A womenswear garment travels through six stages from sketch to shipment. Styles differ, but the structure is the same:
Stage 1: Style review and quotation (1–3 days)
You send the factory your tech pack, reference images or a sample garment. The factory assesses style complexity, workmanship difficulty and the fabric and trim options, then comes back with feasibility notes and a quote. The quality of this step matters — a good factory will flag the pitfalls (say, an embroidery that won't hold on your chosen fabric) instead of quietly taking the order.
Stage 2: Pattern-making and first sample (about 3–5 days)
The pattern-maker drafts the pattern from your tech pack, then cuts and sews the first sample. Basic styles come in at about 3–5 days; complex ones (heavily worked styles, beading, 3D cutting) take longer. The first sample is shipped to you for review — the single most important approval point in the whole process: fit, measurements, fabric hand and construction details all get locked here. If the first sample doesn't match, revisions should be free until it is approved; one revision round usually takes 1–3 days.
Stage 3: Fabric and trim sourcing (runs parallel with Stage 2, subject to stock)
Fabric is either in-stock or made to order. In-stock fabric can be scheduled immediately; made-to-order fabric has a production lead time (commonly 2–4 weeks). Small batches usually use in-stock fabric or market pooling; for bulk, made-to-order fabric should be locked as soon as the first sample is approved — the single biggest hidden bottleneck in peak season.
Stage 4: PP sample approval (3–7 days)
Before bulk cutting starts, one pre-production sample is made in the bulk fabric and trims. Its purpose is to move the "reference point" from the tech pack to a physical garment: once both sides sign it off, the PP sample becomes the acceptance standard for the bulk order. Many quality disputes happen because this step was skipped.
Stage 5: Bulk production (by quantity and workmanship)
Cutting only begins after first-piece approval. Cutting → sewing → in-line inspection → finishing → piece-by-piece pressing → 100% final inspection. At this stage a good factory proactively updates you at each milestone (fabric in, cutting done, finishing past halfway, inspection starting) so you don't have to chase the order every day.
Stage 6: Inspection and shipment
Full or sampling inspection to AQL standards or an agreed standard, with customer on-site inspection or third-party inspection supported. Then shipping on the agreed terms: domestic logistics, or EXW/FOB with customs clearance and a freight forwarder arranged.
Lead-time reference table
| Stage | Typical lead time | Common bottleneck |
|---|---|---|
| Style review and quotation | 1–3 days | Incomplete information, repeated back-and-forth |
| Pattern-making + first sample | 3–5 days (revisions extra) | Slow feedback on approval, too many revision rounds |
| Fabric and trims in-house | In-stock: immediate / made-to-order: 2–4 weeks | Fabric tight in peak season, colour approval dragged out |
| PP sample approval | 3–7 days | Acceptance criteria never discussed |
| Bulk production | 10–20 days, by quantity and workmanship | Slot not booked in advance |
| Inspection and shipment | 2–5 days | Inspection booked too late |
At LIUYU's pace: once the first sample is approved, the bulk production slot is locked into the contract, and the fabric, cutting, finishing and inspection milestones are updated proactively — time management, at bottom, means every stage gets exactly one confirmation.