Garment & Textile Inspection China: Pre-Shipment QC for Amazon FBA Sellers | $169

What Are the Most Common Garment Defects From Chinese Factories?

Shirts with sleeve lengths off by 3cm from spec. Pants with inseam differences that make leg lengths visibly uneven. Knitwear with skipped stitches that unravel after the first wash. Screen-printed T-shirts where the print cracks and peels after two laundry cycles. And the silent killer: color variation between production dye lots — an "olive green" batch that looks gray next to the approved sample. These defects don't show up in a quick visual check at the factory gate. They need systematic measurement and testing.

How Does Garment Inspection Work at a Chinese Factory?

The inspector arrives at the factory with your spec sheet — size chart, acceptable fabric defect count, print/embroidery approval, and labeling requirements. For a 1,000-garment order, AQL 2.5 means sampling 80 units across all colors and sizes. Each sampled garment is laid flat on a measuring table, checked against the 15-point measurement spec (chest width, shoulder, sleeve length, center back length for tops; waist, hip, inseam, rise for bottoms), inspected under D65 daylight lamp for fabric flaws, and tested for seam strength by pulling at stress points.

Step 1: Size Measurement Check

Inspectors measure each sample garment against your spec sheet with a calibrated measuring tape. Key measurements for tops: chest (1cm below armhole), shoulder width (shoulder seam to shoulder seam), sleeve length (shoulder to cuff), center back length (base of collar to hem). Key measurements for bottoms: waistband circumference, hip (8cm below waist), inseam (crotch to hem), outseam (waist to hem), leg opening width. Tolerance is typically ±1-1.5cm for most specs — if 20%+ samples exceed tolerance, the batch fails.

Step 2: Fabric Defect Inspection

Each garment is inspected on a mannequin or flat table under D65 standard daylight lighting (color temperature 6500K). Inspectors check for: holes, pulls, loose threads, dye spots, shading (uneven color within the same garment), barre (horizontal banding in knits), slubs (thick yarn spots), and bowing/skewing in printed stripes. Fabric defects are categorized as critical (holes, oil stains), major (shading, barre visible at 1m distance), or minor (loose threads, slight slubs). Any critical defect means the garment fails regardless of other results.

Step 3: Color Fastness & Care Label Check

Color fastness is tested with a dry/wet rubbing test: rub a white cloth against the dyed fabric 10 times. If significant color transfers, the garment fails for dye bleeding. Care labels are checked for: fiber content percentages (e.g., "65% Polyester, 35% Cotton"), wash symbols (machine washable/dry clean only/bleach), country of origin, and manufacturer identifier. Amazon requires care labels on all textile products — missing or incorrect labels mean FBA inbound rejections. We also verify the RN number or CA number if your brand is registered.

Step 4: FBA Packaging Check

Garments going to Amazon FBA need polybags with suffocation warnings for loose items, polybags under 14x20 inches for apparel (if larger, must be 1.5mm thick). Inspectors verify: correct polybag size and thickness, barcode scannability (FNSKU on each polybag, ASIN barcode on outer carton), carton weight under 50 lbs (25 kg preferred), and no outer carton branding (unless your brand is permitted). Hang tags must be attached securely — loose tags inside polybags trigger FBA inbound defects.

Why FBA Sellers Lose Money on Clothing

Apparel is one of the highest-return categories on Amazon — around 25-35% industry average. Of those returns, 40% are size-related (garment doesn't match the size chart) and 20% are quality-related (fabric feels wrong, seam came apart, print cracked). A single $20 shirt with a size mismatch costs you: $20 refund + $6.40 return shipping label + 22% restocking fee hit on your pricing = $30+ cost per return. A $169 inspection finds these issues before they ship. On a 2,000-unit clothing order, that's about 8 cents per unit for protection against 25% return rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What AQL level should I use for garment inspection?

AQL 2.5 is the standard for apparel — normal quality level for consumer garments. For premium/branded clothing (your own label, luxury segment), use AQL 1.0. For budget/generic T-shirts (low price point, lower expectations), AQL 4.0 may be acceptable. CloudSpects defaults to AQL 2.5 unless you specify otherwise.

Can you inspect knitted and woven garments differently?

Yes. Knitwear (T-shirts, sweaters, leggings) requires extra attention to: barre/horizontal lines from inconsistent yarn tension, pilling resistance (friction test), and stretch recovery (does the waistband go back to shape after pulling). Woven garments (shirts, jeans, blazers) need: seam strength (tested by pulling perpendicular to the seam), pattern matching at seams, and zip/button functionality tests.

Do you check for harmful chemicals in fabrics?

Basic on-site inspection covers color fastness and odor checks (formaldehyde smell is a red flag). For full chemical compliance (REACH SVHC, OEKO-TEX, CPSIA lead testing), we recommend sending samples to a certified lab. CloudSpects can arrange sample collection and lab shipment — we handle the chain of custody documentation.

Which Chinese cities do garment factories concentrate in?

Knitwear and underwear are centered in Foshan and Guangzhou (Guangdong), denim and jeans in Xintang and Zhongshan, silk and high-end garments in Hangzhou and Suzhou, winter jackets and outerwear in Guangdong (Nantou) and Zhejiang (Pinghu), and childrenswear in Huzhou (Zhejiang) and Shantou. CloudSpects covers all these manufacturing hubs with no extra travel cost.

How do you check garment sizing against my Amazon size chart?

You provide the size chart (S/M/L dimensions or numeric sizing). We measure each sample and compare. If your size chart says Medium chest = 40in but the production garments measure 42in, we flag it as a spec deviation — your customers will receive garments that don't fit the online listing's size guide, which drives return reasons of "item didn't fit" regardless of objective measurements.

What is the FBA suffocation warning requirement for garment polybags?

Polybags used for apparel with an opening larger than 5 inches must have a suffocation warning printed on the bag or a label affixed. The warning must say "WARNING: To avoid danger of suffocation, keep this plastic bag away from babies and children." Amazon will reject inbound shipments if the warning is missing. Our inspectors verify this on every garment shipment.