Fabric selection affects fit, comfort, decoration and care. Start from the garment's intended use, then test a real swatch rather than choosing from a name alone.
Translate use into a fabric brief
Record climate, activity, silhouette, coverage and washing expectations. Ask for fibre composition, knit or weave, weight in GSM, stretch direction, recovery, width, finish and available colours. These details help compare alternatives with the same purpose.
Check the swatch and sample
Compare hand feel, opacity, drape and colour in suitable lighting. For stretch garments, review movement and recovery on a fitted sample. Ask what changes after washing and which care instructions apply. If testing is required, agree the method and acceptance criteria before bulk approval.
Test decoration on the chosen material
Print, embroidery and trims can change the fabric surface or drape. Confirm artwork size, placement, colour, hand feel and wash behaviour on the actual fabric. Keep the approved swatch and decoration sample with the dated specification.
Confirm supply constraints
Check available colours, minimum material order, lot consistency and replacement options. A substitute fabric requires a new sample review where fit, colour or decoration may change. See the fabric library for construction examples and send your fabric brief through the project enquiry.