Case Study: Custom Grey Beanie for a Public School District in the United States
Source:Grey Beanie /
Time:2026-09-18
Grey Beanie for a Public School District in the United States
A Public School District approached us with a grey beanie requirement for the United States. 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
- Long lead times that miss the selling season
- Color drift between lab dips and bulk fabric
- Inconsistent sizing between production runs
What we specified
| Product | Grey Beanie |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Public School District |
| Market | the United States |
| Order volume | 8,000 pieces across 4 colourways |
| Base fabric | Viscose |
| Decoration | Screen Printing |
| Size range | XS-3XL |
| Sampling rounds | 3 |
| Delivery window | 5 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the tech pack around Viscose and locked shrinkage allowance before grading.
- Decoration was moved to Screen 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
- 8,000 pieces delivered inside the 5-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
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.
