FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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GENERAL
SERVICES
MANUFACTURING
TECHNICAL
Branding
Sourcing
Sampling

GENERAL

Where are you located?

We are located in Moorabbin, Victoria 3189, Australia. However, our client base spans both nationally and internationally, including customers from New Zealand, Indonesia, Canada, the UK, and the US. Clients can choose to work with us remotely or schedule in-office consultations for their projects.

I’m based outside of Australia, can I still work with you?

Definitely! We work with different brands from all around the globe including clients from the US, UK, and New Zealand.

What product types can you help design and produce?

We specialise in commercial design for Ladieswear, Kidswear, and Menswear, covering various categories including: Ready-to-wear Leisurewear Activewear Swimwear Loungewear Tailoring Resort wear This includes both straight and plus-size product categories. In addition, we provide design services for textile home linens such as napkins, bedding, robes, and towels. We also cater to soft accessories like tote bags, canvas bags, caps, beanies, stockings, and socks.

Can you send me a list of brands you've worked with?

As a private agency, we prioritise client confidentiality and sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) with our clients. This means we cannot disclose specific brand names or designs without their explicit permission. However, we take pride in our commitment to excellence in design, sampling, and production. You can often find tagged references to our clients on our social media platforms, and we regularly update our website with examples of our designs and projects for you to explore.

How much will the entire collection cost?

The total cost of your collection can vary significantly based on several factors, including design complexity, materials, production methods, and quantity. It's difficult to provide an accurate estimate without understanding your specific designs. Once you complete the design development with us and provide detailed information about your collection, we can offer a more precise quote. It’s essential to factor in costs for sampling, production, logistics, and any additional branding services you may require.

How much do you charge & what are your payment terms?

For Project-based work, including consultations, tech-pack projects, fitting consultations, sampling reports, or process/system training, we charge AUD $150-$180+GST per hour. We require a minimum of 1-hour time frame for remote consultations and a 2-hour minimum for in-office consultations. For our Retainer Service, the price varies depending on your service selection. It ranges from AUD $180 to AUD $200+GST per hour, with no minimum requirements for consultation time or bookings. We provide flexible payment terms, including installment options, tailored to the scope of work and selected services.

What is the typical timeline for launching a new collection?

The lead time can vary greatly depending on the complexity of your designs and the production process. On average, it can take anywhere from 7 to 12 months from the initial design phase to final production. Here’s an approximate timeline: Design Brief, Range Plan, Preparing for Techpacks: 2-6 weeks Tech Packs: 1-2 weeks Sourcing Suppliers or Fabric/Trims: 1-2 weeks (If required) Sampling: 30-90 days (depending on the number of samples required, number of sample rounds, and country of manufacturing) Production & QC: 1-3 months (depending on country of manufacture, time of year and customisations) Logistics / Freight of Bulk: 2-6 weeks depending if air or sea freight Please note that we are not able to control unforseen delays with custom manufacturing's essential to plan accordingly and build flexibility into your timeline.

Services

I only need assistance with one or some of your service areas. Can you still help?

Of course! We can customise your service proposal or retainer depending on the extent of support you need from us. It’s a flexible and transparent discussion around which areas of expertise you need and how we can achieve your goals as a team. Our retainers can be customised to align with your business needs and requirements. Before commencing the retainer, we will request you to specify the areas where you need support. Based on this information, we will create a suggested retainer plan. We also offer project-based services for specific areas such as tech packs, sampling reports, and fashion branding.

How does the retainer service work?

A retainer agreement is a short-term or long-term work-for-hire contract between a company and a client that retains ongoing services. We provide custom packages from 30 to 60 hours or ongoing retainers billable by time and material. Our retainer suggestion is dependent on the phase and support required in your business. Collaboration with someone who understands your brand deeply not only saves time but also leads to a better quality of work. With priority access to our team, booking time in advance becomes less challenging with more transparency as we provide detailed time records in comparison to a fixed bundle fee.

What if we go overtime with the retainer?

If we find that your project requires more hours than what is allocated in your retainer, you have a couple of options. You can purchase additional hours on an as-needed basis, or you can upgrade to a larger retainer package that better aligns with your project scope. This ensures we continue to provide support without delays. Don't worry, we do regular monitoring of your retainer's consumption and will communicate any additional costs that may arise.

Do I still make final decisions even though you are communicating with the suppliers?

Yes, even though Spec to Sample represents your brand, all final decisions remain in your hands. If you prefer, you can stay in the loop at all times by being CC'd on our communications. We are here to guide you, offering suggestions and options to help you make the most feasible and commercially viable decisions for your business.

Do you offer direct connection to your trusted factories?

Yes, we do. However, this offering is exclusively available for clients with an established brand or industry background. The one-time connect package includes a referral to our trusted factories, along with a minimum number of retainer hours if required. For new brands, this ensures you receive ongoing guidance from our team of experts, helping you successfully navigate the entire process while leveraging our extended supplier network.

Manufacturing

Where are your manufacturers located?

We work with a wide range of our most reliable offshore manufacturers from China, India, and Indonesia. In addition, we have a small handful of reliable connections in the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Turkey, and other locations around the world, depending on the project, scope of work, and minimum order quantity (MOQ).

Are your factories and suppliers ethical?

Yes, our manufacturers and suppliers undergo an intensive vetting process to ensure they adhere to ethical and sustainable practices. When you work with Spec to Sample, we provide a Factory Bio containing comprehensive information about the manufacturer for full transparency. We recommend that each client conducts their own due diligence, as suppliers are referred based on your supplied brief. Additionally, we regularly travel to visit our suppliers twice a year to build long-term relationships and collaborate on our clients' projects on-site alongside our extended team in each factory.

Do you visit your suppliers? If so, how often do you visit them?

Yes, we do! We have a small but humble supplier network that we have built over the last 8-9 years and we can proudly say we have visited each of the factory facilities including some of their key partners for printing, fabrics, trims, and embellishments over the last 6 years. Our aim is to travel to see suppliers twice annually depending on country and business or client commitments.

Do they offer samples before the full production run?

Yes. Once the quotation is accepted, our manufacturers will provide samples to ensure the product meets your expectations before proceeding with bulk production. However, if you’re requesting customized trims, hardware, or materials, the samples may use substitute colours until you're ready to place a deposit for bulk production.

What are the costs involved in manufacturing a product?

Manufacturing costs are influenced by several factors, including fabric selection, trims, labour, and Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs). These costs typically cover design development, fabric sourcing, sampling rounds, production, and logistics (freight). Sampling costs, in particular, can fluctuate based on the number of rounds required to perfect your product. Additional expenses may include custom packaging, labelling, and testing requirements. We’ll provide a clear breakdown of these costs to help you budget effectively. Ultimately, costs can vary widely depending on the complexity of your design, the materials used, and the country of production.

Technical

What is a Tech-Pack and why do I need one?

A tech pack is a document that serves as a blueprint of your product and contains all the details needed to explain the design to a manufacturer. This vital communication tool ensures that the garments are made accurately down to the very last detail. A tech pack helps with accurate price quotations, is used to monitor and improve the fit, and serves as the basis for quality control.

When would a garment technician be necessary?

A garment technician ensures that your design specifications are accurately translated into physical garments. This role becomes particularly crucial for specialised products such as swimwear, where fit, construction, and fabric properties are critical to the product's performance. A garment technician's expertise helps reduce costly revisions and ensures that the foundational fit blocks are established correctly. They make subsequent collections easier to produce with consistent quality.

Why do I need to provide reference samples? Isn’t this copying?

Reference samples are not intended for copying designs but act as a visual guide to communicate your desired fit, silhouette, and construction techniques. They assist our designers and manufacturers in understanding your vision more clearly. We emphasize the importance of using reference samples appropriately and ethically to maintain originality in your designs.

I already have technical drawings. Can you complete my tech packs?

Yes, you can provide your technical drawings for us to review. We will ensure that they meet the industry standards required for tech packs. If necessary, we may adjust them to include all essential details for production, such as construction specifications, materials, and measurements.

Branding

What fashion branding services do you offer?

Our fashion branding services encompass a wide range of offerings, including the design of swing tags, main labels, care labels, and custom packaging. We can also create branded collateral such as tote bags, polybags, tissue paper, and boxes. Our goal is to help you establish a cohesive and professional brand presence that resonates with your target market.

What do I need to provide to engage in your fashion branding & packaging design services?

To get started with our branding services, you will need to supply us with: A brand style guide that outlines your brand’s visual identity Complete branding brief detailing your requirements, editable font files, vector logo files, and any custom copy you want included This foundational information allows us to present your branding and packaging consistently and effectively.

What is a Brand Style guide? Why do I need one?

A brand style guide serves as a comprehensive rulebook that defines every aspect of your brand's visual identity, including logo usage, colour schemes, typography, and tone of voice. Having a well-defined brand style guide ensures that your branding is consistent across all platforms and materials, which helps build brand recognition and trust with your audience.

Can you organise the sourcing and production of the custom packaging?

Yes, we can facilitate the sourcing and production of your custom packaging solutions. Our team has expertise in various packaging materials and techniques. We work with trusted partners to deliver high-quality packaging that meets your brand's standards and needs.

Sourcing

What do I need to provide to engage your sourcing services?

To engage our sourcing services, we will need the following information: A detailed description of the product you are looking to source Your target budget for both our services and the product/fabric/trim Your target timeline Any specific requirements you have, such as environmental or ethical standards An indication of the quantity of product you require Any relevant documentation or certifications Your contact information, including your full name, company name, and contact details.

What would the process be if I decided to include custom printed fabrics in my pieces?

You have two main options for custom prints: purchasing licenses for existing designs or creating your own. If you choose to develop custom prints, we’ll work with you to design and refine the artwork. Once finalised, we’ll coordinate with our factory partners to produce high-quality prints on your chosen fabric, managing timelines and costs efficiently.

Is it fine to start reaching out to factories prior to having the required documents?

It’s best to wait until you have all the required documents before contacting factories. Reaching out without proper documentation may make you appear unprepared and could affect your credibility with suppliers.

It has been 3 months since I contacted the supplier; what I wanted is now out of stock. What should I do?

If the fabric, trim, or product you were interested in is out of stock, reach out to your supplier to explore alternative options. Additionally, checking with other suppliers may yield similar items. If necessary, consider other alternatives or options that may fit your design specifications to keep your project on schedule.

Should I be getting a sampling quote and production quote from factories I reach out to?

Yes, it’s highly recommended to request both sampling and production quotes from the factories you contact. Be sure to share details about your desired production units per style or color. This enables them to provide accurate quotes tailored to your needs.

Should I have factories sign an NDA before sending them the tech packs?

All of our factories sign NDAs with us to protect our clients' designs. For external suppliers, it’s your choice to request an NDA. However, some suppliers may only agree to this after formal sampling or production begins. It’s worth discussing with them to ensure your intellectual property is protected.

Sampling

What are sampling rounds? How much do they cost?

Sampling rounds are the various stages of producing samples for your designs before bulk production. Costs can vary based on the stage of development; for example, Digital Proto Samples can range from $150-500 AUD per design, while Fit Samples typically cost 2-3 times the FOB or EXW bulk unit price per style. It’s essential to budget for these samples as they play a critical role in ensuring your final product meets your standards. At Spec to Sample, we provide expert guidance throughout this process.

Do the sampling reports include the cost to produce the sample?

No, sampling reports do not include the costs associated with producing the samples. We do not include third-party costs in our pricing; you will pay suppliers directly for sampling and production services.

Do we need to go through the sampling report process?

Yes, going through the sampling report process is necessary as it helps ensure effective communication with the factory. Most factories require these reports to document any changes made during the sampling rounds. This helps to avoid mistakes in production.