Check a uniform sample for colour, fit and crest placement, because those are the three things parents and staff notice first. Then do a uniform quality check on delivery against that approved sample: count by size, open a few pieces from each carton, and compare them side by side with the sample you signed off.
Why the sample is your reference
Bulk production follows the sample you approve. That makes the sample the most useful quality tool you have. Anything you accept on the sample will be repeated across every piece, and anything you ask us to change before approval will be changed in bulk. Take your time with it, and check it in daylight as well as indoor light.
Keep the approved sample after bulk arrives. It is the standard every delivered piece is compared with. Label it clearly, store it away from shop stock, and keep a note of any comments you made when you approved it, so you can check that those points were carried through.
Sample checklist
Work through these points on the sample before you approve it.
Colour
- Hold the sample against your swatch or the current uniform in daylight.
- Check shirts, trousers and skirts together if they are meant to be worn as a set. Navy and grey can look different side by side.
- For poly-viscose suiting, check the colour from more than one angle, because its smoother surface can catch light differently.
Fit and measurements
- Measure chest, length, waist and inside leg against the size chart you will publish.
- Try the sample on a child or adult of that size if you can. Watch how the collar sits and how a skirt or pinafore hangs.
- Check that there is room for movement at the shoulders and seat, since uniforms are worn all day.
Crest and logo
- Check the embroidery position against your instructions: left chest, pocket, sleeve or pinafore bib.
- Look at small details in the crest. If thin lines have filled in, ask whether a simplified version would read better.
- Check the back of the embroidery for loose threads and a neat backing.
Construction
- Buttons sewn firmly, buttonholes clean and the right size.
- Seams straight, with no puckering along the side seams or yoke.
- Hems even. Pleats on skirts and pinafores sit flat and fall evenly.
- Waistband and fastenings on trousers and skirts open and close easily.
Labels
- Woven label straight, centred and soft enough not to scratch.
- Size label correct and easy to read.
- Wash-care label content matches what you asked for.
Checking a bulk delivery
Every piece passes our quality check for stitching and finish before it is packed. Your own check on arrival is still worth doing, because it confirms that the right sizes and colours are in the right cartons for your shop or site.
- Count the cartons against the packing list before signing for them.
- Count by size and colour for each style, and compare with your order.
- Open a few pieces from each carton, not only the top layer.
- Compare with the approved sample: colour, crest position, labels and measurements for one or two sizes.
- Check packing: polybags sealed, size stickers correct, cartons marked as agreed.
- Note any issue with photos, carton number and size, as soon as you find it.
| Check | Sample stage | Delivery stage |
|---|---|---|
| Colour | Against swatch | Against approved sample |
| Fit | Full measurement | Spot check one or two sizes |
| Embroidery | Position and detail | Position and consistency |
| Labels | Design and content | Correct size labels |
| Quantity | Not applicable | Count by size and colour |
What to do if something is wrong
Contact us with clear photos, the style, size, colour and carton number, and how many pieces are affected. Put the piece next to the approved sample in the photo if the issue is colour or embroidery. That makes it quick for us to see what went wrong and agree the next step with you.
Small differences in shade between fabric batches can happen with any dyed fabric. If an exact match across reorders matters to you, tell us at quotation, and we will plan fabric for it where we can.
Before you reorder
After the first term or season, look at which sizes sold out and which were left over, and adjust the size split for the next order. Note any comments from parents or staff about fit or comfort, and send them to us with your reorder. Small changes, such as a different sleeve length on work shirts, are easier to make when we know about them early.
Our post on uniform minimum order, samples and quotes explains how sampling fits into the order, and our white label uniforms page lists the styles and fabrics. If you have a sample in hand and questions about it, send us photos and your notes, and we will go through them with you before you approve bulk.