A fitted dress can look fine during development and still run into fabric problems before bulk production starts. A fabric may look fine on a swatch but behave differently once it is cut, sewn and fitted on the garment. When we develop stretch dresses as a clothing manufacturer, we normally

When a new dress goes into development, the fabric can look perfect on the swatch and still cause problems during sampling. The weight may not suit the pattern. The drape may look different once the fabric is cut into larger pieces. Sometimes the fabric simply does not sew the way

When a new dress style goes into development, checking the fabric does not stop with the first swatch. The color may be approved through a lab dip, but the fabric used for bulk production still needs to be checked before cutting starts. Fabric Swatch vs Lab Dip vs Bulk Fabric

Fabric shade variation can happen even when the dyeing process is controlled. When the same fabric is produced in separate dye lots, a small difference in tone can occur. The difference may be difficult to notice on a small swatch, but it can become much more visible when large pieces

When developing a lace or mesh dress, the fabric needs to be checked against the pattern, not just the design sketch. A lace may look right on a small swatch but create problems with motif placement or cutting waste. Mesh can look suitable until you test its stretch, recovery and