Every custom bag project at ProtoBag Studio follows the same eight-step process, from first project review through batch production. The structure exists so a first-time founder always knows what is happening, what they owe, and what comes next — no black box, no three-day reply gaps, no surprise costs late in the project. Our Munich liaison office owns the conversation and quality oversight at every step; our China-side sample room and production team handles development and production.
You share what you have: design files, a reference bag, product photos with dimensions, an existing sample, and your target quantity. We review structure, materials, hardware, and production feasibility, then return a written feasibility report with the specific questions that need answering before anything can be quoted accurately. This is the consultation-first step — problems caught here are free; problems caught after sampling are expensive.
After the open questions are answered, we calculate sample development costs, confirm a roughly three-to-four-week sampling timeline, and prepare a detailed quote with clear payment terms. Sampling minimum order quantity is one piece — you do not commit to a production run to get a first prototype.
You approve the quote and a sampling agreement is put in place. Our China-side factory team then prepares patterns, sourcing, and any tooling the construction requires. NDA arrangements are available before sensitive design files are shared.
The first prototype is assembled at our China-side sample room, typically over two to three weeks. Before anything ships, the sample passes an internal quality check against the agreed specification — stitching, structure, hardware, materials, and finish.
The sample ships to our Munich liaison office, normally one to two weeks in transit, where it is checked a second time by our Munich team before being forwarded. This double check is the reason the model exists: a designer in Berlin or London should never receive a sample that has not been seen by someone accountable in Europe.
We forward the sample to you with a production-readiness report covering what is confirmed, what still needs a decision, and the realistic path to batch production. Then we discuss bulk pricing and minimum order quantities from 100 pieces per style, depending on construction. Total typical timeline from confirmation to a sample in your hands is six to eight weeks.
See all services, browse sample work, read FAQs on MOQ and lead time, or start your project.