. The sample cost is credited against your first order once that order reaches 300 pieces. Ask for the amount at quotation stage so it is stated in writing before the round begins.

Can I get a sample in another colour later?

Yes. A colour extension on an approved style uses the existing block, so only the fabric and any colour-matched trims need confirming. Send the colour standard or a swatch.

How many rounds does a first style usually need?

One or two for a style built on an existing block, and up to three where the block is developed from scratch or the construction is new to us. Corrections are applied between rounds.

Can I watch the sample being made?

Yes. The pattern room and sampling line sit inside the Dongguan plant in Humen Town and can be seen in person or over a live video walk-through, usually covering cutting, sewing and the finishing checks in one session.