Case Study: Custom One-Shoulder Maxi Dress for a Department Store Buyer in Spain
Source:One-Shoulder Maxi Dress /
Time:2026-09-18
One-Shoulder Maxi Dress for a Department Store Buyer in Spain
A Department Store Buyer approached us with a one-shoulder maxi dress requirement for Spain. The brief was specific: a defined look, a hard launch date and a unit cost that had to survive shipping and duty. This case study records what was specified, what went wrong in sampling and how the bulk order was delivered.
The challenge
- Color drift between lab dips and bulk fabric
- Inconsistent sizing between production runs
- Long lead times that miss the selling season
What we specified
| Product | One-Shoulder Maxi Dress |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Department Store Buyer |
| Market | Spain |
| Order volume | 800 pieces across 6 colourways |
| Base fabric | Recycled Nylon |
| Decoration | Heat Transfer Printing |
| Size range | Custom grading |
| Sampling rounds | 4 |
| Delivery window | 6 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the tech pack around Recycled Nylon and locked shrinkage allowance before grading.
- Decoration was moved to Heat Transfer Printing after strike-off tests showed better wash durability.
- A pre-production sample was approved and retained as the golden reference.
- Production ran with in-line inspection and a mid-run photo report.
- Cartons were packed to the client's own barcode and size ratio specification.
Result
- 800 pieces delivered inside the 6-week window.
- Unit cost held within 4.5% of the original quotation.
- Return rate linked to fit or workmanship stayed under 2.0%.
- The specification is now on file, so reorders reproduce the approved sample.
What we would repeat
Keep one process owner on both sides. Most delays come from hand-offs, not from machines.
Planning something similar?
Tell us the quantity, target price and delivery window, and we will build a customisation programme around those three numbers.
