A linen sample card should tell you five things at a glance: the exact composition, the weight in GSM, the weave, the width, and a colour reference you can reorder against. If any of those is missing you cannot compare one mill against another, and you cannot brief your own production team. Below is the checklist we use when we send a card, and the questions worth asking before you place an order.
What to look for on a sample card
- Composition, in percentages. “Linen blend” is not enough — 55% linen / 45% cotton behaves very differently from 30% linen / 70% cotton.
- Weight (GSM). The single most useful number for predicting how the fabric will drape and wear.
- Weave. Plain, twill, dobby, herringbone, slub and jacquard all handle differently and suit different products.
- Width. Needed to price your marker and estimate yield.
- Colour reference. A name or number you can reorder against — not just a swatch that looks right on the day.
- Swatch size. Big enough to fold, drape and rub, not a postage stamp.
What to test with your hands
- Drape. Hold the swatch by one corner and let it fall. It tells you more about the finished garment than any spec sheet.
- Crease. Crush it in your fist and release. How it recovers tells you how it will wear.
- Transparency. Hold it against a light — important for lighter colours and for anyone cutting linings.
- Hand feel after washing. Linen softens with washing. If the swatch is pre-shrunk, that is close to the feel you will ship.
Questions to ask the mill
- Are these values per colour, or per construction?
- Is the finish pre-shrunk, or is it a natural (non-pre-shrunk) fabric?
- What are the shrinkage and colourfastness figures for this specific style?
- Is this a stock colour or a custom dye?
- What is the MOQ per colour?
What our sample cards cover
Sample cards are available on request and arranged once your specification is confirmed. They show our stock colours — 35+ standard shades held for fast reorders — with the composition, weight, weave and width of each style. Shrinkage and colourfastness are confirmed per style on request, so you are checking the figures that apply to your order rather than a generic claim.