Fabric Inspection Guide: What to Check Before Your Goods Ship

A container of fabric is a big investment — and a bad batch is expensive to fix. A simple pre-shipment inspection catches most problems before they reach your factory. Here is a practical checklist used by experienced fabric buyers, and how to apply it to T/R fabric.

1. Weight (gsm) — the most common dispute

Confirm the fabric weight against your specification. Standard tolerance is ±5%:

• Weigh 3-5 samples of 1 square metre from different rolls
• Average the results and compare with the order spec
• Below spec = lighter, cheaper-feeling fabric; above spec = more material, higher cost

2. Width and roll length

• Measure width on several rolls — it should match the order (e.g. 150cm) within tolerance
• Check roll lengths against the packing list
• Look for short rolls or inconsistent length marking

3. Colour and shade

• Compare against the approved lab dip under daylight conditions
• Check shade bands — dye lots within one order should not drift visibly
• Inspect both the face and the reverse for colour consistency

4. Defects — the visual pass

Open a sample of rolls and scan the fabric on a lit inspection table:

• Yarn defects: slubs, knots, thick and thin places
• Weaving defects: broken picks, floats, holes, selvedge problems
• Finishing defects: crease marks, stains, uneven set
• Count defects per 100 metres — a common acceptance standard is under 20 points per 100m (4-point system)

Bonus checks for finished fabric

• Shrinkage: ask for a preshrunk wash test or lab report
• Colour fastness: to washing, rubbing and light — request test reports
• Hand feel: compare against the approved sample

How we support inspection

At our factory, every T/R yarn and fabric order is inspected in-house before packing: per-roll weight and width checks, visual defect screening and a packing list that matches the goods. We also welcome third-party inspection (SGS, BV, Intertek) at the factory before loading.

Frequently asked questions

Should I hire a third-party inspection company?

For first orders or large containers, yes — SGS/BV/Intertek inspection is inexpensive insurance. For repeat orders with a trusted mill, in-house checks with photos usually suffice.

What if defects are found?

A professional mill will replace defective rolls or agree a credit. This is why inspection happens before shipment, not after arrival.

Do you send inspection photos?

Yes — we send packing photos and can arrange a video walkthrough of the inspected goods before loading.