The prototyping process, which is centralized within the apparel product development process, is a time-consuming and costly process for many apparel companies today. By minimizing the sample development time and optimizing the sample development process, apparel companies including buyers and manufacturers will benefit from resource efficiency followed. This paper employed an explanatory and exploratory multiple case study research approach to investigate the current sample development processes in five apparel companies in Egypt to explain the traditional sampling process to show the main process in handling the samples between apparel buyers and suppliers. The study results showed that physical samples couldn't be fully avoided because of the need of buyers to touch the used textile materials. Therefore a new blended model has been developed to enhance speed to market using three dimensional virtual sampling together with physical sampling techniques.
The resulted model which called blended sampling process model (BSPM) is proposed. The solution and the resulting implications for the adjustment of the regarded sampling procedures are explained. A positive effect of adopting virtual technology in sampling process such as reducing the number of samples produced and consequently reducing the cost is expected.
The developed model would act as a guideline for future implementation and would evoke the interest of retailing importers companies and manufacturing export companies to achieve a lean supply chain therefore satisfying their customers.