Ordering Samples

Most Customers Don't Need a Physical Sample

This guide explains how to order custom apparel samples, including blank garment samples, DTG and DTF printed samples, and the screen printing approval workflow before placing a bulk order.

For online orders, a digital mockup is automatically generated and emailed to you for review. For phone, email, or quote-form orders, you can request a mockup from your agent at no cost. Either way, your design, placement, and colors are confirmed before anything is printed — and our multi-stage quality control during production keeps the final result on track.

If you'd still like to see a product in person before ordering, we offer several optional sample paths outlined below. They're available if you want them — but most customers move forward confidently without one.

Types of Samples Available

We offer five sample paths depending on your situation:

When a Sample Might Make Sense (Optional)

Samples are entirely optional. Our QC process catches issues before they reach you, and our digital mockup confirms your design before production. That said, some customers simply prefer to see a piece in person before placing an order — especially for these reasons:

• Strict brand color matching requirements — when exact PMS or brand color reproduction is mission-critical to your project
• First-time premium resale brands — if you're stocking inventory to resell, you may want to verify the blank quality firsthand
• Specific fabric or fit validation — premium events, athletic wear sizing, or fabric weight you haven't worked with before
• Personal preference on very large orders — for 1,000+ piece orders, some customers prefer to see a sample, even though it's not required

Blank Fabric Samples

Want to feel the actual fabric, check the fit, or verify the color in person before printing on it? Order a blank sample.

What you'll need to provide

• Brand name (e.g., Gildan, Bella+Canvas, Next Level)
• Style number (found on the product page)
• Size you want to sample
• Color preference (if specific)
• Shipping address

How to request a blank sample

1. Contact us — call (800) 735-4304 or email print@rapidssp.com with the product details above
2. Receive a quote — we'll confirm product cost and shipping (typically reviewed within 5–15 minutes during business hours)
3. Approve and pay — once you confirm, we process payment for the sample
4. We ship within 1–2 business days — standard carriers (UPS, FedEx, USPS) with tracking
5. Place your bulk order — once you've evaluated the sample, return to design or quote your full order

DTG & DTF Sample Orders

If you prefer to see a physical print before committing to a larger run, you can order a single piece using DTG or DTF — but most customers proceed directly after reviewing their mockup.

Both methods have no minimum order quantity, so a single-piece order is treated just like any other. The print quality at quantity 1 is identical to quantity 100.

If you do want a single-piece sample

• No setup costs or sample fees — just the standard product price
• Same production quality as a bulk run
• Standard 7 business day turnaround (or rush, if needed)
• If you love it, place a larger order with the same design

See our Printing Methods guide to confirm whether DTG or DTF is right for your design and fabric.

Screen Printing — Optional Sample-and-Approve Workflow

For screen printing, we offer an optional sample-and-approve workflow for customers who want to see a printed piece before we run the full job. This is arranged with your agent during ordering — it's not automatic on every order, but it's available if you want the extra peace of mind.

Because screen printing requires custom screen setup for each color, producing a true "1-piece sample" outside of a bulk order isn't economical. This workflow gives you full quality assurance without paying for two separate setups.

How it works (when requested)

1. Place your full order and request the workflow — let your agent know during ordering that you'd like to review a sample before the full run
2. We prepare the screens and ink — same as a normal screen print job
3. We print 1 sample piece first — produced exactly as your bulk order will be
4. We send you a photo — clear, well-lit photos showing print placement, color, and quality
5. You review and approve — request adjustments if needed, or give us the green light
6. We complete your order — once approved, we run the remaining pieces and ship as scheduled

Embroidery Samples

Embroidery samples are handled case by case. Our standard 6-piece minimum applies to regular orders, but we may be able to accommodate single-piece samples in certain situations:

• New logo digitization for large bulk orders — for orders of 50+ embroidered pieces, we can sometimes produce a single sample after digitizing
• Confirming logo size and stitch count — for complex logos, a sample helps verify the digitized file before running the full order
• Sample with setup fee — when a true single-piece embroidery sample is needed, we may quote a one-time setup fee

To explore embroidery sample options for your specific project, call (800) 735-4304 or email print@rapidssp.com — our team will work with you individually.

Digital Mockup vs Physical Sample

Both serve different purposes. Most orders only need a digital mockup; physical samples are most useful for large bulk orders or first-time brand orders.

Sample Sizing Tips

If you're ordering a sample primarily to check fit, here are some practical tips:

• Order the size you'd most commonly wear or distribute — for a team order, sample the most common size (often Medium or Large)
• Order one size up if between sizes — most cotton garments shrink 3–5% on the first wash
• Reference the product's size chart first — every product page on our site has its specific size chart, plus we have a general Size Charts & Guides page
• Different brands fit differently — Bella+Canvas runs slimmer than Gildan, so a Medium in one isn't the same as a Medium in the other
• Fabric matters too — heavy cottons feel different than tri-blends or performance fabrics

For more detail on which brand fits which body type, see our Size Charts & Guides.

Frequently Asked Questions