Dance Fabric Samples: Check Before You Order
Fabric samples help you compare colour, texture, shine, stretch and transparency before ordering a larger length. Samples are 30c each, and most products have a Buy Samples option on the website. There is no fixed sample size or limit per customer; samples are typically around 3 x 4 cm. Samples are generally sent the same day, with normal post usually taking around a week and Express Post available on request.
Why a screen is not enough
A screen can show an approximate colour, but it cannot reproduce every property of a performance fabric. Foil changes as it stretches, mesh transparency depends on what sits behind it, and shiny surfaces react differently under daylight and stage lighting.
Ask about a sample when your project depends on a close colour relationship, transparency, stretch, texture or a finish that needs to work beside other fabrics and trims. Mystique is a good example: similar-looking foil fabrics can photograph alike, so checking a physical sample and the exact product name helps confirm the finish you are actually comparing.
What to check when the sample arrives
- Colour — compare it in daylight and under lighting similar to where the costume will be worn.
- Stretch — check it in the direction required by your pattern.
- Transparency — place it over the lining, base fabric or skin tone it will sit against.
- Finish in motion — move and stretch reflective, foil, glitter or sequin surfaces rather than judging them flat.
- Coordination — compare it beside the other fabrics, trims and embellishments in the project.
- Hand and weight — let the fabric hang and consider how it drapes rather than looking at it only on a table.
Comparing fabrics that are designed to coordinate
Matt Spandex, Shiny Spandex and Stretch Mesh come from the same supplier and are intended to coordinate as colour sets. If a costume combines those fabrics, compare the actual samples together because matt, shiny and sheer surfaces can make related colours appear different under changing light.
How to request a fabric sample
Most products have a Buy Samples option on the individual product page. Samples are 30c each and are typically around 3 x 4 cm, although there is no fixed sample size or limit per customer. If you are trying to match an existing garment or a previous order, include the fabric names and colours and explain what you are matching so the comparison is clear. A full catalogue of stretch fabric samples is also available for $95 plus postage and handling. If visiting in person is easier, the Capalaba showroom is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. You can compare fabrics, trims and finishes side by side before ordering.
Fabric colour charts
Colour charts are available by fabric type for customers who want to compare a broader range of colours. Some fabric ranges have two or three chart pages depending on the number of colours available. Individual chart pages are $5 each, and customers receive the pages that apply to the selected fabric range. For example, where a fabric range uses two chart pages, the two-page set would cost $10.
Ready to order?
Once you have checked the sample, return to the relevant product or collection. Check the individual product page for the purchasing unit and current specifications. Fabric is available in 10 cm increments with no minimum order across supported ranges.
Frequently asked questions
Use the Buy Samples option on the product page where it is available. Samples are 30c each and are typically around 3 x 4 cm, with no fixed limit per customer. If you are comparing several fabrics, include each product name and colour so the team understands what you want to view together.
Screen settings, photography lighting and the light in your own room can all change how a colour appears. Reflective and sheer fabrics are especially difficult to judge from a photograph. Compare a physical sample under lighting similar to where the costume will be worn when colour or finish is important.
Yes. Compare the samples together rather than one at a time. Lay them over the same base or lining they will be used with, add the trims or embellishments that sit beside them, and look at the combination under the lighting the finished costume is likely to be seen in.
Yes. Visit the Glitter & Dance showroom at Unit 2/41 Neumann Road, Capalaba QLD 4157, Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. You can handle fabrics and compare colour, stretch, texture, transparency and finish in person.