For a custom order with Qumash Lab, plan on roughly 6 to 10 weeks from a complete brief to goods at your door by air. Each sample round takes 7 to 10 business days to make, plus courier time. Bulk production takes 15 to 30 days after sample approval. Shipping to the US then takes about 5 to 7 days by air or 25 to 30 days by sea. The biggest delays are rarely in the sewing: they come from slow approvals, missing tech pack details, custom colours and fabrics, and late payments.
The timeline at a glance
| Stage | Typical time | What slows it down | Waiting on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brief and quote | A few days | Missing quantity per colour, fabric or size range | You |
| Sample round | 7 to 10 business days to make | Complex construction, special trims, prints | Us |
| Courier to you | A few working days by express courier | Customs at your end | Courier |
| Your feedback and approval | As fast as you reply | Unclear comments, waiting for your team | You |
| Lab dips, if you need a Pantone colour | Can run alongside the sample | Starting late, hard colours | Both |
| 50% deposit | 1 to 3 days for an international transfer | Bank checks | You |
| Bulk production | 15 to 30 days after sample approval | Quantity, complexity, embellishment | Us |
| Final inspection and 50% balance | A few days | Booking an inspector | Both |
| Shipping to the US | About 5 to 7 days by air, 25 to 30 days by sea | Customs, peak season | Forwarder |
Rush production is available in 10 to 12 business days for an additional fee, when the style and materials allow it.
A week-by-week example
Here is a realistic plan for 300 hoodies in our stock fabric and colour, with a screen-printed chest logo, shipped by air to the US.
| Week | What happens |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | You send the brief and tech pack; we confirm the spec and quote; the sample starts |
| Week 2 | The sample is made (7 to 10 business days) |
| Week 3 | The sample travels to you by courier; you check fit, fabric and print |
| Week 4 | You approve the sample and pay the 50% deposit; bulk fabric and trims are booked and cutting starts |
| Weeks 5 to 7 | Bulk production: cutting, printing, sewing, finishing, quality checks and packing |
| Week 8 | Final inspection, 50% balance payment, dispatch by air |
| Week 9 | Delivery to your door after customs clearance |
If the first sample needs changes, add about two weeks for a second round. That is why a complete tech pack, with measurements and clear details, is the fastest way to shorten the whole plan. Our tech pack guide shows what to include.
When does the production clock start?
Bulk production starts when two things are in place: the approved sample (or approved pre-production sample) and the deposit. Until both arrive, nothing can be cut. Our payment terms are 50% deposit to begin production and 50% before shipment.
What makes it take longer
- A custom Pantone colour: lab dips need approval before the bulk fabric is dyed. See our guide to lab dips and Pantone colour matching.
- Your own fabric composition: the yarn has to be sourced, knitted, dyed and finished for you, which typically adds a few weeks. See what 100 pieces in your own blend really takes.
- Several sample rounds: every round adds the making time plus courier time in both directions.
- Complex decoration: high stitch-count embroidery, specialty prints, appliqué and patches add time to both sampling and bulk.
- Custom trims: branded zips, metal hardware and custom woven labels have to be produced first.
- Lab testing: children's clothing and some retail programmes need lab reports before shipping. Our guide to clothing lab tests explains which ones.
- Public holidays: factories in Pakistan close for several days around Eid ul Fitr and Eid ul Adha. These dates move about 11 days earlier each year, so check the calendar when you plan.
- Peak shipping season: freight space gets tight and slower in the months before the year-end holidays.
What makes it faster
- A complete tech pack with measurements, artwork files and label details
- Stock fabrics and stock colours, which skip lab dips and fabric production
- Feedback sent in one clear message within a day or two of receiving the sample
- Lab dips and print strike-offs started at the same time as the first sample
- Deposit paid on the day you approve the sample
- Fewer colours and simpler decoration on the first order
- Reorders of approved styles, which skip sampling altogether
Air, sea or express courier?
| Shipping mode | Transit to the US | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Express courier (for example DHL) | The fastest door to door | Samples and small, urgent orders |
| Air freight | About 5 to 7 days | Most small and mid-size orders |
| Sea freight | About 25 to 30 days | Large orders and heavy goods where cost matters more than speed |
Transit times to Europe, the UK, Canada, Australia and the Gulf are different, so ask for a quote with your city. Remember that heavyweight garments such as hoodies are charged on weight and volume, so sea freight can save a lot if your calendar allows it. Our hoodie cost breakdown shows real packed weights.
Reorders are much faster
Once a style is approved, a reorder does not need a new sample. Production starts as soon as the deposit arrives, and the only check is that the new bulk matches the approved standard. For a stock fabric and colour, the reorder timeline is essentially bulk production plus shipping.
Plan backwards from your launch date
The safest way to plan is to start from the date you need the goods and work backwards:
| Count back from launch | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Launch day | Products live or in store |
| 1 to 2 weeks before | Goods received, checked and photographed |
| About 2 weeks before | Air shipment leaves (allow about 5 weeks for sea to the US) |
| About 6 weeks before | Bulk production starts, after sample approval and deposit |
| About 9 to 11 weeks before | First sample requested, with a complete tech pack |
If your launch date is closer than that, ask about rush production at the quote stage, and choose stock fabrics and colours to remove the slowest steps.
Ready to plan your order? See how our process works, check our bulk order service, or request a quote with your target delivery date.
Key facts
- Plan about 6 to 10 weeks from a complete brief to delivery by air, with one or two sample rounds.
- Samples: 7 to 10 business days per round, plus courier time.
- Bulk production: 15 to 30 days after sample approval; rush production in 10 to 12 business days for an additional fee.
- Shipping to the US: about 5 to 7 days by air, 25 to 30 days by sea.
- Production starts after sample approval and the 50% deposit; the 50% balance is due before shipment.
- Custom Pantone colours, custom fabrics, extra sample rounds and Eid holidays are the most common causes of delay.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to make a clothing sample?
At Qumash Lab, 7 to 10 business days per sample round, plus courier time to your door. Your first sample is free and you only pay shipping.
How long does bulk production take?
15 to 30 days after sample approval, depending on quantity and complexity.
Can you rush an order?
Yes. Rush production takes 10 to 12 business days for an additional fee, when the style and materials allow it.
How long does shipping from Pakistan to the US take?
About 5 to 7 days by air and 25 to 30 days by sea. Express courier is the fastest option for samples and small urgent orders.
When does the production timeline start?
When the sample is approved and the 50% deposit has been received.
Do reorders take as long as the first order?
No. Approved styles skip sampling, so a reorder in stock fabric and colour is essentially bulk production plus shipping.