Lab testing, coordinated for you.

Some properties of a garment cannot be judged by looking at it. How much will it shrink? Will the colour run? Will the seams hold under strain? Does it contain substances that are restricted in your market? Laboratory testing answers these questions with measured results from an independent lab, and those results are the kind of evidence that retailers, regulators and customers can rely on.

This page explains how we coordinate testing, which tests are commonly requested, how samples are prepared and sent, how to read a test report, what to do when a result is a fail and how testing fits with quality assurance and inspection. It is written for brand owners and buyers who need documented proof of performance or safety. We coordinate testing as part of a complete garment order, and the lab report belongs to you.

We do not run the tests ourselves. Testing is carried out by independent laboratories, and our role is to coordinate it so that it happens at the right time, on the right sample, against the right requirement. That means agreeing what needs to be tested, preparing and sending samples, tracking the timing, passing the results to you and acting on them.

• Scoping deciding which tests your product and market need.
• Sampling preparing representative samples from the real fabric or garment.
• Logistics sending samples to the laboratory and tracking progress.
• Results sharing the full report with you, not a summary.
• Follow-up acting on any failed result with you.

You can also choose the laboratory, and we will work with it.

Which tests are needed depends on the product, the fabric and where it is sold. Some of the most common are below.

1. 01

   Dimensional stability how much a fabric or garment shrinks or stretches after washing.

2. 02

   Colourfastness whether colour runs, fades or rubs off under washing, light, rubbing or perspiration.

3. 03

   Fibre composition confirms that the fibre content matches the label.

4. 04

   Fabric weight and construction confirms the fabric matches the specification.

5. 05

   Seam strength and fabric strength checks that seams and fabric hold under load.

6. 06

   Pilling and abrasion how the surface wears with use.

7. 07

   Restricted substances checks for chemicals that are limited in your market.

We help you decide which are relevant, rather than testing everything.

A test is only as good as the sample. The sample should come from the same fabric and process as the bulk order, and it should be large enough for all the tests. Testing a fabric before it is washed or dyed in the bulk process can give results that do not reflect the finished garment.

We plan sample timing so that results are available before decisions that depend on them, such as releasing bulk production. Where possible, testing is done on a pre-production sample from the real bulk fabric, since that gives the most reliable guide to what the order will do.

A laboratory report states the test method, the requirement or standard it was judged against, the result and a pass or fail verdict where a limit applies. Some tests report a number, such as percentage shrinkage or a colourfastness grade, and others report pass or fail against a threshold.

We share the full report and help you understand it. Check that the test method matches what you need, that the sample description matches your product and that the limit used is the one your market or customer requires. A pass against one standard is not automatically a pass against another.

A failed test is information, and it is better to learn it before shipping than after. The next step depends on the test. A shrinkage failure might be addressed by changing the finishing or the pattern allowance. A colourfastness failure might call for a different dye process or a different fabric. A composition failure might mean a label correction.

We discuss the cause and the options with you, propose a fix and, once changes are made, arrange a retest. We do not release bulk production on a failed result without your decision, and we do not alter results or reports. If the fix is not possible, we tell you directly.

Test results support claims, but they do not replace the need to use claims carefully. If you want to say that a garment has a particular property, the evidence should match the claim exactly, including the standard and the sample tested. We help you word statements so that they reflect what the report shows, and no more.

Testing, inspection and quality assurance work together. Testing proves properties, inspection confirms that the finished goods match the tested sample and quality assurance keeps the whole process on track. Our quality assurance and inspection pages describe the other two.

Tell us the product, the market, the properties you need evidence for and any laboratory you prefer. We will respond in writing with a testing plan, what we need to confirm and how the sample step works. Made-to-order starts from 50 pieces per style. We sell to business customers only.