How to perform quality control on your clothing collection
If you want longevity & success for your clothing brand, excellent quality control is critically important & will dictate how your product is perceived by customers.
Quality control is an essential step in the process of manufacturing your garment collection, ensuring that each piece you send to valued customers meet high standards not only builds trust, but also your brand image & perceived value.
On the other hand, neglecting quality control will result in dissatisfied customers, returns, negative brand reviews and therefore a tarnished brand reputation.
Always remember to perform your own QC check, as manufacturers often tend to let lesser than perfect quality slip through, as it is not their brand name on the line.
In this article we break down a few of the key checklist steps to ensure each garment you receive from production is up to the standard of your brand, before shipping to customers.
TECHNICAL DESIGN
Measure each garment against your POM & spec sheet to ensure accuracy of the design spec which you detailed within your tech pack.
Confirm consistent measurements & sizing proportions across each style.
Test each size on body to ensure the fit is correct & no adjustments need to be made.
Inspect each garment for specific design details & components which you detailed in your tech pack, such as lining, darts & pleats, etc.
FABRIC & MATERIALS
Confirm the fabric matches your approved tech pack swatches, look for material type, color, weight, texture, etc.
Ensure fabric & trim consistency across all garments in the collection.
Inspect fabric for production defects such as holes, stains, snags or irregular dye marks.
STITCHING & SEAMS
Review each stitch & seam to ensure they are the correct type as detailed in your tech pack.
Inspect stitching for uniform straight lines & correct stitch per inch, and no loose threads.
Ensure seams are strong & secure with no loose stitches.
Look for seam puckering, twisting or uneven seam allowances.
EMBELLISHMENT
Inspect garment embellishments such as graphic print or embroidery for quality & accuracy.
Ensure the placement & proportions of each design are correct across all sizes.
FABRIC & COLOR TESTING
Wash & test fabric for the following :
Color fading or bleeding.
Shrinkage, pilling or warping.
Wear and stress test performance.
TRIM & ACCESSORIES
Inspect trim, such as buttons, snaps, zippers, etc, for function, accuracy & alignment.
Check garment labels & hang tags for accuracy, quality, & stitching.
PACKAGING & PRESENTATION
Confirm the packaging such as poly bags or boxes are accurate to your spec.
Check price tags & labels for accuracy.
Inspect packing for defects such as rips or markings.
CONCLUSION
Quality control is the last step before your customer receives the product, by implementing your own personal QC check on each garment, you are able to verify that what you are sending is up to the standard of which you want your brand to uphold and be perceived.
Although it can take some time, it is well worth it & will certainly benefit your brand in the long term.
Disclaimer : this is not business advice, only reiteration of our own research & experience working with clothing brands. use information at your own discretion.
