Case Study: Custom Second Hand Clothes Fashion for a Military Supply Unit in China

Second Hand Clothes Fashion for a Military Supply Unit in China

A Military Supply Unit approached us with a second hand clothes fashion requirement for China. 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
• Color drift between lab dips and bulk fabric
• No reliable way to track a order once it enters production

What we specified

How it was resolved

1. We rebuilt the tech pack around Tencel Cotton Blend and locked shrinkage allowance before grading.
2. Decoration was moved to Hangtag and Packaging after strike-off tests showed better wash durability.
3. A pre-production sample was approved and retained as the golden reference.
4. Production ran with in-line inspection and a mid-run photo report.
5. Cartons were packed to the client's own barcode and size ratio specification.

Result

• 500 pieces delivered inside the 12-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.