BrandsShipped Guides

Make better apparel manufacturing decisions.

Practical guidance for UK founders, creators and emerging brands moving from an idea or approved sample into production.

Starting a clothing product

From Idea to Sample to Production: A Guide for UK Clothing Brands

A practical route for UK founders and creators moving from an apparel idea, reference or mock-up to a physical sample and managed production.

Tech pack guidance

What a tech pack helps with, what it does not replace, and how to start sample development when you do not have one yet.

Manufacturing models

A practical explanation of CMT and fully factored apparel production, including what the brand supplies and what the manufacturing route coordinates.

Nearshore sourcing

A decision framework for UK clothing brands comparing domestic and nearshore manufacturing routes across the UK, Türkiye and Portugal.

Minimum order quantities

Why low MOQ depends on fabric, construction, variants and supplier economics — and how to discuss a realistic first production run.

Sample pricing

What drives apparel sample development cost, what a written sample proposal should contain, and why prototype and approval stages can be separate.

From concept to product

How to turn a visual apparel concept into a development brief, physical sample and production-ready approval standard.

Production readiness

What a clothing brand should review after approving a physical sample and before placing a production order.

Starting with an idea?

Bring references, a mock-up or a tech pack. We review the right sample-development stage before bulk production.

Already have an approved sample?

We assess factory fit, quantity and the product standard before a written production commitment.