Before shipment, order a short list of tests that match your product and your destination market: fibre composition, GSM, dimensional stability, colourfastness, strength, pilling, pH, formaldehyde and azo amines, with lead, phthalates and small parts added for children's goods. The exact set depends on what the fabric is, who will wear it and where it is sold, so the test plan should be agreed with the supplier before production starts rather than after the goods are packed.
Pre-shipment testing is not a substitute for inspection. It confirms that the material and its finish meet your specification and the legal limits of your market, while an inspection confirms that the cartons contain what was ordered. Most buyers from India run both, with the lab work scheduled so that the report arrives before the loading date. A full package from an Indian lab usually takes one to two weeks, so book it when the bulk fabric is ready, not when the cartons are.
Physical and performance tests
- Fibre composition, to confirm the blend matches the label and the customs declaration.
- GSM, the weight per square metre, which is the simplest check that the mill has not thinned the fabric.
- Dimensional stability, usually reported as shrinkage after washing, which decides whether garments will still fit.
- Tensile and tear strength, for anything that will be stressed in use.
- Pilling, for knits and brushed fabrics where surface appearance matters.
Colourfastness
Colourfastness is tested against the conditions the product will meet in use: washing, rubbing, light and perspiration. Washing and rubbing are the minimum for almost everything. Light fastness matters for curtains, upholstery and outdoor wear, and perspiration fastness matters for garments worn close to the skin, especially in dark or bright shades.
Rubbing fastness is where Indian dyed and printed fabrics most often fall short, particularly dark colours on cotton. Ask for both dry and wet rubbing results, and set the acceptable grade in your specification so there is no argument later. Light fastness failures are rarer but more expensive, because they show up months after the sale.
Chemical and safety tests
The chemical tests are driven by law in the destination market. For the European Union, azo dyes that release restricted aromatic amines and formaldehyde in skin-contact articles are controlled under REACH, and pH is widely required within about 4.0 to 7.5 for textiles worn next to the skin. For the United States, children's products fall under the CPSIA, which adds lead and phthalate limits and testing at a CPSC-accepted laboratory, and California's Proposition 65 leads many brands to test for listed chemicals to avoid warning labels.
Requirements change and vary by product category, so confirm the current list with an accredited laboratory or your compliance team before finalising the plan. Nothing here is legal advice.
How we handle testing
We agree the test plan with you for the destination market before production, then draw sealed samples from the bulk and send them to an NABL-accredited or international lab. When the report comes back we check it line by line against your specification before anything is loaded, and we supervise the loading itself. You get a weekly update throughout, and if you are still planning the order we offer a free 20-minute sourcing review.