Case Study: Custom Silk Flower Brooches for a Department Store Buyer in Portugal
Silk Flower Brooches for a Department Store Buyer in Portugal
A Department Store Buyer approached us with a silk flower brooches requirement for Portugal. 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
- Packaging that arrives crushed and unsellable
- Suppliers who disappear once the deposit is paid

What we specified
| Product | Silk Flower Brooches |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Department Store Buyer |
| Market | Portugal |
| Order volume | 800 pieces across 2 colourways |
| Base fabric | Corduroy |
| Decoration | Flocking |
| Size range | 2-12Y |
| Sampling rounds | 3 |
| Delivery window | 5 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the tech pack around Corduroy and locked shrinkage allowance before grading.
- Decoration was moved to Flocking 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 5-week window.
- Unit cost held within 1.5% of the original quotation.
- Return rate linked to fit or workmanship stayed under 0.5%.
- The specification is now on file, so reorders reproduce the approved sample.
What we would repeat
Approve a pre-production sample from the actual bulk fabric. Proto cloth behaves differently in cutting and washing.

Planning something similar?
Share a reference photo or a sample garment and we will reverse-engineer the specification for your own label.



