You cannot judge a plush or fleece fabric from a photo. Hand feel, pile density, how much it sheds, the exact shade under shop lighting — all of it only shows up in the hand. That is why sampling is the smartest money you will spend in the whole sourcing process. This guide walks through the different samples a China fabric mill can send, what each one proves, and how to request them the right way the first time.
What fabric samples are actually available
Chinese fabric suppliers can send several distinct types of samples, and each answers a different question. A fabric sourcing agent in Shaoxing describes the practical range as a fabric card, a swatch, a sample metre, a colour sample and a custom development sample (China Fabric Desk). For plush and fleece buyers the ones that matter most are:
- Swatch / fabric card — a small piece (often around 10 × 10 cm) of each fabric family, sometimes with several colours together. Great for shortlisting hand feel and weight across many options at once.
- Sample metre — a full metre or more of the actual fabric, so you can feel the drape, fold it, wash it and judge pile behaviour over a real area.
- Colour sample / lab dip — a swatch dyed to match a specific target shade (a Pantone reference or a physical standard you post over). This proves colour, not construction.
- Development / made-up sample — a sewn sample of a finished product (a pet bed cover, a blanket), proof of the whole article before you commit to bulk.
Which sample do you actually need?
Do not order everything at once — it wastes everyone's time and your shipping budget. Match the sample to where you are in the project:
- Comparing fabrics for the first time → request a small swatch or fabric card of 2–3 candidates (coral fleece, lamb wool, flannel, polar fleece) so you can feel them side by side.
- Ready to quote a specific product → ask for a sample metre of the chosen GSM and width, so the mill quotes on exactly the fabric you will order.
- Colour is critical → ask for a lab dip or colour swatch matched to your target, and review it under the lighting your customer will use (see below — this is the classic pitfall).
- Finished product, not just fabric → request a made-up development sample of the blanket or pet bed.
Most plush mills keep stock of common shades and constructions, so stock swatches can usually be sent quickly and at low or no cost. Custom development and lab dips take longer and carry a small charge.
How to send a request that gets a fast, accurate answer
A vague "please send samples" earns a generic reply. A specific one gets you a quote-ready sample. Give the mill the same information you would want from a supplier: fabric family, GSM, width, end use, quantity you are considering, and target colour or pattern. Photos and a physical reference help — "use a physical reference whenever appearance matters" (China Fabric Desk) — because a similar-looking fleece can differ a lot in construction and fibre. At GRC, the fastest path to an accurate FOB quote is to start with: fabric type, GSM, width, colour, end use and quantity.
Do not approve colour from a photo
The most expensive mistake buyers make is approving a sample they never held. Colour and texture can match under daylight and drift apart under store lighting — a phenomenon called metamerism — which is why textile buyers are told to review samples in daylight and under the lighting of the selling space, and to keep a signed counter-sample as the bulk reference (Abhi Textiles). For branded pet products and throws, insist on the physical swatch and a written approval. Once you sign the sample, that is what bulk dyeing and final inspection are matched against, so file it, label it and date it.
What sampling usually costs
- Stock swatches / fabric cards — often free or a small handling fee in many sourcing platforms; shipping is usually on the buyer (SwatchOn).
- Sample metres — charged at a sample rate, sometimes offset or discounted against your first bulk order.
- Lab dips / custom development — a modest per-colour or per-development charge, because a laboratory dyeing or sample-room make-up takes operator time.
A practical note from the mill side: asking for samples is the normal first step of any real order, and most legitimate plush mills expect it. A supplier who dodges sampling, or pushes you straight to a large deposit, is a red flag — see our guide to choosing a plush manufacturer.
What to send to get your sample and quote moving
If you are sourcing plush fleece, coral fleece or a pet blanket fabric, the quickest way to get a useful sample and an accurate quote is to tell us the end use and the specs you are leaning toward — GSM, width, colour and quantity. We will confirm what we can send from stock, or quote the development time for a custom shade.
Request Fabric Samples → See Our Fabrics
References
- China Fabric Desk — China Fabric Sourcing Process & sample types
- Abhi Textiles — How textile sampling works: lab dips, strike-offs and PP samples explained
- SwatchOn Help Center — How to order swatches (fabric samples)