Case Study: Custom Dobok Martial Arts Wear for a Fast-Growing Startup Label in New Zealand
Dobok Martial Arts Wear for a Fast-Growing Startup Label in New Zealand
A Fast-Growing Startup Label approached us with a dobok martial arts wear requirement for New Zealand. 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
- Minimum order quantities far above what a growing brand can absorb
- Inconsistent sizing between production runs
- Packaging that arrives crushed and unsellable

What we specified
| Product | Dobok Martial Arts Wear |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Fast-Growing Startup Label |
| Market | New Zealand |
| Order volume | 800 pieces across 3 colourways |
| Base fabric | 3-Layer Waterproof Fabric |
| Decoration | Smocking |
| Size range | 2-12Y |
| Sampling rounds | 2 |
| Delivery window | 6 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the tech pack around 3-Layer Waterproof Fabric and locked shrinkage allowance before grading.
- Decoration was moved to Smocking 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 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?
Tell us the quantity, target price and delivery window, and we will build a customisation programme around those three numbers.



