Case Study: Custom Winter Leg Warmers for an Airline Catering Team in New Zealand
Winter Leg Warmers for an Airline Catering Team in New Zealand
An Airline Catering Team approached us with a winter leg warmers 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
- Suppliers who disappear once the deposit is paid
- Minimum order quantities far above what a growing brand can absorb
- Long lead times that miss the selling season

What we specified
| Product | Winter Leg Warmers |
|---|---|
| Client type | An Airline Catering Team |
| Market | New Zealand |
| Order volume | 1,200 pieces across 6 colourways |
| Base fabric | Stretch Denim |
| Decoration | Chenille Embroidery |
| Size range | 2-12Y |
| Sampling rounds | 3 |
| Delivery window | 6 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
How it was resolved
- We rebuilt the tech pack around Stretch Denim and locked shrinkage allowance before grading.
- Decoration was moved to Chenille Embroidery 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
- 1,200 pieces delivered inside the 6-week window.
- Unit cost held within 3.0% of the original quotation.
- Return rate linked to fit or workmanship stayed under 1.5%.
- 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.



