We catch defects
before you do.
4-stage quality control with AQL 2.5 standard. Pre-production sample, in-line inspection, final random inspection, and pre-shipment photo evidence. Defects caught before they reach the box.
The 4 inspection stages.
Each stage has a specific purpose. We don't skip stages for tight deadlines.
Stage 1: Pre-Production Sample Approval
T-60 daysPhysical sample on your exact fabric, exact color, exact print placement. You sign off before bulk cut.
- Sample is produced on the same fabric lot as bulk will be cut from
- Colors verified against your Pantone or physical swatch
- Print placement, sizing, and graphic fidelity checked
- Sewn construction reviewed for stitching quality, seam alignment, and finishing
- You receive the sample with photo evidence. Sign-off is the contract for bulk.
Stage 2: In-Line Inspection During Production
T-30 to T-15 daysQC team checks the first 30 pieces off the line, then samples 10% of remaining production. Defects caught before they reach the box.
- First 30 pieces inspected piece-by-piece for color, sizing, print, and sewing
- Random 10% sampling through production run for ongoing consistency
- Color compared against the approved sample under D65 light
- Print density, sharpness, and alignment verified against the original artwork
- Stitching, hems, labels, and finishing inspected for defects
Stage 3: AQL 2.5 Final Random Inspection
T-7 daysIndustry-standard AQL 2.5 sampling. Acceptable Quality Limit. We pull a statistically valid sample and grade each defect category.
- Sample size based on lot size (e.g. 50 pcs sample for 1,000 pc lot)
- Defects graded Critical / Major / Minor per ISO 2859-1 standard
- Critical defects (functional, safety, legal): 0 accepted
- Major defects (visible, affect use): 1.0 AQL accepted
- Minor defects (cosmetic, no functional impact): 2.5 AQL accepted
- If lot fails, lot is 100% inspected and defects removed before pack-out
Stage 4: Pre-Shipment Photo Evidence
T-3 daysFinal photos of finished, packed, and loaded cartons. You see exactly what ships before it leaves the factory.
- Photos of 5-10 random finished pieces laid out for review
- Photo of poly-bagged garments in carton
- Photo of carton labels (SKU breakdown, sizes, quantities)
- Photo of pallet load ready for pickup
- All photos sent via email before container is sealed
AQL 2.5 explained.
AQL (Acceptable Quality Limit) is the industry standard for random sampling inspection. It tells you how many defects are statistically acceptable in a sample of your lot.
Critical
0 acceptedFunctional, safety, or legal defects. Examples: broken stitch on structural seam, fabric hole, missing required label (CPSIA, country of origin).
Major
1.0 AQLVisible defects that affect the customer's use. Examples: print off-center by more than 5mm, color visibly different from approved sample, oversized seam, loose thread.
Minor
2.5 AQLCosmetic defects with no functional impact. Examples: small thread on hem, slight color variation in under-arm area, minor printing imperfection at edge.
What happens if a lot fails AQL 2.5?
The entire lot is 100% inspected piece-by-piece. Defective pieces are removed and replaced at our cost (we don't pass defect-rejection fees to the customer). The lot is re-inspected before pack-out. In 8 years, fewer than 3% of lots have required a full re-inspection.
Common QC questions.
Can I do my own inspection?
Yes. We welcome buyer-side inspections. We can host your QC team at our Yiwu facility for a half-day or full-day inspection. Inspection fees are typically $200-400/day plus travel. Most clients use our in-house QC and only visit for first-time orders or large lots (5,000+ pcs).
What if I receive defective pieces after delivery?
Document the defects with photos within 7 days of receipt. We'll credit the value of the defective pieces on your next order, or issue a refund if no next order is planned. In 8 years, our defect claim rate has been under 1% of total pieces shipped.
Do you use third-party inspection (QIMA, SGS, Bureau Veritas)?
Yes, for orders over 5,000 pcs we recommend third-party inspection as a final check. Cost is typically $300-500 per man-day. We work with QIMA, SGS, and Bureau Veritas. The third-party inspector uses our QC checklist and AQL 2.5 standard.
How do you handle fabric defects before printing?
Every fabric roll is inspected before cutting. Fabric with visible defects (slubs, holes, dye spots) is rejected and replaced. We use approximately 8-10% more fabric than the finished piece count to account for cuttable defects.
Got a
project?
Send us your design, your quantity, and your deadline. We'll reply with a quote within 24 hours.
Zhejiang, China
Fontana, CA 92335
United States