What should I check before I approve bulk?
What buyers should check before bulk approval
Anmol JournalGuide
Guide 5 of 10
- Topic
- Quality
- Reading time
- 2 minutes
- Sections
- 05
- Figures
- 02
01Start from the counter sample
The counter sample is what bulk will be measured against, so check it as if it were the first piece off the line: fabric, colour, trims, labels, measurements and finish, all at once.
Approve it in writing and keep your own sealed copy. If a question comes up mid-production, both sides then compare the same garment.
02Measurements across the size range
Fit is approved in one size; bulk is made in all of them. Ask for measurements of the graded sizes, or a size set, and check the points that matter most to your customer: chest, length, waist and sleeve.
Read the tolerances too. Plus or minus one centimetre means something different on a sleeve than on a chest.
03Fabric, colour and trims
Bulk fabric should match the approved sample in shade, handle and weight. Shade is best judged side by side, in daylight or a light box, against a physical standard rather than a screen.
Every trim on the sample, from buttons to labels, should be the bulk trim, not a stand-in used for speed.
Plus or minus one centimetre means something different on a sleeve than on a chest.
04Embroidery and print
Check artwork size, colour and placement on a strike-off or on the counter sample. Placement is measured from a fixed point, such as the shoulder or the centre front, so it can be repeated on every size.
Embroidery adds weight and stiffness. Check that the fabric under it lies flat and that the reverse will not irritate the skin, especially in kidswear.
05Packing, labels and quantities
Confirm the label set, the fold, the polybag, the carton marks and the pack ratios before bulk, not at packing. Late changes hold finished goods at the end of the line.
Finally, confirm the order quantities by style, colour and size, and the delivery window. Everything after approval is planned from these numbers.
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