Statement Cycling Short in Silk with Mother-of-Pearl Buttons
Statement Cycling Short in Silk with Mother-of-Pearl Buttons
A Wholesale Distributor approached us to develop a statement cycling short around a single idea: mother-of-pearl buttons, executed in silk. The capsule was destined for Kenya and needed statement finishing that reads designer on the rail while staying repeatable in bulk. This case study records the brief, the specification and the delivery.
The challenge
- Unit costs were too high for a boutique price point
- Delivery missed the collection launch window
- Decoration durability failed after two washes

What we specified
| Product | Statement Cycling Short |
|---|---|
| Client type | A Wholesale Distributor |
| Market | Kenya |
| Order volume | 900 pieces across 4 colourways |
| Base material | Silk |
| Signature detail | Mother-of-Pearl Buttons |
| Size range | XS-XL |
| Sampling rounds | 2 |
| Delivery window | 10 weeks from PO to ex-factory |
| Compliance | BSCI |
How it was built
- Reference garments and moodboards were translated into a measurement spec, not just photos.
- Silk was confirmed with lab dips and a hand-feel approval before grading.
- The cycling short was prototyped on the fit model, then revised twice before pre-production.
- Mother-of-Pearl Buttons was applied in a controlled process to keep every piece consistent.
- Bulk ran with in-line inspection; a photo report was shared before shipment.

Result
- 900 pieces delivered inside the 10-week window.
- Unit cost held within 2.0% of the approved quotation.
- The a Wholesale Distributor launched on schedule and reordered the same specification next season.
What we would repeat
Keep one process owner on both sides. Most delays come from hand-offs, not machines.

Planning a similar capsule?
Send us your tech pack or even a rough sketch — we will come back with fabric options, a costed sample plan and a realistic production calendar.



