The Advantages of the Sample Maker

One of the most interesting questions that come when you are working in the apparel business. Who is a sample maker? A sample maker is an essential member of your tribe as a designer-entrepreneur. They’re in charge of sewing the design from your pattern to find any flaws before it’s put into production. Following the creation of a pattern, the prototype (also known as the “model numero uno” of your outfit) is sewn. To sew your samples, they collaborate closely with the pattern developer and designer. Here is a failsafe strategy to follow as a designer and business for final garment triumph.

With the sample maker, the king of ace for the business is also a quality grade industrial sewing machine which makes the collective task of sample making easy and efficient. Here are some steps required for a professional sample maker – 

The entry stage

Make sure your sample maker has all of the necessary attachments, trims, and materials. It’s best to avoid giving black and white cloth because it’s difficult to notice flaws and photograph for fit feedback. To assess for fit, the sample maker will sew a first brief sample, commonly referred to as a muslin. While you and the pattern maker discuss any fit alterations that need to be made to the pattern, the fit model will try on the outfit. If possible, invite the sample maker and pattern maker to the fitting process, and listen to their suggestions for enhancing the production design. The professional sample maker knows the use of tailoring tools {commercial sewing machines}

Final selection

The sample maker manufactures a perfect (or almost perfect) prototype sample after the fit and other details, such as pocket placements, are finalized. Don’t forget to double-check that the tech pack contains all of the completed details. Here are some points to remember for professional sample makers – 

To stitch the outside and finish the inside of your garment, find a certified sample maker with the necessary machinery [commercial sewing machines]. They should have worked with sample orders for production orders, not merely home stitching — the two are not the same! Inquire about references — then double-check them!

Any key concerns and missed specifics about how the sample should be copied for production must be written directly on the sample with masking tape if the sample maker cannot make an exact replication of the final sample (the prototype). The factory will next closely follow the prototype and create a counter sample using it as a reference.

Always request an extra sample from the sample manufacturer to keep for yourself as a reference.

Your professional sample maker should be well-versed in construction and seams terminology. Make sure your tech pack accurately represents the instructions and have them review it.

The majority of pattern makers prefer to work with a sample maker. If the sample maker is unable to utilize the appropriate machinery for a particular stitch or construction, the fault must be explicitly marked on the final prototype.