List of Garment Defects with Images

The defect in a garment is not intended. But somehow defects are generated during the
processing of the garment. To make a quality garment, all the defects must be rectified
through the checking process. Further action is taken for eliminating garment defects from
the process and from the raw materials or avoid using the defective raw materials.  By
knowing the defects that may arise at each stage of garment manufacturing, it can help in
taking appropriate control measures to ensure the production of the right quality of the
garment.

In this post, Dipanwita Roy listed 100 plus different garment defects that are commonly
found in a finished garment. First, we will classify garment defects and then will go through
the list of defects and images.
What is garment defect?
Quality check in the garment industry is done right from the initial stages of sourcing raw
materials- fabric and trims to the stage of the finished garment and packing. Quality of the
product is required to establish the brand name and build the garment exporter’s
reputation which in turn is related to consumer confidence, high sales and export.

Classification of garment defects

It is important to understand different garment defects, defect types and source of the
defect. Read the garment defects classification. Here defects name and images are shown
defect category wise.

1. Defect Classification Based on Severity of the Defect

Based on the severity of the defect, garment defects are classified as critical, major and
minor defects.

1.1. Critical Defects

A defect that poses a safety hazard to the consumer and/ or violates mandatory regulations
is termed as a critical defect. Typically, if a critical defect is found in the shipment, the
importer tends to reject the entire order. This is because, a critical defect could harm the
consumer, impair the image of distributors throughout the supply chain, makes the brand
liable, and incurs unnecessary expenses in the event of a product recall. Some examples of
critical defects in garments are:

(1) Presence of a needle or other sharp object included in the packaging of the finished
good due to the cutting and sewing processes involved in the manufacturing of the
garment.
(2) Blood stains on the garment due to the presence of a sharp object which might pierce a
worker accidentally during work.

(3) Broken button

(4) Mould on a garment

(5) Improperly secured loose trims and fasteners

(6) Drawstring near head or neck in infant and kids wear

(7) Thread or trims which are extensively long or loose

(8) Missing suffocation warning labels

1.2. Major Defect 

These defects are those which result in overall product failure or reduced usability of the
product that prevents it from being placed on the market. They do not pose any safety
threat to the user, but typically lowers the value of the product, adversely affects its
marketability and saleability, shortening the life cycle of the product, and increases product
returns for replacement or refund.

Some examples of major defects in garments -

9. Open seams

10. Holes

11. Broken stitches,

12. Incorrect colours or designs on the product,

13. Damaged fabric,

14. Bubbling due to fusing,

15. Zipper,

16. Button not well attached,

17. Incorrect SPI,

18. Main label spot etc.

  

1.3. Minor Defect 

Minor defects are unlikely to reduce product usability. They are workmanship defects
beyond the defined specifications or construction requirements that the importer and
supplier have agreed upon. Some examples of minor defects in garments are:

19. Misprinting of the label on a shipping carton

20. Untrimmed threads, missing stitches or uneven stitching on a garment
21. Minor variation in shading between garment pieces
22. Variation of care label quality or content
23. Dirt material that can easily be washed off

2.1 Fabric defects/Material Defects

These defects are found in the fabric and are mostly not caused by the sewing lines. Fabric
defects could be addressed at the point of fabric inspection or cutting. Fabric defects are
further classified as below.
2.1.1. Due to fabric construction (weave or knit)
24. Barre, Striation
25. Bowing or Skewing
26. Broken or missing warp/ weft yarn (Broken end)
27. Cuts & Tears
28. Drop stitch, Laddering
29. A fabric with the wrong specification
30. Foreign Particles
31. Hole
32. Knot or Repair
33. Nap or Pile Deformation
34. Pills formation
35. Reed marks
36. Thick and thin places
37. Uneven knitting

For more images of fabric defects, refer to the article fabric defect classification.

  
  
2.1.2. Colour and Print

38. Dyeing spot

39. Metamerism (store light vs daylight)
40. Mismatching of Panel, Interlinings
41. Misprint fabric or Printing defects
42. Shade Difference
43. Colour fastness (Staining)
44. Streaky appearance
45. Colour-off standard
46. Dye bars

   
   
   

2.1.3. Fabric Appearance, General

47. Burn or Scorch Marks

48. Delamination of fusible
49. Fabric hand feel differs from the approved sample
50. Marks, stains, dirt, oil stains
51. Washing Marks, Fold Lines
  

2.2. Workmanship and Handling defects in garments

These are defects that are caused during the manufacture of the garment. The stages of
garment manufacturing- pattern making, spreading, cutting, sewing, assembling, finishing,
and packaging involve a lot of workmanship and material handling.

2.2.1. Pattern Making

Pattern making related to garment defects include -

52. A difference in measurement of a garment part from others

53. Missing pattern parts
54. Pattern not aligned with respect to fabric grain
55. Patterns not facing in the correct direction on napped fabrics
56. Poor line definition leading to inaccurate cutting
57. Skimpy marking
58. Wrong Check Boxing
59. Wrong Gradation of Sizes

2.2.2. Spreading and Cutting

Garment defects caused by spreading and cutting process 

60. Drill and Notches Marks

61. Frayed Edges
62. Garment part damaged by careless use of a knife
63. Improper Knife Cut
64. Inaccurate Cutting
65. Incorrect Tension of Plies
66. Narrow Fabric
67. Not all Plies Facing in Correct Direction
68. Notches misplaced, Too deep, Too shallow, Angled, Omitted
69. Plies misaligned
70. Scorched or fused edges
71. Slits opened inaccurately or Omitted

2.2.3. Garment defects generated in the stitching process 

72. Bartack missing

73. Blind stitch visible
74. Bow or motif poorly positioned, loosely attached
75. Broken stitches
76. Button attached loosely
77. Button-hole is untidy or fraying
78. Button stitching is too tight preventing functionality
79. Button or buttonhole not aligned properly
80. Collars misshaped, unbalanced, bubbled
81. Excess fabric on stitch
82. Finished components not symmetrical
83. Finished garments not to size
84. Frayed edges (overlock missing)
85. Improper bottom hemming
86. Improper positioning of the belt loop (slanted)
87. Incorrect pocket position
88. Insecure back stitching
89. Lining too full or too tight
90. Lining/ Padding exposed
91. Mismatch checks, plaids, or stripes
92. Needle cut
93. Needle marks
94. Oil stain
95. Open stitch
96. Over stitching
97. Parts, components, closures omitted or damaged
98. Pleat on seam
99. Ropy hem
100. Run of stitch
101. Seam pucker
102. Seam grinning
103. Seam is open
104. Seam mismatch
105. Seam not secured
106. Seam slippage
107. Seam unravelling
108. Skipped stitches
109. SPI incorrect, irregular
110. Thread breaks
111. Thread tension high
112. Thread tension low
113. Torque on the side seam
 

 
 
 

  
  
  
  

 
  

2.2.4. Garment defects caused in the Finishing and Washing process

114. After wash streak or striation
115. Back staining of pocket
116. Care label fading/ damage after wash
117. Chalk, pen, or pencil marks visible
118. Untrimmed threads
119. Garment torque or spirality

  
2.2.5. Garment defects caused in pressing
120. Appearance not smooth
121. Scorching or burn marks
122. Water spots not dried

2.2.6. Packing related garment defects

123. Incorrect folding/ packing
124. Labels not showing where required
125. Omitted warning signs in the polybag
126. Smeared barcodes or instructions
127. Wrong size, colour, and quantity packed
2.3. Garment defects from defective Trims and Accessories
2.3.1. Trims
Commonly found defects related to trims

128. Brass zipper, buttons, rivets leaving stains on the product due to oxidation
129. Button loops inconsistent or irregular
130. Button missing or damaged button
131. Button size not matching with button hole
132. Care label missing
133. Embroidery backing excessive
134. Embroidery needle cuts
135. Embroidery,  applique poorly positioned, untidy or unfinished
136. Fasteners poorly positioned, missing, or malfunctioning
137. Lace irregular shape or untrimmed
138. Missing collar bone
139. Poor elasticity of elastic
140. Spare button missing
141. Zipper malfunction
142. Zipper puller self-lock not secure
143. Zipper tape shortage
144. Zipper wavy
145. Main label spot or damaged

 
 
  

2.3.2. Accessories
146. Missing or wrong placement or incorrect carton stickers
147. Missing/ wrong placement/ incorrect hangtags (hangtag off shade)
148. Broken hanger resulting in sharp end/ edge

In this post, you saw a 100 plus different of defects found in a garment. Note, garment
defects are not limited to this list. There are many other kinds of defects you may find when
you will checking a finished garment. Check a similar list of garment defects for a trouser.

References:

https://www.intouch-quality.com/blog/how-to-classify-defects-for-garment-inspection
https://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/3092/defects-in-garments?page=5
https://www.adidas-group.com/en/sustainability/products/product-and-consumer-safety/
http://www.intertek.com/textiles/inspection/
http://www.sdfltd.com/critical-defects-for-a-garment.html
http://garmentstech.com/inspection-defect-checklist-for-garment-workmanship-and-
appearance/garment-workmanship-and-appearance/
Hashi, M. R., 2016. Different Types of Defects Identification and Controlling Method for
Quality and Productivity Improvement. IOSR Journal of Polymer and Textile Engineering,
3(2), pp. 01-18.

About the author: Dipanwita Ray is a graduate in Fibres and Textile Processing Technology,
and is currently pursuing her master's degree in Fashion Technology from NIFT, New Delhi.
She is interested in textile chemistry, functional garments, and apparel supply chain.

Seam grin
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Seam Performance: Seam grin is when two pieces of fabric are pulled at right angles to
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Seam slippage 

Seam slippage is the separation or pulling apart of yarns in a fabric usually along a
sewn seam or join.

Seam puckering 
Seam puckering refers to the gathering of a seam during sewing, after sewing, or after
laundering, causing an unacceptable seam appearance. Seam puckering is more common on
woven fabrics than knits; and it is prominent on tightly woven fabrics