What is quality control in the clothing industry?
Garment quality control ensures that garments meet the necessary standards of design, durability, comfort, and other factors through inspections conducted before, during, and after production.
For simpler garments, such as T-shirts, this process is straightforward. However, high-end fabrics and complex designs require very rigorous quality control, especially for designer garments.
Furthermore, since 80% of the world's clothing is produced in China, quality control is also essential to verify compliance. In the textile industry, all countries must adhere to strict regulations and quality standards. Non-compliance can result in product rejection at customs, shipping delays, and even litigation.
When it comes to quality control, Uniqlo stands out for its strict standards. One of our purchasing agents, who previously worked at Uniqlo, told us that while the industry average of defective items is around 2-3%, Uniqlo insists on reducing it to just 0.3%. Even a simple Uniqlo T-shirt rarely has defects; it would be difficult to find a single millimeter of loose thread. This commitment to quality has made Uniqlo a symbol of excellence for many.
How to check the quality of clothes?
The standard inspection process involves checking at every stage: before production, during production, and after mass production .
Materials Inspection
All materials used in clothing manufacturing must be inspected. This involves examining fabrics, buttons, zippers, etc., using light sources, touching them, stretching them, etc., to ensure they meet the requirements.
Inspection in progress
When a small portion (e.g., 1/5) of the clothing production is complete, you can inspect the size, seams, decoration, functionality, etc. of this batch. For example, perform stretch tests on the fabric and seams and repeatedly pull zippers to check their smoothness. If you find any problems, correct them immediately to avoid costly problems later.
Inspection of the finished product
This is crucial. A thorough inspection of finished garments is necessary. Hiring an external quality inspection company is a convenient option. This company will go directly to the factory to inspect the products and provide detailed quality inspection reports, ensuring that the clothing meets the design specifications and customer requirements.
What should be checked in clothing quality control?
Generally, the inspection body will issue a garment quality control report. This report primarily includes the following key contents:
Fabric quality
This aspect primarily inspects the fabric for issues such as color variations, stains, defects, broken threads, etc. It also evaluates the fabric's uniformity, ensuring it is free of stripes, mottling, or noticeable defects. Pantone postcards are often used to compare color consistency.
Size and stability
Quality inspectors often use a ruler or tape measure to carefully compare the size and check if it meets the requirements. It's also necessary to consider changes in fabric size after processes such as washing, drying, or other treatments.
Shrinkage and deformation
This focuses on determining whether the fabric experiences shrinkage, distortion, or contraction after washing or heat treatments. Shrinkage is an important factor, especially for fabrics like cotton or linen. A test is necessary to ensure that the shrinkage is acceptable.
Color fastness test
In the case of dyed garments, such as jeans , it's important to check that the fabric maintains color stability under conditions such as washing, rubbing, or exposure to sunlight. This helps avoid serious fading problems.
Decorations and accessories
Decorative elements such as beads, embroidery, and ribbons, as well as accessories like zippers and buttons, give clothing a unique style and personality. However, they also directly influence the quality and durability of the product. Make sure they are securely attached to the garment to prevent them from falling off or becoming damaged during use.
Sewing quality
Good sewing quality, such as thread uniformity, stitch tension, and density, ensures seam stability and durability. Furthermore, precise seam placement and alignment, secure button and buttonhole fastening, and proper cut and finish are key elements in ensuring the garment's impeccable appearance and durability. All of these aspects must be thoroughly inspected.
Label and packaging
The accuracy of labels should not be overlooked. It's essential to ensure that information such as size, composition, washing instructions, and brand are correct and clearly visible on the labels. Furthermore, labels must be securely attached to the garments.
Regarding packaging, it must effectively protect the product's condition during transport. It is also essential to ensure that it contains all the necessary information. The environmental friendliness of the packaging materials must also be considered , ensuring that they do not negatively affect the product's quality.
Durability and performance
Evaluating the durability of clothing involves checking its resistance to normal wear and tear, such as repeated washing, stretching, and other stresses. High-quality garments should withstand regular use, such as wearing, washing, and friction, without significant changes in the fabric's shape or texture.
What are the quality standards and regulations in the garment industry?
In addition to the above, you should also consider compliance issues for your specific apparel category and target market.
Each country has different legal requirements for clothing, especially for special groups like children, with strict certifications and regulations to ensure that clothing is safe for health. Listed below are the seven most common certifications in clothing manufacturing.
ISO
ISO is the abbreviation for International Organization for Standardization. It develops globally accepted standards to ensure the quality, safety, and efficiency of products and services. For example, the most famous is the ISO 9001 quality management standard .
In the clothing industry, the ISO standard involves several standards, such as ISO 105-B02 for evaluating the color fastness of textiles and ISO 12945 for testing the abrasion resistance of textiles.
American Association of Texas Jails (AATCC)
AATCC (American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists). Develops testing methods and standards for textile and apparel products. The AATCC plays a critical role in the textile and apparel industry, providing guidance on colorfastness, fabric performance, chemical testing, and other relevant aspects to ensure the quality and safety of textile products.
CPSIA
The CPSIA is a U.S. regulation that establishes safety standards for consumer products, including children's clothing. It sets limits for certain chemicals (e.g., lead and phthalate content) in textiles and requires independent testing for children's products.
ASTM
ASTM stands for the American Society for Testing and Materials. It publishes technical standards for a wide range of products and industries, including textiles and apparel.
In the apparel industry, ASTM standards are used to test and evaluate fabric properties, garment performance, flammability, and other critical parameters.
REACH
REACH is a European Union regulation that governs the production and use of chemicals in products, including textiles. Its aim is to protect human health and the environment by regulating the use of hazardous chemicals.
GOTS
GOTS stands for Global Organic Textile Standard, an international certification standard for textiles and apparel. It ensures that textiles meet strict organic and environmental standards throughout production, including fiber cultivation and treatment, processing, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, and other processes.
If you need to import 100% organic cotton clothing, your supplier must issue this certification and mark it on the label.
OEKO-TEX
The standards and requirements of OEKO-TEX certification cover the ecological aspects of textiles, ensuring that textile and clothing products contain no harmful substances and are harmless to humans and the environment.
It is not a mandatory legal requirement, but rather a voluntary sign. Products that have obtained OEKO-TEX certification may bear the "OEKO-TEX Standard 100" logo on the label to convey to consumers the product's environmental protection and safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between QA and QC in the apparel industry?
Both quality control and quality assurance serve to improve product quality. However, quality control generally involves establishing standards and processes, monitoring, and other planning and preventive measures. Quality control, on the other hand, is an inspection method that focuses on verifying whether the products or services produced or developed meet quality standards.
The main difference between the two is that quality control focuses more on prevention, while quality assurance involves actual inspections and testing during the production process.
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