Laboratory Testing
Physical, chemical and colour testing.
What really happens at this stage
Laboratory testing verifies that fabric, trims, and finished garments meet the physical and chemical performance the buyer specified, independent of how the garment looks or fits. Physical testing covers properties such as tensile and tear strength, seam slippage, colourfastness to washing and rubbing, pilling resistance, and dimensional stability after washing. Chemical testing screens for restricted substances and confirms fibre content, pH, and finish performance where relevant to the buyer's programme. Colour testing checks that shade, shade continuity across a bulk lot, and fastness to light, perspiration, and rubbing stay within the buyer's approved tolerance, since colour is one of the most visible and most disputed quality attributes in apparel.
Results are only meaningful if the sample tested truly represents the lot, so sampling protocol, conditioning of specimens, and following the buyer's specified test method precisely are as important as the equipment itself. A lab report showing a pass on an unrepresentative swatch gives false confidence and can let a genuine bulk fabric fault through to cutting. Internal labs handle routine screening and early-warning checks during development and bulk production, while accredited third-party labs are typically used for the buyer's formal pre-production and pre-shipment test reports. Retaining physical reference samples and past reports allows a factory to compare a new lot against history when a result looks borderline.
How it is done
- 1Confirm the test matrix
Agree with the buyer which physical, chemical, and colour tests apply to this style, fabric, and market, referencing the buyer's specified test method for each.
- 2Draw representative samples
Cut swatches from multiple positions across the fabric width and along different rolls in the lot, avoiding fabric edges or visibly flawed areas.
- 3Condition specimens
Hold samples at standard temperature and humidity for the specified conditioning period before testing, since moisture content skews strength and dimensional results.
- 4Run internal screening
Test shrinkage, colourfastness, and basic strength in-house during bulk production to catch a shifting fabric batch before cutting.
- 5Commission third-party testing
Send pre-production and pre-shipment samples to an accredited external lab for the buyer's formal test report package.
- 6Review and act on results
Compare each result against the buyer's approved tolerance, and where a value is borderline, retest a second sample set before releasing fabric to cutting.
Key metrics (indicative targets)
| Metric | Working target | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| First-pass lab test rate | Above 85 percent of tests passing on first submission (indicative) | Frequent retests point to unstable fabric sourcing or process control problems upstream. |
| Colour shade approval cycle time | Within 2 to 3 working days per submission (indicative) | Slow shade approval delays bulk dyeing and can push back the entire cutting schedule. |
| Restricted substance screening coverage | 100 percent of applicable fabrics and trims screened per season (indicative) | Compliance failures on restricted substances can block shipment or trigger a recall. |
| Dimensional stability after wash | Within the buyer's approved shrinkage tolerance (indicative) | Excess shrinkage after the consumer's first wash is a leading cause of customer returns. |
| Sample-to-lot correlation rate | Above 95 percent agreement between lab sample and bulk lot performance (indicative) | Poor correlation means the sampling method is not representative of what actually ships. |
Targets are indicative working ranges, not standard or legal limits.
Control points to check and sign off
- Test matrix and applicable buyer test methods documented per style before bulk fabric booking.
- Sample conditioning time and environment logged alongside each test result.
- Retest triggers defined in writing for borderline or failed results.
- Third-party lab accreditation and scope checked before sending formal pre-shipment samples.
- All test reports archived and cross-referenced to the fabric lot and purchase order.
Common pitfalls and their consequences
- Testing a single 'best' swatch instead of samples drawn across the roll, producing a pass that does not reflect the true lot.
- Skipping conditioning time under schedule pressure, which distorts strength and shrinkage readings.
- Relying only on internal lab results for buyer-mandated compliance tests that require third-party accreditation.
- Approving a shade under the wrong light source, causing a metamerism complaint once garments reach the store under different lighting.
- Not retesting after a supplier changes a dye lot or finish, assuming prior approval still applies to the new batch.
Main activities
- Washing, finishing and pressing
- Inline, endline and AQL final audits
- Laboratory testing and shipment release
Quality risks
- Test failures
Sustainability risks
- Restricted chemistry
AI opportunities
- Lab data analytics
Official sources
Learn the skills used at this stage
Free GarmentEd lessons with worked calculations, checklists and practice questions for the work described above.
- Colourfastness TestingQuality & inspection
- Physical Performance TestingQuality & inspection
- Restricted Substances ManagementCompliance & sustainability
- Textile Laboratory TestingQuality & inspection
- Textile Testing and PerformanceTextiles & materials
Also relevant: Childrenswear and Product Safety Academy, Measurement-System Analysis, Product Durability and Care, Quality Management Systems, Shade Control and Reproducibility.
Industry chapters that cover this stage
The GARMENT TECH Ed industry chapters whose lessons are applied here — each chapter has a reference page and a taught lesson you can read straight through.
- Chapter 17 · Material Testing & Textile LaboratoryQuality & ComplianceRead the chapter lesson
- Chapter 28 · Quality Management SystemsQuality & ComplianceRead the chapter lesson
- Chapter 16 · Colour Management & Shade ControlQuality & ComplianceRead the chapter lesson
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Questions about this stage
Ask about stage 30, Laboratory Testing. No account needed — questions are published once reviewed, with the answer alongside them.
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