Short answer: sampling takes 3–7 days depending on complexity; bulk production takes 20–30 days after sample approval and deposit; fibre composition and testing are confirmed against your specific order requirements; and an e-brochure is free on request.
These are the four questions that decide whether an order lands on time. Getting clear answers early is what keeps a delivery date achievable.
Q9: Can I get a sample first? How long does it take?
Yes, samples are available. Sampling usually takes 3–7 days, depending on:
- Complexity of the style — a plain rib crew neck is at the fast end; an intricate jacquard with multiple colours sits at the slow end
- Whether the yarn is in stock — this is the variable buyers most often overlook
- Whether the artwork needs work — a jacquard design has to be translated into a knit program before a single stitch is made
The yarn caveat is worth stating plainly. If your colour is not an existing stock yarn, it has to be dyed or spun first. That happens before sampling starts. So the honest answer to “how long is a sample” is: 3–7 days for the knitting, plus yarn lead time if the colour is custom. We will give you the expected date when we confirm the sample order, rather than letting you discover the difference later.
Sample cost and courier charges are advised at the time of the request.
How to make sampling faster
- Send a physical reference sample, not only a photo — we can read gauge, yarn and structure directly
- Confirm the colour reference in a standard system (swatch, Pantone, or a yarn hanger) rather than a screen colour
- Give the exact measurements, or your size chart, with the sample request
- Confirm packaging and labelling at the same time, not after sampling
Q10: What is the lead time for bulk orders?
For bulk orders, the lead time is 20–30 days.
That clock starts after two things: sample approval and receipt of the deposit. A purchase order that arrives before the sample is approved does not start the clock — this is the most common source of a date that slips.
What pushes a bulk order past 30 days
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Peak season | Knitting capacity across the Dongguan cluster tightens; book earlier than you think you need to |
| Special materials | Custom-dyed yarn, cashmere or unusual fibre blends add yarn lead time ahead of production |
| Complex construction | Hand-linking, intarsia, heavy embroidery and multiple colourways add operations per unit |
| Late approval changes | Any change after approval restarts part of the process |
| Many colourways in one order | Small dye lots per colour reduce efficiency and extend the run |
The exact timeframe depends on the specific order details, and we confirm it in writing on the proforma invoice rather than leaving it to memory.
Q4: Are your products certified?
Fibre composition and any required testing are confirmed against your specific order requirements, and we can arrange third-party testing to the standard your market needs.
“Are you certified?” is the wrong question to ask a knitwear factory, because “certified” has no single meaning in apparel. The useful question is: which certificate or test report does your buyer require?
Commonly requested, and what they actually cover:
- Fibre content analysis — verifies the composition stated on the care label matches the garment. Essential for wool and cashmere claims, and a frequent target for customs and retail audits
- Colourfastness — to washing, rubbing and light. Matters most for deep and saturated colours
- Pilling resistance — relevant for wool and wool-blend knitwear that will be worn against other garments
- Dimensional stability — shrinkage after washing, and whether the garment holds its measured size
- Restricted substances — for markets with chemical compliance regimes, and increasingly written into brand specifications
Tell us which of these your buyer needs at the quotation stage. Testing is ordered against the production lot and adds lead time, so it belongs in the plan from the start rather than the week before shipment.
Q5: Can you provide brochures?
Yes — we offer a free e-brochure covering our current knitwear developments, yarn options and factory information.
Please leave your email address and we will send it over. If you need something more specific than the general brochure, tell us your product category and target market and we will put together a tailored selection instead — for example, women's jacquard pullovers for the German market, or men's cable-knit for the UK.
Planning checklist
| Stage | Time | Depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Quotation | On receipt of full specification | Drawing/sample, yarn spec, quantity, packaging, market |
| Sampling | 3–7 days | Style complexity, yarn in stock or to be dyed |
| Sample approval | Your side | Your internal sign-off |
| Testing | Adds lead time | Which reports your buyer requires |
| Bulk production | 20–30 days | Sample approval + deposit received |
| Shipping | Per incoterm | EXW / FOB / CIF / DDP; Guangzhou or Shenzhen |
Send us the target delivery date and we will work the timeline backwards and tell you where the risk sits. Full answers to all our standard questions are on FAQ page; to start a specific enquiry, use contact us.
Related reading: ordering, quotations and trade terms, and what we manufacture and how custom development works.