When it comes to creating high-quality garments, the process begins long before the first stitch is sewn. The journey from concept to finished product involves several critical steps, ensuring that the final garment not only looks great but also performs as intended. In this blog, we’ll delve into the essential aspects of fabric selection, colour standards, and rigorous testing protocols that underpin the production of top-notch apparel.
Fabric Selection – Ensuring it is Fit for Purpose
The foundation of any garment is its fabric. Selecting the right fabric is crucial, as it must meet the specific demands of the garment’s intended use. Here are some key properties we consider at Chadwick Teamwear:
- Durability – For items like pants that undergo significant wear and tear, fabrics need to be robust and resistant to damage, with snag ratings being a key factor in fabric selection.
- Comfort – Fabric selection for everyday wear needs to prioritize comfort and feel. Skin-friendly brushback and breathable fabrics are consistently delivered with Chadwick Teamwear garments.
- Functionality – Specialized garments, such as training wear, require moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties.
- Flexibility – Activewear fabrics should provide ample stretch and recovery to accommodate movement without losing shape.
By carefully evaluating these properties and leveraging our in-house fabric expertise with over 60 years in the industry, we ensure that the chosen fabric will enhance the garment’s performance, longevity, and look.
Colour Standards & Weight Selection: Consistency is Key
Colour is a critical aspect of a garment’s appeal and brand identity. Our colour standards and fabric weights are meticulously tested and require a number of approval processes before being signed off for production. This ensures colour and weight continuity throughout ranges, time and time again.
- Colour Matching – Fabrics are dyed to match exact colour standards on production runs, ensuring uniformity across different production batches.
- Long-Term Stability – We test for colour fastness to ensure that the garment maintains its vibrant hues despite washing, exposure to sunlight, and other environmental factors.
Comprehensive Fabrics Testing: Tailoring Tests to Garment Needs
Once the fabric’s weight and colour are approved, it undergoes rigorous testing to ensure it meets the necessary standards for its intended use. Testing is completed both in house and via 3rd parties – ITS Intertek – BS EN ISO methods. For example:
- Snag Testing – Garments are often subject to snagging tests to ensure the fabric can withstand overall wear and resist pulls and tears.
Further Testing: Beyond Basic Requirements
To guarantee the highest quality, we perform additional tests tailored to specific requirements. These tests include:
- Spirituality – Although this term typically pertains to human aspects, in fabric testing, it metaphorically relates to the intrinsic quality and integrity of the material.
- Print Durability – For garments with prints, we test the fabric to ensure that designs remain intact and do not fade or peel over time.
- Hydrostatic Testing for Waterproof Products – Waterproof fabrics undergo hydrostatic testing to measure their resistance to water penetration, ensuring they keep the wearer dry under various conditions.
Ready for Production: Ensuring Quality from Start to Finish
After the fabric has passed all relevant tests, production can commence. This stage involves cutting, sewing, and assembling the garment, all while maintaining stringent quality control measures to ensure that the final product meets our high specification standards.
By focusing on these critical steps – fabric selection, colour, weight, and comprehensive testing – we ensure that every garment we produce is of the highest quality. This meticulous approach not only enhances the garment’s performance and longevity but also guarantees customer satisfaction, encouraging them to return to Chadwick Teamwear time and time again.