# Leather goods and footwear inspection checklist > What our inspectors check on bags, wallets and shoes: leather grade, stitching, sole bonding, hardware, pairing, measurements, labels and chromium VI reports. Source: https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/leather-goods-and-footwear/ Inspection checkpoints · Leather and footwear # Leather and footwear inspection: what we check. A leather goods and footwear inspection checks leather, stitching, edges, hardware and bonding on a random sample drawn to ANSI/ASQ Z1.4. Here is what our inspectors check on bags, small leather goods and shoes. [Book an inspection](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/book-an-inspection/?product=Leather%20goods%20and%20footwear) [Open the checklist](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/inspection-checklist/?cat=leather) 15 defects we look for 6 on-site tests 0 / 2.5 / 4.0 typical AQL Leather goods and footwear **Critical** Needle fragment or tack left in a shoe or bag **Major** Sole bonding gap or delamination **Minor** Glue mark that cleans off Bags, wallets and small leather goods, belts, gloves, and leather, textile and synthetic footwear. 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. * Needle fragment or tack left in a shoe or bag * Sharp edge on hardware * Mould on leather, lining or packing * Children’s footwear: small part that detaches AQL 2.5 typical ### Major defects Likely to cause a failure, reduce usability or make the product unsaleable, so a customer would return it. * Sole bonding gap or delamination * Pair mismatched in size, shade, height or shape * Scar, cut or colour patch on a visible panel beyond the agreed grade * Skipped or broken stitches; thread ends not secured * Edge paint cracked or peeling * Zip, buckle, clasp or magnet not working; hardware plating peeling * Handle or strap loose; heel loose 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. * Glue mark that cleans off * Slight colour variation in a hidden area * Untrimmed thread ends * Small unevenness in edge paint 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. 1. 01 **Sole bond flex** Shoes flexed by hand to show any gap between sole and upper. 2. 02 **Rub fastness** Dry and wet white cloth on the leather surface and edges. 3. 03 **Handle and strap pull** Pulled at the load in your specification. 4. 04 **Moisture reading** Leather moisture meter; silica gel checked in the pack. 5. 05 **Hardware cycles** Zips, buckles and clasps opened and closed repeatedly. 6. 06 **Odour check** Strong solvent or mould odour recorded. Measurements ## Points we measure. Measurement points for leather goods and footwear Point| How we measure ---|--- Length, width, height| Bags and small leather goods Handle drop and strap length| Adjustable straps at both ends Leather thickness| Thickness gauge at several panels Insole length| Footwear, per size Heel and shaft height| Footwear, per size Unit: mm 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. * Pairs are left and right of the same size, in the right box * Paper stuffing, tissue and dust bags as specified * Silica gel in each box or bag * Box labels match the size, colour and style inside * Cartons dry, sealed and marked * Shipping marks, carton count, gross weight and dimensions agree with the packing list Market marks ## What your market expects. EU and UK Footwear material labels for upper, lining and outer sole (Directive 94/11/EC). EU and UK Chromium VI in leather in contact with skin below 3 mg/kg (REACH Annex XVII, entry 47); azo dye limits (entry 43). US Country of origin marking; leather claims that follow the FTC leather guides (16 CFR 24); Proposition 65 warning where required. Care Care instructions where supplied match the material. 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 inspect each sampled piece on a clean, lit table, checking every panel, seam and edge against the approved sample and the agreed leather grade. Shoes are checked as pairs, flexed and measured per size. Suggested planLevel II with AQL 0 / 2.5 / 4.0 is usual. Luxury lines often tighten major to 1.5. * [Sampling**AQL sampling planner** Sample size and accept numbers for AQL 0 / 2.5 / 4.0.](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/aql-sampling-planner/?lot=3500&level=II&crit=0&major=2.5&minor=4.0) * [Checklist**Leather and footwear inspection checklist** A printable form with these checks, ready for your inspector.](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/inspection-checklist/?cat=leather) * [Testing**Test advisor** Which lab tests your product needs before it ships.](https://sourcesquid.co/tools/test-advisor/) * [Report**See an example report** A full pre-shipment report, page by page.](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/sample-report/) Other categories * [Apparel and textiles](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/apparel-and-textiles/) * [Home textiles](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/home-textiles/) * [Metal hardgoods](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/metal-hardgoods/) * [Plastic products](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/plastic-products/) * [Electronics and electricals](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/electronics/) * [Furniture](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/furniture/) * [Ceramics and glass](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/ceramics-and-glass/) * [Toys](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/toys/) * [Packaging](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/checkpoints/packaging/) Leather and footwear inspection questions ## Straight answers. Anything else, ask us directly. A principal replies, not a bot. [anirudh@sourcesquid.co](mailto:anirudh@sourcesquid.co) ### What do you check on shoes? Pairing, size marking, sole bonding, stitching, upper material, heels, lining, insoles, measurements per size, a flex check and a rub test, plus labels, boxes and silica gel. Pairs must match in size, shade and shape. ### How do you classify leather defects? Against the leather grade you agreed with the factory. Natural marks within that grade are accepted; scars, cuts or colour patches beyond it on a visible panel are major; the same on a hidden area is minor. ### How do you prevent mould in leather shipments? We check leather moisture with a meter, confirm silica gel is packed as specified and look for mould on leather, lining and packing. We also note carton condition and storage conditions in the warehouse. Book a check ## Your leather and footwear, 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. [Book an inspection](https://sourcesquid.co/quality/book-an-inspection/?product=Leather%20goods%20and%20footwear)[Talk to a principal](https://sourcesquid.co/contact/)