The pieces you chose
As many or as few as you like, once the order reaches AED 2,000. Production garments from the line, not a showroom special, and yours to sell.
( 004 )Before you commit
Abaya sample orders: test a few styles, keep the stock
A sample order has no piece minimum, only a minimum value of AED 2,000, so you can test a few styles before a full order. It is real stock you keep and sell, so it is not credited against a later order.
- Minimum valueAED 2,000
- Minimum piecesNone
- Ready stockShips in 3–5 days
- Credited laterNo. You keep and sell it
2,000
AED minimum value
Goods before freight and duty. The only minimum a sample order has.
0
Piece minimum
A full order needs 20 pieces. A sample order needs none.
8
Embroidered pieces
At about AED 250 each, one way to reach AED 2,000.
100%
Yours to sell
Which is why it is not credited against a later order.
What an abaya sample order is
An abaya sample order is a real order, just a small one. There is no piece count, only a minimum value of AED 2,000, and none of it is a fee: every piece that arrives is stock you own.
In practice it is the value floor every order has, without the piece count. A full order needs 20 pieces and AED 2,000. A sample order needs only the AED 2,000. That makes a difference once your pieces average more than AED 100 each, so it is built for testing pricier styles: 8 embroidered pieces at about AED 250 each is a sample order.
They are production garments made the same way as a real order, not a showroom version sewn slowly by the most careful hand available. That matters. A sample that is better than the bulk is worse than useless.
It costs more than a few test pieces. Here is what you get for it
Testing that starts at AED 2,000 is a bigger step than paying a few hundred dirhams for a handful of samples, and we will not pretend otherwise. If money is tight, that matters, and you should know it before you ask.
The difference is what you are left holding. Cheap test pieces get washed, photographed and put in a drawer. A sample order is stock. You test one or two pieces hard and sell the rest on your own rail. That is also why it is not credited against a later order: there is nothing to credit, because the goods are already yours.
Why there are no free samples
Free samples sound generous and they are the most common way new buyers get burned. A supplier with no skin in the game has no reason to pack it carefully or send it this week, and plenty of people have paid shipping on a free sample that never turned up.
A sample order is a real transaction that tells you a lot: whether we answer, whether we hit the date we published, and what our packing looks like. Treat it as a test of us, because that is partly what it is.
What comes in the box besides the garments
The garments are the point, but on their own they do not let you build a costing.
- A measurement sheet listing what each garment in the box actually measures, and the tolerance we hold in production
- The price breaks for the styles you chose, so you can cost a full order the day it lands
- Fabric swatches of the other weights we carry, if you ask, so you can compare cloth you did not order
Freight on a small order costs more per piece
This surprises people, so here it is before you order rather than after.
A sample order is a small, light, bulky parcel going a long way, which is the most expensive shape a courier handles. Per piece, it costs noticeably more to ship than the same garments packed into a full carton. Clothing is charged on the space it takes, and express clearance fees are fixed no matter how small the box.
How to spend less on it
Three things genuinely help, and we will tell you which applies to your address before you pay.
- Use a business address rather than a home one. Residential delivery carries a surcharge almost everywhere
- Use your own courier account if you already have negotiated rates. We book the collection on it
- If you are already close to ordering, skip the sample order and put one or two of each style you were unsure about into your first full order. One freight bill instead of two
How to check an abaya sample when it arrives
Almost every supplier tells buyers to order samples. Nobody tells them what to actually do with one. So here is the check we would run, and we are happy for you to run it on us.
Do it before you reply to us. Ten minutes now is worth more than any amount of emailing later.
The five minute check
In this order, because each one catches something different.
- Look at it under strong light, ideally daylight at a window. Weak indoor light hides uneven dye and shows nothing about sheerness
- Steam or press one piece before you judge it. Everything looks creased out of a carton and a fabric that will not release creases is telling you something important
- Turn it inside out and look at the hem and the overlock. This is where a factory cuts corners, because customers rarely look
- Hold it up against the light to check how sheer it is, then hold it against a dark background. A light abaya that passes on a hanger can fail in sunshine
- Put it on a person, not a hanger. Fall and length are the two things a hanger lies about
The tests worth doing properly
These take longer, and they are the ones that predict what your customers will experience. Do them on one or two pieces, not the whole order.
Wash it
Wash one piece the way your customer will, not the way the label suggests. Check for shrinkage, for black going grey, and for the hem twisting. A fabric that misbehaves on a sample will misbehave on three hundred pieces.
Pull the embellishment
If there is beading or embroidery, tug at it. Firmly. If threads lift or beads come away, reject it and tell us. Better it fails in your hands than in a customer’s.
Sit in it
Sit down, cross your arms, reach up. Seams that are fine standing still can pull badly in use, especially at the armhole on a fitted cut.
Check the zips and fastenings
Run them twenty times. A cheap zip usually shows its problems inside the first few pulls, and a zip failure is the most common reason an abaya comes back.
Measure it against the sheet we sent
Your box comes with the actual measurements of the garments inside it. Get a tape out and check two or three points: centre back length, chest, sleeve length.
If what you measure does not match what we wrote, tell us. That is exactly the kind of problem worth finding on a sample order rather than on three hundred pieces.
What to tell us afterwards
Be blunt. "The fabric feels cheap" is more useful than "it is nice but maybe a little different from what I imagined".
The feedback shapes what we quote you next. Several of the fabrics we recommend most often came from a buyer telling us plainly that the first suggestion was wrong for their market.
From sample to production
The sample has done its job when you know which fabric, which fit and which styles you want. What happens next is where most of the risk sits.
Why bulk sometimes feels different
This is the oldest complaint in garment buying. The usual reasons are dull rather than sinister: a different fabric roll, a different machinist, or a sample maker who quietly corrected something the pattern got wrong and the line did not.
The protection is a sealed sample. Once you approve a garment it stays here as the physical reference, and the run is checked against it and against a written measurement sheet. When a fabric lot shifts between your sample and your bulk, you hear it from us before it ships.
Test some, sell the rest
Pick one or two pieces to test hard. Wash one, cut one open, leave one in a window for a month to see what the sun does to the black.
Then sell the others. How your customers react at the till tells you as much as the wash test does, and it is the part of the test that pays you back.
What is in the box
A sample answers questions a product photo cannot. So it ships with the answers attached.
A measurement sheet
What the garments in your box actually measure, and the tolerance we hold in production.
Photos of the packed carton
Taken before the box is taped, so you know exactly what left here and how it was packed.
The price breaks
Band pricing for the styles you chose, so you can cost a full order the same day.
Fabric swatches, if you ask
Small cuts of the other weights we carry, labelled with composition, so you can compare cloth you did not order.
A named contact
The person who packed your box answers your questions about it. Not a shared inbox.
How a sample order works
Short on purpose. A test that takes a month has already failed its job, so it runs from ready stock where it can.
01Day 0
Tell us what to put in it
Styles, colours and sizes, in any number, adding up to AED 2,000 or more. Or describe your customer and your price point and let us choose. Both are normal.
02Day 0–1
Confirm the order
We check what is on the shelf now against what is made to order, and quote freight to your address before you pay anything.
03Day 1–5
We pick, check and pack
Each piece is measured against the sheet that ships with it, and the carton is photographed before it is taped.
04Day 5+
It arrives, you test it
Run the checks on this page on one or two pieces. Then tell us plainly what is wrong with them.
05Week 2 onward
Sell the rest
The pieces you did not test go on your rail. What sells tells you what your first full order of 20 pieces or more should be.
Sample order terms
Published in full, including what a sample order is not.
- Minimum value
- AED 2,000Goods before freight and duty. The only minimum a sample order has.
- Minimum pieces
- NoneA full order needs 20 pieces and AED 2,000. Below 20 pieces, it is a sample order.
- Credit
- Not credited laterIt is real stock you keep and sell, so there is nothing to credit.
- Ready stock
- 3–5 working daysPicked, checked and packed. Courier transit on top.
- Freight
- Quoted before you payPer piece, a small parcel costs more to ship than a full carton.
- Custom samples
- Quoted separatelyA sample of your own design sits under custom manufacturing.
- Faults
- Replaced where the fault is oursTell us within seven days of delivery, with photographs.
- Made in
- United Arab EmiratesMade in the UAE to our specifications, inspected and packed by us before it ships.
What you will be judging
The things buyers check first when the box lands, and the three that predict returns.
Who should place a sample order
Most first-time buyers of pricier styles should. A few honestly should not.
First-time buyers of pricier styles
Embroidered and beaded pieces reach AED 2,000 long before 20 pieces. A sample order lets you test 8 of them instead of committing to a full rail.
Buyers changing supplier
Sample before you move a line. Put our finish next to what you are shipping now and compare them on a table.
Not for repeat buyers or entry-price styles
If you have sold the style before, skip it and reorder. And if your pieces average AED 100 or less, AED 2,000 already buys 20 pieces, so you are placing a full order anyway.
Why our sample orders are different
Sampling is where this category is at its weakest. Most abaya suppliers tell you to order samples and then publish no policy at all.
A published minimum
AED 2,000, written here before you start a conversation. No negotiation and no "depends who is asking".
No piece count
A full order needs 20 pieces. A sample order needs none, so pricier styles can be tested in small numbers.
Stock, not a souvenir
What you test is what you sell. There is no fee that disappears and no credit you have to qualify for later.
A published date
Ready stock leaves here in 3 to 5 working days. If we are going to miss it you hear it from us first.
We warn you about the freight
Before you pay, not after. Per piece, a small parcel costs more to ship than a full carton.
We tell you how to test it
Including the tests we might fail. Nobody else in this category publishes an inspection checklist.
What we need to pack it
Two minutes of detail and the order goes into the queue.
Style preferences
Names from the catalogue adding up to AED 2,000 or more, or a sentence about your customer and your price point.
Sizes
The lengths you expect to sell most of. No idea? We send the middle of the run.
Delivery address
Full address and a phone number for the courier. A business address costs less than a home one.
What you are testing for
Fabric weight? Plus size fit? Embroidery quality? Say so and we help you pick for that question.
Questions buyers ask us
Sample order questions, answered with numbers.
01Cost and what you get
Are samples free?
No, and be careful with anyone who says yes. Free samples are where new buyers most often get let down, because a supplier with nothing at stake has no reason to pack it well or send it this week.
How much is a sample order?
AED 2,000 at minimum, in any number of pieces, plus freight to your address. There is no separate sample fee. You are paying for stock.
What do I get for that?
Stock you chose and can sell, a measurement sheet for the garments in the box, and the price breaks for those styles.
Can I order just one or two abayas?
Only if they add up to AED 2,000. A sample order has no piece minimum, only the value one. If fabric is all you need to judge, ask for swatches instead, which cost far less to post.
Can I get fabric swatches on their own?
Yes, and they are cheap to post. They tell you about weight and colour but nothing about fit or finish, so most buyers end up wanting garments too.
Are the samples the same as production quality?
They are made the same way as bulk, which is the point. A sample sewn slowly by the best hand available flatters the supplier and misleads the buyer.
02Why it is not credited
Is a sample order credited against my next order?
Not credited, because it is not a fee. It is real stock you keep and sell, so the value is already in your hands.
Why does it cost more than other suppliers charge for samples?
Because you are buying stock, not samples. A few hundred dirhams for a handful of test pieces is cheaper on the day, but those pieces end up in a drawer. A sample order of AED 2,000 ends up on your rail.
What is the difference between a sample order and a full order?
One rule fewer. A full order needs 20 pieces and AED 2,000. A sample order needs only the AED 2,000, so anything under 20 pieces is a sample order.
Is freight included?
Freight is separate, and quoted to your address before you pay. On a small parcel it is a real number, so ask for it early.
What do I lose if the styles do not sell well?
Some margin and some time, usually. You still hold the stock and can sell it, even if slower or at a smaller markup than you hoped. A sample fee, by contrast, is gone the day you pay it.
03Choosing what goes in it
Can I choose exactly which pieces?
Every one. Name the styles, colours and sizes from the catalogue, in any quantity, and that is what we pack. The total just has to reach AED 2,000.
What should I pick if I have no idea?
Tell us your market and your target retail price and we will choose. Usually that means a spread: an everyday black, a mid-weight, and a few with some work on them, so you see the range.
Can I sample my own custom design?
Yes, but that is a development sample and it is quoted separately, because pattern work and a fabric buy sit behind it. That sits under custom manufacturing.
Can I get my own label in the sample?
If you send artwork, we can usually do a heat seal label for a sample so you can see how it looks in the neck. Woven labels have their own minimum and lead time.
Can I sample plus sizes?
Please do, especially if plus is a real part of your range. Fit problems in larger sizes come from grading, and the only way to see them is on a body.
04Delivery and timing
How fast will it reach me?
Ready stock leaves here in 3 to 5 working days, then courier transit, usually 5 to 10 days depending on where you are. Anything made to order takes 12 to 18 working days.
How much is shipping on a sample order?
It varies by country and we quote it before you pay. Expect a real number, because per piece a small parcel costs more to ship than a full carton.
Why does shipping cost so much for a few abayas?
Couriers charge on the space a parcel takes, not its weight, and clothing is bulky and light. Express clearance fees are also fixed regardless of how small the box is.
Can I use my own courier account?
Yes. Send us your account details and we will book the collection on it, which is often cheaper if you already have negotiated rates.
Will I pay import duty on a sample order?
Usually, depending on your country. It is declared honestly as AED 2,000 or more of goods, so budget for duty the way you would on any order rather than being surprised by it.
05Checking your sample
What should I check first?
Strong daylight, then steam one piece, then turn it inside out and look at the hem and the overlock. Those three catch most of what matters and take five minutes.
Should I wash it?
Wash one, the way your customer will rather than the way the label says. Shrinkage, black going grey and hems twisting are the three things that generate returns, and all three show up in one wash.
How do I test whether the fabric is see-through?
Hold it up to a window, then against a dark surface. Judge it in daylight, not under a lamp. Lightweight cloth that looks fine indoors can fail outside, which is where your customer will be wearing it.
How do I check embroidery and beading?
Pull at it, firmly. If threads lift or beads come loose, that is a reject and we want to know. It is much better that it fails in your hands.
What measurements should I take?
Centre back length, chest and sleeve length at minimum, and compare them to the sheet in the box. If they do not match what we wrote, tell us.
It arrived creased and looks cheap. Is that a bad sign?
Not on its own. Everything is creased out of a carton. Steam it first and judge it after. If it will not release creases at all, that is worth knowing and it is a fabric issue rather than a packing one.
What if I do not like it?
Tell us exactly what is wrong, bluntly. That feedback is most of what the sample is for, and it changes what we recommend for your order.
06From sample to bulk
Will my bulk order match the sample?
The approved piece is sealed and kept here as the reference, and your run is checked against it and a written measurement sheet. Where a fabric lot shifts between sample and bulk we tell you before we ship.
Why do people say bulk feels different from samples?
Usually a different fabric roll, or a sample maker quietly fixing something the pattern got wrong that the production line then did not. A sealed sample plus written measurements is what stops it.
How soon after sampling can I place an order?
Immediately. Ready stock leaves in 3 to 5 working days, made to order takes 12 to 18. A full order needs 20 pieces and AED 2,000, in any mix of styles and colours.
Do I need to sample again before a repeat order?
No. Once you have approved a style we hold the spec and the sealed sample. Sampling again only makes sense if you are changing the fabric or the fit.
Do I have to return the samples?
They are yours, and they are stock. Wash one, cut one open if you need to, and sell the rest. A sample still in its bag has told you nothing.
Can I show the samples to my customers before I order?
Plenty of buyers do exactly that. Sell the sample pieces, take pre-orders on the styles that move, then place a full order against real demand.
07Trust
How do I know the sample will actually arrive?
You get a tracking number on dispatch day. The published dispatch date is the same one we hold ourselves to on a production order, which is rather the point of the exercise.
What if it does not turn up?
We chase the courier and handle the claim. A lost parcel is our problem to solve, not yours to absorb.
Can I pay by card for a sample order?
Usually yes. Small first transactions are exactly where a card makes sense, and we would rather you were comfortable than technically correct about bank transfer being cheaper.
Can I check you some other way before ordering a sample?
Ask for the written spec sheet and measurement sheet for the styles you want. They are free and answer a different question from the one a sample answers, so use both.
Is a sample enough to judge a supplier?
It is most of the way there. It tells you about quality, packing, and whether we do what we said by the date we said. It does not tell you how we behave when something goes wrong, which is why the terms pages exist.
Start a sample order
AED 2,000 or more, in any number of pieces, and every piece is yours to sell. Tell us what you want to test and we will help you pick for that question.