You spend weeks perfecting your designs. The factory makes samples. But what happens to them afterward? You worry they could be copied, lost, or just thrown in the trash.

The physical samples are your property. A professional factory will store, return, or recycle them based on your instructions, with clear, transparent policies for handling and disposal to protect your designs.

I have heard stories from designers that make me angry. Their custom-developed fit samples¹, representing hours of work, were "lost" by their old factory.

Some worried their unique wash samples were being shown to other brands. This is a complete breach of trust.

Your physical samples² are the embodiment of your intellectual property. They are not just pieces of denim; they are your confidential designs³ made real.

My philosophy is simple: we are the custodians of your property, not the owners. Our job is to make them, get your approval, and then follow your exact instructions on what to do with them next.

Who Really Owns the Prototypes and Fit Samples After Testing?

Your design is unique, but the sample is in the factory's hands. This creates a nagging fear: does the factory think they have some right to your design because they produced it?

You, the client, have 100% ownership of any custom prototype⁴ made to your specifications. The factory retains no rights to use, reproduce, or claim ownership of your unique samples.

This is a non-negotiable principle in my business. The moment we create a sample based on your specific tech pack, logo, or wash development, it becomes your property.

You paid for the development, so you own the result. This includes every pre-production sample⁵, fit sample, and final approval sample. We are simply the skilled hands that bring your vision to life.

The only exception is if you request a generic, off-the-shelf sample from our own collection to check basic quality.

Those remain our property. But any sample that has your brand's DNA is yours and yours alone.

We are proud to be your manufacturing partner, and that partnership is built on respecting your intellectual property completely. Think of us as a secure vault for your physical designs.

Sample Type	Who Owns It?	Why?
Custom Prototypes	You (The Client)	Made to your exclusive design and specifications.
Fit Samples	You (The Client)	Part of your confidential product development process.
Stock Samples	The Factory	Generic, non-customized items from our collection.

Can I Have My Unused Samples Returned or Recycled?

Your studio is cluttered with old samples. You don't want them, but you also hate the idea of them ending up in a landfill. You need a simple and responsible solution.

Yes, you can absolutely request to have your samples returned or recycled. We can ship them back to you at your cost or partner with professional textile recyclers to dispose of them sustainably.

Giving you control over your samples extends to their end-of-life. We offer two clear options for any samples you no longer need to store with us.

1. Sample Return: Just give us the word and a shipping address. We will carefully pack all your requested samples and ship them back to you. The shipping cost is typically your responsibility, but we can handle all the logistics from our end. This is a great option if you want to keep a physical archive of your development history.

2. Sample Recycling: For many of my environmentally-conscious partners, this is the preferred choice. We have established relationships with professional textile recycling facilities.

Your old denim samples are sent there to be shredded and processed back into raw fibers, which can be used to create new fabrics.

It is a responsible way to close the loop and ensure nothing goes to waste.
All you have to do is send us a simple email, and we will handle the rest.

Will I Be Charged Hidden Fees For Storing My Samples?

You approve a project, and months go by. You worry that your factory has been charging you a storage fee⁶ for samples without your knowledge, leading to an unexpected bill later.

No. We offer 30 days of free storage for all samples after project completion. After that, a very small, clearly stated fee of around $0.50 to $2 per sample, per month, applies.

I believe in complete transparency, especially when it comes to costs. There should never be a surprise on your invoice. Our policy is designed to be fair and clear.

Once we have your final approval and the project is complete, we will hold onto all the related samples for 30 days at no charge.

This gives you plenty of time to decide what you want to do with them. If you need us to store them longer, we are happy to do so. We will send you a reminder before the 30-day window is up.

If you decide to keep them with us, a small fee is applied to cover the physical warehouse space and maintenance. For just a few samples, it is a nominal fee.

For bulk samples, we can often provide an even better rate. You will always be informed before any charge is ever applied.

How Do You Dispose of Outdated Samples Responsibly?

You have a strong brand commitment to sustainability⁷. The thought of your old, branded samples being dumped in a landfill goes against everything you stand for as a company.

We dispose of all outdated samples using an eco-friendly hierarchy. Our first priority is always recycling. We will notify you before disposing of any custom samples, ensuring we follow your brand's guidelines.

Responsible manufacturing doesn't end when the product is made; it extends to how we manage waste. We have a strict protocol for disposing of any outdated samples, whether they are from a past season or just excess pre-production units.

1. Recycling First: All denim samples are first sent to our textile recycling partners. This is our default and preferred method. It turns waste into a valuable raw material.

2. Donation (With Your Permission): If a sample is a generic style without any of your custom branding and is in perfect condition, we may ask for your permission to donate it to a local vocational school for their students to study garment construction. We will never do this without your explicit approval.

3. Licensed Disposal: For any materials that absolutely cannot be recycled, we work only with licensed waste management companies that comply with China's strict environmental regulations⁸. We ensure nothing is illegally dumped.

For any sample with your name or logo on it, we will always contact you for confirmation before taking any disposal action.

Conclusion

Your samples are your property and a reflection of your brand. We protect them, manage them transparently, and handle their disposal responsibly, giving you complete control and peace of mind.

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