What Is a Pre-Production Sample and Why Does It Matter?
A pre-production sample, often called a PP sample or PPS, is a garment made with the fabric, trims and construction intended for bulk production. You review it before production begins, and once approved, it serves alongside the final specifications as a reference for the order.
What Should a Pre-Production Sample Include?
By the time you reach the PP stage, the main design and fit decisions should already be settled. The sample should bring those decisions together using the fabric, color, buttons, labels and finishing planned for production.
Earlier samples may have used whatever materials were available while you worked on the shape or fit. That can be useful during development, but the final materials still need to be checked together. A different elastic, for example, may change how a waistband feels even when its measurements stay the same.
The sample should also reflect the construction and finishing methods planned for bulk production. Any temporary substitute needs to be clearly identified and accepted by the buyer, with an agreed way to approve the final component before the affected production step begins. Some buyers do not permit substitutions at the PP stage.
Why Does a Pre-Production Sample Matter?
It helps you catch problems while changes are still manageable
A sample can look right at first glance and still need a small adjustment. A button-front opening, for example, might pull when you move, even though it sits neatly on a hanger. The PP review is a chance to catch a remaining issue like this before it is repeated across the order.
Once the fabric has been cut and sewing is underway, the same adjustment may require rework across many garments. Resolving it at the sample stage can avoid that disruption.
It brings the final decisions into one place
During development, you might shorten a sleeve after one fitting and change a label position after another. If those updates remain in separate messages, it becomes harder to tell which version the factory should follow.
Reviewing the PP sample alongside the latest clothing tech pack brings those decisions together. The garment should match the written instructions, and any difference should be resolved before you approve it.
It gives the factory a clear reference
Some qualities are easier to understand from a garment than from a written description. You can feel the fabric, see how the collar sits and compare the overall proportions.
Once approved, the sample gives the production team a garment to refer to when checking details such as collar shape, stitching and finishing. It should remain clearly identified and available alongside the final specifications.
How Is a PP Sample Different from Other Garment Samples?
If you have already approved a fit sample, another sample may seem unnecessary. But fit approval may leave details such as final trims, decoration or labels still to be confirmed. Each sample has a different job.
| Sample type | What it helps you confirm |
|---|---|
| Proto sample | The basic design, shape and construction approach |
| Fit sample | Measurements, proportions and how the garment fits |
| Size set | How the fit and grading work across the agreed sizes |
| PP sample | The complete version intended for bulk production |
| TOP sample | Whether garments from early production match the approved reference |
The names and sequence can vary between suppliers. During custom pajama sampling, for example, one sample may be used to review several details together. Agree with the factory on what is being approved at each stage.
What Should You Check Before Approving a PP Sample?
Start with the garment itself, then compare it with the latest specifications and approved material references. A sample may look familiar after several rounds of development, so it helps to review it systematically.
| Area | Details to review | Useful reference |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric and color | Composition, weight, hand feel, finish and shade | Fabric specifications, approved swatches and test reports where needed |
| Measurements and fit | Dimensions, proportions, ease and movement | Size chart, tolerances and fit comments |
| Construction | Seams, stitching, hems and reinforcement | Construction notes and workmanship requirements |
| Trims and decoration | Buttons, zippers, elastic, artwork and placement | Approved trims and artwork |
| Labels and packaging | Content, position, size identification and packing | Label files and packing instructions |
| Required performance | Applicable wash and other test results | Agreed methods and acceptance criteria |
Compare the recorded measurements with the specifications, then assess the garment on the intended fit model. Check how it sits and moves, as well as whether the dimensions fall within tolerance.
Appearance alone cannot confirm how well a print will survive washing or whether a color will bleed. Where testing is required, review results for the relevant material or garment and agreed test method. Keep an untested reference sample if testing changes the garment.
How Do You Approve a PP Sample?
Once you have reviewed the sample, send the factory one clear set of comments. Specific feedback is easier to act on: if a pocket needs moving, show its intended position on a marked photo or drawing rather than describing it as “a little too low.”
The approval record should identify the style, sample, size, color and latest specification version, along with the decision, approver and date. It should also make clear which colors and sizes are covered. One sample should not leave either side guessing about the rest of the order.
If changes are needed, agree on how they will be checked. A revised label file may be enough to confirm a text correction, while a change to fabric or fit may need another physical sample. Any conditional approval should explain what the factory can begin and what must wait.
What Happens After Approval?
The approved sample and final instructions should stay available to the production team. If a material or construction detail later changes, the brand and factory need to review its effect and decide whether a new sample or other confirmation is needed.
The factory still needs to check the bulk garments against the approved sample and specifications. Fabric shade, measurements and stitching can vary during production, so checks during sewing and before shipment help identify differences that need attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every color and size need a separate PP sample?
Not necessarily; the buyer's requirements and differences between variants determine the coverage. A size set can help confirm grading, while another color, print or fabric may need its own sample or supporting evidence.
Can you approve a PP sample from photos?
Photos and video can help you review visible details, such as label placement or stitching, when the buyer accepts that approval method. Hand feel, fit and comfort need assessment of the physical garment; performance requirements should be checked through the relevant test results.
How long does a PP sample take, and what does it cost?
Timing depends on whether the final materials are ready, the garment construction and any revisions required. Confirm a schedule that allows for sample making, testing, delivery and your review. Ask the factory to quote the PP sample separately and clarify whether materials, decoration, testing and courier charges are included.
Do repeat orders need a new PP sample?
An unchanged style may follow a shorter approval process, depending on the buyer's rules. Changes to fabric, trims, specifications or the manufacturing setup should be reviewed before relying on the previous sample.
Before You Give Approval
A useful final question is whether you would be comfortable receiving the order made to this sample and its agreed specifications. If you are still expecting a different fabric, fit or finish, make that difference clear before giving the factory the go-ahead.
KoalaPurr supports sample development and manufacturing for sleepwear and loungewear collections. You can explore our development and manufacturing process when planning your next style.
