Inspection checkpoints · Apparel

Garment inspection: what we check.

A garment inspection checks workmanship, measurements, labels and packing on a random sample drawn to ANSI/ASQ Z1.4. Below is exactly what our inspectors look for on apparel and fabrics, and how each defect is classed.

Book an inspection Open the checklist

18: defects we look for
6: on-site tests
0 / 2.5 / 4.0: typical AQL

Apparel and textiles

CriticalBroken needle, needle fragment or other metal left in the garment

MajorHole, cut or tear; open, broken or skipped stitches on a seam

MinorUntrimmed thread ends

T-shirts, shirts, dresses, knitwear, denim, outerwear, sportswear, childrenswear and fabrics by the metre.

Defects by class

Critical, major, minor: how we class them.

Each defect in the sample is photographed and counted in its class. Your AQL plan sets how many are allowed; for critical defects the answer is none.

AQL 0

Critical defects

Likely to injure the user or breaks a mandatory rule of the destination market. One critical defect in the sample means the lot is not accepted.

Broken needle, needle fragment or other metal left in the garment
Sharp edge or point on a button, rivet, zip or trim
Children’s wear: cords or drawstrings at the hood or neck outside EN 14682 (EU and UK) or 16 CFR 1120 (US)
Children’s wear: button, snap or trim that comes off in the pull test
Mould, or live insects in the garment or carton

AQL 2.5 typical

Major defects

Likely to cause a failure, reduce usability or make the product unsaleable, so a customer would return it.

Hole, cut or tear; open, broken or skipped stitches on a seam
Measurement outside tolerance at a key point: chest, length, waist, hip or inseam
Shade difference between panels of one garment, or against the approved colour
Wrong or missing size, care or fibre composition label
Zip that does not run; button or snap missing or not closing
Stain or oil mark in a prominent area (zone A: front and upper body)
Stripes or checks mismatched at the front; twisted leg or body

AQL 4.0 typical

Minor defects

A departure from the specification that does not affect use and is unlikely on its own to cause a return.

Untrimmed thread ends
Slightly uneven stitch density or light puckering away from the front
Small mark in a less visible area that cleans off
Pressing creases or shine
Label slightly off position but fully legible
Small slub or knot in the fabric in a hidden area

Your specification and approved sample decide the final class. Where a buyer defines zones (for example, zone A for the most visible surfaces), a defect in zone A is usually classed higher than the same defect in a hidden area.

On-site tests

Tests we run at the factory.

01
Seam strength pull test
Stress seams (crotch, armhole, side seam) pulled at the force in your specification.
02
Colour fastness to rubbing
Dry and wet white cloth rubbed on dark shades and graded against the grey scale.
03
Fabric weight (GSM)
Round cutter and scale, compared with the fabric specification.
04
Button and snap pull test
Pull gauge on children’s wear at the value in your specification or standard.
05
Fit check
Base size on a dress form or fit model, where agreed.
06
Barcode scan
Hangtag and polybag barcodes decode and match the SKU and size.

Measurements

Points we measure.

Measurement points for apparel and textiles
Point	How we measure
Chest width	1 cm below the armhole, laid flat
Body length	From the high point shoulder
Sleeve length	Shoulder point to cuff edge
Waist and hip	Relaxed, laid flat
Inseam	Crotch point to hem (trousers)
Neck opening	Stretched and relaxed, knits

Unit: cm unless stated. We measure at least five units per size or version against your specification and tolerances, and report every reading.

Packing and labelling

Packed right, labelled right.

Folded to the folding instructions, with tissue, clips and inserts as specified
Size stickers on polybags match the garment inside
Polybags carry a suffocation warning where required
Solid or mixed assortment matches the packing list by size and colour
Hanging garments: hangers, sizers and covers as specified
Cartons dry, sealed, marked and within the weight limit
Shipping marks, carton count, gross weight and dimensions agree with the packing list

Market marks

What your market expects.

EU: Fibre composition with the names in Regulation (EU) 1007/2011; care symbols to ISO 3758 are standard practice.
UK: Fibre composition under the Textile Products (Labelling and Fibre Composition) Regulations 2012.
US: Fibre content, country of origin and maker identity (name or RN) under the Textile Act; permanent care label under the FTC Care Labeling Rule.
Australia: Permanent care label under the care labelling information standard.
Children’s wear: Cords and drawstrings: EN 14682 in the EU and UK; 16 CFR 1120 in the US.

We check marks and documents against your specification. Your compliance team or test lab confirms which rules apply to your exact product.

How we inspect it

On the floor, step by step.

We check the order is finished and at least 80% packed, draw cartons at random, then inspect every garment in the sample on a lit table against the approved sample and your size spec. Stress tests and measurements use separate units so the sample stays saleable.

Suggested planLevel II with AQL 0 / 2.5 / 4.0 suits most apparel. Premium lines often tighten major to 1.5.

Other categories

Apparel inspection questions

Straight answers.

Anything else, ask us directly. A principal replies, not a bot.

anirudh@sourcesquid.co

What is a major defect in a garment?

A defect that would make a customer return the garment or stop it selling: a hole, an open seam, a measurement outside tolerance, a wrong size label or a clear shade difference. Minor defects, such as untrimmed threads, do not affect use.

What AQL is used for garment inspection?

Most apparel buyers use General Inspection Level II with AQL 0 for critical, 2.5 for major and 4.0 for minor defects. For an order of 3,500 pieces that means inspecting 200 garments.

How many garments do you measure?

At least five pieces per size and colour, at every point on your size spec, plus any garment that looks off during the visual check. Without a spec, we measure against the approved sample and report the differences.

Book a check

Your apparel, checked point by point.

Tell us the product, the factory and the date. We confirm the inspector and the fixed price the same working day.

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