Custom Towel Order Process: Samples, Virtuals and Lead Times

A custom towel order at Riviera flows like this: you look at what we have, ask for virtuals to see your logo on the product, request samples to confirm the feel and colour, approve, and we produce or pull stock, finish, inspect and ship. Stock from California is fastest, inventory in Turkey ships in 7-10 days and made-to-order production takes about two weeks in Turkey.

If you are a distributor with a client waiting, you do not need a mystery. You need a map. Here is the full journey, stage by stage, with the questions you should be asking at each one.

Stage 1: How do you start a custom order?

Start with the inventory page and the full collection. Logged-in distributors see wholesale pricing, so you can build a quote for your client without waiting on a reply.

Before you go further, answer five questions. They save a week of back-and-forth later:

1. What is the product: towel, blanket, robe, bag or hat?
2. How will your client use it: gifting, retail, hospitality, event giveaway?
3. When is the in-hand date, and is it fixed (an event) or flexible (a launch)?
4. Which decoration fits: jacquard weaving, embroidery or printing?
5. Do you need custom hang tags, woven labels, belly bands or special packaging?

Is it better to order from stock or make to order?

It depends on the calendar and on how bespoke the project is. If the date is tight and a stocked style and colour suits your client, ready-to-ship California inventory is the quickest route. If you need a specific colour, a woven-in logo or custom packaging, made-to-order production gives you full control. Here is how the options compare.

These figures cover production and dispatch readiness. We will not quote you a carrier or a transit time here, because they depend on your destination and the shipping method you choose, so confirm that with the team when you plan your in-hand date.

Stage 2: What are virtuals, and when do you need them?

A virtual is a mock-up of your product with your logo and colours on it. It is how you and your end client agree on placement, size and proportion before anything is made. You can use the Request Virtuals option, and it is usually the first thing to ask for.

Virtuals are brilliant for three things:

• Selling the idea. Putting a realistic image in front of a client beats describing it.
• Catching design problems. Logos that are too small, too dense or too close to an edge show up immediately.
• Getting sign-off. One approved image avoids three rounds of vague feedback.

What artwork should you send?

Send a vector file whenever you can, plus brand colours in Pantone references where available. If the client only has a low-resolution image, tell us. For woven and embroidered products, a simpler logo almost always looks better than a detailed one. If you want to dig into how colour references are handled, read our guide to Pantone matching for towels.

Stage 3: Why request samples, and what should you check?

A sample is a real piece of product in your hands. No virtual can tell you how a towel drapes, how a yarn feels or how a colour looks in your own light. Use Request Samples whenever the order is new, large or going to a client who cares about quality.

When the sample arrives, check these things together with your client:

1. Hand-feel. Is it the softness and weight you promised?
2. Colour. Hold it next to the brand reference under daylight.
3. Decoration quality. Run a finger over the logo. Is the jacquard crisp? Is the embroidery clean?
4. Finishing. Look at the edges, fringe, labels and tags.
5. Presentation. If packaging is part of the plan, judge how it looks when opened.

Stage 4: How does production actually work?

Once artwork, colours and quantities are approved, the order moves into production or is pulled from stock. Our textiles are made with mills in Turkey. Small family-run mills make our flat-woven Turkish towels, while circular knitting and computerized jacquard looms produce knit and jacquard blankets. The longer story of that journey is in From Loom to Logo.

What counts as a pooled quantity?

Pricing works on pooled quantity price breaks. That means you can mix colours and styles within an order, and the mix earns the price break of the lower-priced style. For a distributor with several departments or office locations to supply, that flexibility matters, because you are not forced into a single colour just to reach a quantity tier. Ask your account contact how a specific mix would be priced before you finalise.

Stage 5: What happens at finishing, inspection and shipping?

This is the stage where a product turns into something you would be proud to hand over. Each piece is inspected, pressed, folded and packed. Finishing details such as custom hang tags, woven labels, branded belly bands or sleeves and personalised packaging are added here, so the product arrives ready for a gift table, a retail display or a welcome basket.

We can also pack and ship custom orders, and we support distributor drop-ship workflows. If your client has several recipients or locations, mention it at the start so the packing plan is built into the order instead of added at the end.

What does a realistic timeline look like?

Work backwards from your in-hand date. This sample plan uses only the stages described above, so you can slot it into your own calendar.

The fastest orders are not the ones with the fastest looms. They are the ones with approved artwork on day one.

How do you avoid delays?

• Send final vector artwork and Pantone references with the first request.
• Put one person at your client in charge of approvals.
• Decide on packaging early, because custom tags and sleeves need artwork too.
• Check the inventory page before you promise a date to your client.
• Tell us about fixed event dates up front so we can plan around them.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a custom order take?

Made-to-order production takes about two weeks in Turkey. Inventory that is already in Turkey ships in 7-10 days, and some stock is ready to ship from California. Transit time depends on your destination and shipping method, so confirm that with our team.

Are samples and virtuals the same thing?

No. A virtual is a digital mock-up showing your logo on the product, and a sample is a physical piece you can touch and inspect. Virtuals help you agree on design, and samples help you confirm feel and colour.

Can I mix colours and styles in one order?

Yes. We use pooled quantity price breaks, so mixing colours and styles earns the price break of the lower-priced style.

Do you support drop shipping?

Yes. We can pack and ship custom orders and support distributor drop-ship workflows. Share your recipient details and packaging needs early so the plan is built into your order.

Can I get custom packaging with my order?

Yes. We offer custom hang tags, woven labels, branded belly bands or sleeves and personalised packaging, all applied during finishing.