Fabric Market Sourcing: Matching Prints and Colours to a Client Brief

This womenswear label arrived with a mood board, three reference garments and a very clear colour direction. Sampling had to start within three weeks, so fabric sourcing was the critical path.

What the client needed

Thirty fabric and print options matching a tight colour brief, with pricing that worked at 60 pieces per print rather than 600.

How we sourced it

• One day in the local fabric market with the client merchandiser
• Thirty candidates narrowed to eight against the approved colour standard
• Lab dips and shrinkage tests completed before any garment sampling
• Print repeats checked on the actual base cloth, not a swatch card

Result

Eight fabrics were approved, three of them already in stock. First samples shipped in 18 working days and the range went into production without a second round of colour matching.