A fabric swatch may look like just a small cut of fabric — but it carries essential information about how your garment will turn out.
Knowing how to read and evaluate a swatch helps you choose the right material with confidence.
At HEM APPAREL, we provide fabric swatches with clear specs so brands can make smart decisions early in the production process.
🧵 What’s in a Standard Fabric Swatch
A good swatch tells you more than just “how it feels.” Look out for these:
| Info on Swatch Card | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Fiber Content | Cotton, poly, modal, spandex %, etc. |
| Structure / Type | Jersey, rib, fleece, twill, etc. |
| GSM (grams/m²) | Fabric weight — light, mid, or heavy |
| Width | Roll width (affects marker & yield) |
| Color Code or Name | Pantone / dye lot tracking |
| Finish | Enzyme, silicone, brushed, peached, etc. |
| Stretch % (if any) | Often noted on rib, spandex, or interlock |
| Shrinkage | Sometimes provided — or ask to test in-house |
✅ Pro tip: Always ask for actual lab-tested GSM & shrinkage, not just estimated
📄 Example: Reading a Spec for a Cotton Jersey Swatch
Fabric: Single Jersey Knit
Content: 100% Cotton, Compact Yarn
GSM: 200gsm
Width: 72 inches (tubular)
Color: Garment dyed – Washed Black
Finish: Enzyme + Silicone wash
Shrinkage: 4–6% after wash
Stretch: 10% cross-stretch (natural, no spandex)
✅ Suitable for oversized T-shirts or heavyweight basics with vintage feel
🖐️ What to Look For When Evaluating
1. Touch & Drape
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Is it soft or coarse? Stiff or flowy?
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How does it fall — heavy, structured, or airy?
2. Opacity / Thickness
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Hold up to light: see-through or not?
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Use this to match season, layering, or styling needs
3. Stretch & Recovery
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Pull gently and let go — does it bounce back?
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Important for fitted garments, leggings, ribs
4. Color & Texture
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View under natural light
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Look for visual texture (slub, melange, sheen...)
📦 What You Can Request with Swatches
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Washing test (to check shrinkage, pilling)
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Printing or embroidery strike-off
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Mini-roll or meter sample for mockup
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Alternative GSM or blend of same fabric type
🧠 HEM APPAREL’s Tip:
Don’t just ask “do you have this fabric?” — ask for a swatch with full spec.
Feel it, stretch it, and visualize your design on it.
Fabric = the foundation of your product — and the first thing customers feel.
HEM APPAREL – Your trusted manufacturing partner for high-quality custom apparel, made in Vietnam
