Colour is harder to get right than it looks, and on accessories a colour that shifts between sample and production can ruin a run. Here is how colour matching and Pantone references work, and how to make sure what you approve is what you get.
Pantone and colour references
Pantone references give a manufacturer a precise, shared definition of the colour you want, removing the ambiguity of describing colour in words or on a screen. Specifying colour by reference is the foundation of getting it right, because screens and descriptions are unreliable.
Lab dips and approval
A lab dip is a sample of the material dyed to your target colour for approval before production. Reviewing and approving lab dips, ideally in good light against your reference, is how you confirm the colour before committing. Do not skip this step on colour-critical product.
Managing dye lot consistency
Colour can vary slightly between dye lots, which matters when you reorder or run large volumes. A good manufacturer manages this to keep colour consistent across a run and across reorders, so your product matches itself over time.
Approving colour the right way
Approve colour against a physical reference and lab dip, not a screen, and document the approved standard. Engelite manages colour matching and confirms it at sampling before production. If colour is critical to your product, that is exactly how we handle it.