When you’re looking for clothing for your business, quality matters. After all, no one is going to come back to your store if the clothes and textiles they buy fall apart in a month. At American Textile Export, we understand quality better than anyone. Here are some things to look out for to recognize high quality clothing:

 

1) Fabric

Whether it is cotton, suede, polyester or any other fabric, make sure to inspect it. Fabric should be cut and sewn on the grain. Also make sure that patterns or stripes run in a continuous pattern all the way around the garment. A neat trick you can do to test a piece of clothing’s strength is you can grab the fabric at the seam with both hands and gently pull it apart. If the thread in the seam pulls apart, it was not sewn properly.

 

2) Seams and Hems

Make sure the edge of seams and hems are sewn straight. Seams and hems should also be pressed to lie flat. Another sign of quality is hem width. If a hem on a garment is at least two inches wide, it is easily alterable and, therefore, high quality.

 

3) Fasteners

Any buttons, hooks or fasteners should be sewn on securely. Button holes in a high-quality garment are often bound with thread for extra durability. Also, zippers should be able to move up and down freely.

 

4) Trim

Gently pull on the trim in different places to test its strength. Be sure that the trim complements the whole clothing article in color and style.

 

5) Linings

There are two important words when it comes to linings: dense and opaque. Check the thickness and color of every lining. Also, if it was properly sewn, there should be some slack to it to allow for pulling.

 

6) Shoes

The best shoes are leather, but always check to make sure it is real leather and not fake leather. Seams should be sewn straight, durable and not easy to pull apart. Make sure the sole or any emblems or trim are securely attached to the shoe as well.