7 Apparel Industry Defects that Should be Avoided

1. Defected Stitches

Sometimes we notice missing stitches on things we just recently bought or were close to buying. This is one of the most commonly met faults that a garment product can have. Sometimes, you wouldn’t be able to tell that there is a skipped stitching. However, on jeans or other clothing items that have different color stitches, the defect would be more visible.

Problems like this can occur because of a rush or a bad working machine. If the factory workers hurry to complete the hand sewed item in a fast manner, such defects can become unavoidable. They can also cause the clothing piece to fall apart, in the worst case scenario, depending on what kind of item it is and what material it is made of. However, they can still be fixed if the factory is careful enough during the quality inspection stage of production before the product gets to the consumers.

2. Untrimmed Threads

This is one of the most commonly seen defects that are possible in the apparel industry. They are also one of the easiest ones to deal with. Even if you as a customer bought a piece with an excess 2 cm thread, “it’s not a big deal” you might think and cut it later yourself. However, any kind of defect is better when it is avoided. In the same manner, untrimmed threads can and should be detected during the QA process.

Still, they don’t have the same impact and do not seem to make the same impression on a buyer depending on where they are exactly located. If the excess thread is on the inside of the clothing item, sometimes they will not be even paid attention to. But in any case, it is safe to thoroughly check every part of the item before you are sure it can be sent to the market.

Being one of the most easily noticed and easily solved defects, the extra centimeter of a thread can give your appearance a “sloppy” look.

3. Puckering Defects

Met a lot, solved rarely. Puckered surrounding of stitches on the fabric are no rare occasion, unfortunately. They are also hard to fix because they require the entire stitching process to be done again. This in its turn can cause needle holes as left marks.

Puckering defects can occur because of rough handling with the fabric, inattention towards the sewing process or because of the machine itself. Whichever the reason is, attention to detail and careful handling towards the fabric is probably the best way to avoid such defects from happening.

4. Open Seams

The problem with open seams is usually that a) it’s not eye appealing because it looks sloppy, 2) chances are all the seams will continue opening one at a time causing the item to fall apart.

Sewing is a difficult process. Whether it is hand performed or done by a sewing machine, it still requires a very thorough attention to detail.

5. Unsecured Seams

Unsecured seams might not always be noticed, especially when purchasing the clothing item. However, as some of the other above-mentioned flaws, this can also cause the item to fall apart later. It can lead to defects like open seams, which are in no way eye appealing and are a sign of poor quality.

6. Joint Defects

Joint defects, in their turn, are probably one of the major and more visible defects that can catch the eye. Joint defects are the mismatch of the fabric pieces that are attached by stitches. This is especially noticed if the colors of fabric differ. Joint out defects are a result of poor handling. Be that inattention to the sewing process or any other detail, the result is definitely not one to please.

7. Button Defects

This is again, one of those commonly seen faults. They are considered to be garment defects which include loose buttons or uneven button holes. It’s not a difficult process to cut open a millimeter of fabric to help the button slide into it. Neither it is difficult to secure the button stitches yourself. But the industry itself should be responsible for those types of minor flaws.