Sample

Samples are pre-production garments or sneakers created during the design and approval process before commercial manufacturing. They might represent early colorway explorations, fit tests, material experiments, or promotional pieces for photoshoots. Samples often differ from final retail products in construction details, materials, or colorways that were ultimately rejected. They typically feature sample tags, size inconsistencies, or other markers distinguishing them from retail production. Samples that reach collectors usually come from industry insiders, factory connections, or brand clearances. For collectors, samples represent unique pieces that often exist in single-digit quantities worldwide—the ultimate rarity. However, samples can also be controversial: some consider them incomplete or inferior to finished products, while others prize them as windows into the creative process. The sample market exists in legal gray area, as these items weren't intended for sale and brands typically restrict their distribution.