Linen Womenswear: Sample and Reorder Checklist

For a linen womenswear collection, a useful supplier discussion starts with the actual garment: its fabric, fit, finish and intended care method. A material swatch alone does not establish how the finished style will look, feel or measure.

This guide sets out the questions to resolve before approving a sample and repeating an order. It supports our custom linen apparel service; it is a development checklist, not a claim that every linen fabric requires the same treatment. For a broader look at fabric sourcing and garment options, see linen womenswear development with TUER.

1. Agree the Fabric and Quotation Basis

What material has actually been selected?

Record composition, fabric reference, weight, width, colour and finish where available. State whether you want pure linen or a blend. Use an approved physical reference for handfeel and appearance rather than relying only on a screen image.

What does the price include?

Ask for the quotation to identify the style, fabric, trims, construction, quantities, labels and packing assumptions. Fabric weight alone cannot determine the price of a finished garment; consumption, lining, detailing and processing also need review. A design estimate should be reconfirmed after sample approval.

Which details are still undecided?

List open decisions such as lining, washing, artwork, colours or size range. Ask which decisions must be settled before ordering materials or scheduling production. This gives both teams a shared record of what the estimate covers.

Use the intended care method and the actual material when reviewing dimensional stability, appearance and fit. Agree what will be checked and how approval will be recorded before bulk cutting.

How will shrinkage and finished measurements be checked?

Ask the team to review dimensional change for the selected fabric and proposed care method. Record the measurement points, sample condition and agreed tolerances. Fabric relaxation, pre-shrinking or garment washing should be chosen for the project; do not assume one universal shrinkage percentage or treatment.

Does the sample provide the required coverage and movement?

Assess opacity in the intended colour and review whether lining is needed. Check the neckline, armholes, waist and length while wearing and moving in the sample. For modest designs, specify coverage directly rather than relying on the word “modest” alone. See our modest womenswear development page.

Which construction and finish have been approved?

Review seam appearance, edge finishing, closures, pockets and hems. Specify any lining or reinforcement requirements. If washing, softening, printing or embroidery is part of the design, assess the relevant sample or strike-off and record the approved finish before bulk processing.

A repeat order still needs a clear specification. Use the previous approved sample and documents as references, then identify anything that has changed.

Confirm the material and version

Check whether the same fabric reference, colour, trims and finish are available. If a substitute is proposed, review it explicitly; a similar description does not make it the same approved material. Record the current pattern and measurement-chart version.

Confirm quantities and inspection requirements

Provide the new colour and size breakdown. Note recurring fit comments or workmanship points from the previous order and agree what needs checking this time. Read about our quality assurance process and specify any required tests or inspection criteria before production.

Confirm the schedule in working days

At TUER, repeat orders typically take 15–30 working days, depending on quantity, with the schedule confirmed for each order. Sample development takes 10–15 working days after all sample details are confirmed. First-order production takes 30–45 working days after order details and styles are confirmed, the deposit is received and fabric is ready. Sampling and shipping are separate from the production lead time.

Changes to materials, colours, construction or sizing should be reviewed when confirming the new schedule. Do not base a launch date only on the timing of a previous order.

4. Prepare an Approval Record Before Production

• Approved fabric, colour, trims and finish references.
• Approved sample and dated fit comments.
• Measurement chart, grading instructions and tolerances.
• Quantity breakdown by style, colour and size.
• Labels, care information and packaging requirements.
• Inspection requirements, delivery destination and agreed schedule.

Keep open points clearly marked rather than treating silence as approval. For a new project, send your linen development brief with the information you already have. Our team can review which details need to be resolved next.