01
Proto
The first garment confirms yarn behaviour, stitch direction, shape, proportion, and technical feasibility.
Sampling & Development
How We Develop Luxury Cashmere Knitwear
A structured sampling line — from proto to SMS to PP — built to give boutique and luxury brands technical clarity, repeatable fit and disciplined development.
Development Philosophy
The first sample carries the discipline of the whole season.
In luxury cashmere, sampling is not a trial separate from production. It is the first proof of whether the garment can be made beautifully, consistently, and at the standard a brand expects.
At Kanchan Cashmere, every development begins with material readiness, construction logic, gauge direction, wash behaviour, proportion, and repeatability. The sample is not treated as a one-off piece. It is treated as the first reference for the season.
When the first sample is calm, accurate, and technically understood, the rest of the program becomes clearer: SMS, PP, bulk production, quality control, and final shipment all follow a stronger path.
Yarn Readiness
Sampling begins only when the material is understood.
Cashmere changes through knitting, washing, blocking, and wear. The sample must anticipate that movement.
Before a proto is made, we review yarn count, composition, colour availability, gauge suitability, stitch behaviour, expected shrinkage, and finishing direction. This helps protect both the design intention and the future production calendar.
For buyers, this means fewer surprises. A sample developed with the correct yarn logic is easier to approve, easier to repeat, and more dependable when moved into SMS or bulk.
Development Line
A controlled path from proto to bulk readiness.
Each stage has a purpose. Together, they create a clear development rhythm for premium cashmere programs.
02
SMS
Salesman samples are developed with production-level discipline for showroom, line review, and buyer presentation.
03
PP / TOP
The pre-production reference locks shade, handfeel, measurements, trims, finishing, and quality expectations.
04
Bulk Ready
Approved details are documented so production can follow the sample without losing its original intention.
Fit & Measurement
A sample must measure correctly after the fibre has settled.
In cashmere, fit is not confirmed only at knitting. It is confirmed after washing, drying, blocking, and finishing.
We review pre-wash and post-wash measurements, shrinkage behaviour, body ease, shoulder balance, sleeve length, neck opening, rib recovery, and garment proportion. These checks help define whether a style can be repeated in production with confidence.
Our aim is simple: the approved sample should be beautiful as a single piece and practical as a production reference.
Technical Development
The invisible work behind a clean sample.
A refined sample depends on decisions that are often unseen: tension, stitch density, linking method, wash recipe, shrinkage expectation, trim placement, finishing pressure, and measurement tolerance.
We document these points as development progresses, so approvals are based on a garment that can genuinely move into production.
Swatch
Structure Confirmation
Stitch, gauge, yarn count, tension, and handfeel are tested before full garment sampling.
Wash
Finishing Direction
Wash behaviour, shrinkage, softness, surface, and garment recovery are reviewed before approval.
Fit
Measurement Alignment
Pre-wash and post-wash specs are checked to protect proportion and repeatability.
Record
Production Notes
Approved sample details are recorded for smoother PP and bulk handover.
Buyer Confidence
Sampling should reduce uncertainty, not create more of it.
A good development process gives buyers the confidence to place an order with clear expectations.
We support brands with practical communication during sampling: what is confirmed, what still needs review, what affects cost, what affects timing, and what must be locked before bulk begins.
This clarity is especially important for boutique and luxury buyers who need strong samples for presentations, online launches, seasonal line reviews, or internal approvals.
A perfect sample is not only beautiful. It is understood, documented, and ready to be repeated.
Kanchan Cashmere — Sampling & Development
For Boutique & Luxury Brands
Start Your Cashmere Program with Kanchan
Share your vision, yarn preferences and timelines. We will help you structure development, sampling and production with clear steps and realistic delivery dates.