Case Study: Custom Latex Swimming Cap for a Railway Operator in Kenya
Latex Swimming Cap for a Railway Operator in Kenya
A Railway Operator approached us with a latex swimming cap requirement for Kenya. 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
- Unclear responsibility when a defect shows up after washing
- Inconsistent sizing between production runs

What we specified
| Product | Latex Swimming Cap |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Railway Operator |
| Market | Kenya |
| Order volume | 5,000 pieces across 6 colourways |
| Base fabric | UPF 50+ Sun Fabric |
| Decoration | Snow Wash |
| Size range | S-4XL |
| Sampling rounds | 2 |
| Delivery window | 5 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the tech pack around UPF 50+ Sun Fabric and locked shrinkage allowance before grading.
- Decoration was moved to Snow Wash 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
- 5,000 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 2.0%.
- 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.



