How to Write Sample Comments

The problem with how most comments are written

“Make it a bit roomier.” “The sleeves feel long.” “Can we clean up the neckline?” Each of these costs a sample round, because the factory has to guess, and a guess has roughly a one-in-three chance of being what you meant.

The anatomy of a comment that works

1. The point of measure or construction detail, named exactly as it appears in the tech pack
2. The direction and the amount, as a number
3. Where on the garment it applies
4. What must NOT change as a result
5. A photograph of the pinned or marked sample

Example: “POM 2 Chest — increase 1.0 cm at full measure. Keep armhole (POM 8) and shoulder (POM 5) as spec. See photo 3.”

Before and after

• “Roomier through the body” → “POM 2 Chest +1.0 cm, POM 3 Waist +1.0 cm, sweep as spec”
• “Sleeves feel long” → “POM 6 Sleeve length from CB −1.5 cm, cuff opening as spec”
• “Neckline looks messy” → “Neck rib height to 2.0 cm finished as spec, currently measuring 2.6 cm; topstitch 0.6 cm from seam”
• “Too boxy” → “Reduce sweep 2.0 cm, keep chest as spec, so the body tapers”

Notice how often the fix includes “as spec”. Most unwanted changes between rounds happen because nobody said what to leave alone.

Separate the two kinds of problem

Before you write anything, measure the sample flat against the spec. Then sort every issue into one of two piles:

• The factory missed the spec — the fix is “make it to spec”, and you should not be paying for a revision
• The spec itself is wrong — the fix is a spec change, and the spec sheet must be updated too

Mixing these up is how spec sheets quietly go stale while samples drift, and by the PP round nobody is sure what the standard is.

Mechanics that save rounds

• Number every comment so each one can be answered individually
• Use a table: comment #, area, instruction, factory response, status
• Attach marked-up photos, numbered to match the comments
• Change one variable at a time where you can
• State clearly whether the round is a revision or an approval
• Update the spec sheet the same day, not at the end of development

One person approves

Comments assembled from three people with different opinions arrive at the factory contradicting each other, and the factory picks one. Consolidate internally first, then send a single voice.

Close the loop

Require the factory to respond against each numbered comment — accepted, done, or queried. A round where half the comments were silently not actioned is a round you will repeat.