Take this brief: twelve characters, a target height of 15 cm, and 100 pieces of each. The buyer wants them to look convincing individually and coherent as a complete set. Here is how that brief could be developed.
Start with the whole set on one sheet
Before discussing stitches or fabric, put all twelve drawings next to one another at the same scale. Cover the names. Can someone still distinguish the characters? If two rely entirely on a small printed symbol, that deserves attention before sampling.
| Planning item | Example brief | Still to settle |
|---|---|---|
| Designs | 12 zodiac characters | Approved artwork for each |
| Quantity | 100 per design | Supplier acceptance and price per design |
| Total | 12 × 100 = 1,200 pieces | Final order split |
| Target height | 15 cm | Measurement points and tolerances |
| Recognition | One main zodiac feature per character | Appearance at actual size |
| Packaging | Individually packed | Pack format, labels and assortment |
The height needs a definition. If 15 cm includes a tall hat on one character but ends at the head on another, the bodies could look very different in the lineup. Mark the measurement on the artwork. Also record the body height if that is what needs to stay consistent.
Give each character one feature worth protecting
A useful review asks what can be simplified without losing the character. A tiny decorative line might be negotiable. The shape that makes a zodiac character recognisable might not be. Mark that distinction before the sample maker starts interpreting the artwork.
| Decision | Approach for this example | Approval point |
|---|---|---|
| Family resemblance | Keep face style and body proportions related | Review samples together |
| Individual identity | Protect the main silhouette or motif | Readability at 15 cm |
| Fine facial lines | Compare embroidery, printing and simpler artwork | Actual sample detail |
| Projecting decorations | Compare sewn parts with flatter treatments | Shape, attachment and suitability for the intended user |
| Shared construction | Ask the pattern maker which pieces can be reused | Pattern proposal and cost breakdown |
| Colours | Assign references to each fabric area | Physical swatches and approved samples |
The same face and body on a drawing do not automatically mean one reusable pattern. Changing an arm position or adding an accessory can change how pieces join. Ask exactly which parts are shared, rather than accepting “common body” as a complete explanation of the construction or price.
Choose the first sample for the question it answers
The easiest character is not necessarily the best place to start. In this collection, a character with a prominent attachment would be useful if attachment shape is the biggest uncertainty. If recognition depends on a small embroidered face, that detail deserves an early trial instead.
A single pilot sample may settle the overall proportion or fabric direction. It cannot approve every remaining character. Each design still needs a clear reference for its own features and any changes. Our plush sampling page covers that progression from first sample to approval.
Keep revision notes specific. Mark the face position on a photograph, identify the feature to change, and attach the matching artwork version. A request to make the whole character “more accurate” leaves too much interpretation to the next person.
When the set reaches review, look at the characters together as well as separately. Check relative height, face placement, colour relationships and the visual weight of accessories. Twelve individually attractive samples can still need adjustment to work as one range.
What can be decided before a sample exists?
The design count, intended quantity split, required identity features and authorised artwork can be agreed in the brief. For this example, the total is straightforward: 1,200 pieces across twelve designs. Keep those twelve lines separate in the quotation request.
Shape, feel, decoration, actual dimensions and the collection's overall appearance need physical samples. Any testing requirements should be agreed separately for the intended product and market.
MOQ, sample charges, unit prices, packaging costs and dates belong in the supplier's quotation. Ask for development and production charges separately, with the quantity and specification attached to each price. A total quantity alone leaves too many questions unanswered.
Questions worth settling before ordering
Can we order 100 pieces of each character?
That quantity can go into the RFQ, but acceptance depends on the designs, materials and supplier. Request a per-design answer; a minimum for one style should not be assumed to apply to a mixed collection.
Do all twelve characters need samples?
Each design needs an agreed approval reference. One pilot can resolve shared questions, followed by samples for the remaining designs. Agree that sequence and the charges before development starts.
Should the faces be embroidered or printed?
Compare both against the actual artwork and target size. Ask to see how the smallest lines and colour areas reproduce, then judge the sample alongside the intended look and feel.
Can the twelve designs have different quantities?
Put the proposed split in the RFQ. Ask whether changing a design's quantity changes its unit price, material requirements or packing arrangement. Equal quantities are a planning choice, not a necessary feature of a collection.
When can a delivery date be confirmed?
Once the supplier has reviewed the brief, sample work, approval sequence, production scope and destination. Include the required receiving date so the schedule can be assessed backwards from it.
How should a mixed collection be packed?
Specify whether cartons contain one design or complete assortments. List the count of each character, and agree labels that let the receiving team identify them without opening every individual pack.
Bring the full lineup to the enquiry
Send AIYYANG the authorised artwork, quantity per design, target size, intended use, destination and receiving date. Include the features that must be preserved. For a club mascot range, the club planning guide adds the wider merchandise context; custom plush project information covers the product format.
Discuss a 12-character plush collection, send a WhatsApp message, or email aiyyang866@gmail.com.