COLOUR MATTERS
Colour plays a vital role in the world we live in. Colour can sway thinking, change actions, and cause reactions. It can irritate or soothe your eyes, raise your blood pressure or suppress your appetite. When used in the right ways, colour can even save on energy consumption.
As a powerful form of communication and individual expression, colour is irreplaceable and we have the responsibility to deliver premium colours.
QUALITY MATTERS
Every job is submitted to rigours lab tests where we check for:
- Fabric weight: (ISO 3801-1999) g/m2
- Dimension stability to washing (AATCC135-2004)
- Skewness: AATCC179
- Pilling/hairy effect on print (ASTM D3512)
- Absorbency (AATCC 79-2000)
- Wicking test (Nike Method)
- pH value (ATTCC 81-2006)
- Colour fastness to washing (AATTCC135/ISO 105)
- Colour fastness to water (ISO 105 04)
- Colour fastness to perspiration (ISO 105 E04)
- Colour fastness to crocking (AATCC 8)
- Colour fastness to dye migration
4 - POINT INSPECTION SYSTEM
All fabrics are submitted, before and after print, to a fabric 4-point inspection system. Our records show that our deficiency rate is on average no higher than 0.1%.
The 4-point inspection system, a standard established under ASTM D5430 - 07(2011), is a standardized test method for fabric through visually inspecting and grading. The 4-point system is the most widely accepted in fabric inspection due to its practical, impartial, and worldwide recognition.
The 4-point system derives its name from the basic grading rule that a maximum of four penalty points can be assessed for any single defect and that no linear meter can be assigned more than four points regardless of the number of defects within that piece.
Defect Classification:
Defects/faults identify and appoint a number of points depending on the severity/length of the defect.
Inches ( ˝ )
From 0 > 3" length/width
From 3.1" > 6"length/width
From 6.1" > 9"length/width
More than 9"length/width
* Hole is evaluated point by size / Holes and openings (largest dimension)
1" or less.................................2
Over 1"....................................4
Point calculation:
Once the rolls are inspected, the points per 100 square yards or meter must be calculated to determine acceptability of the roll and/or shipment. The formulas for the calculations are shown below:
Point calculation for individual roll:
Points per 100 square yards = _______Total points for the roll x 3600_______
Inspected yards x cuttable fabric width (inch)
Points per 100 square meters = _______Total points for the roll x 100,000 _____
Inspected meters x cuttable fabric width (mm)
Example: A fabric roll of 150 yards length and 56" width contains the following defects.
6 defects up to 3" length...............................
4 defects from 3" to 6" length........................
2 defects from 6" to 9" length........................
1 defect over 9" length...................................
1 hole over 1" length......................................
6 x 1 = 6 points
4 x 2 = 8 points
2 x 3 = 6 points
1 x 4 = 4 points
1 x 4 = 4 points
(mm)
Up to 75mm
75mm > 150mm
150mm > 230mm
More than 230mm
Points
1 point
2 points
3 points
4 points
Total defect points: 28 Points
Therefore, = (28 X 3600) / (56 X 150) = 12 points (points / sq. yards)
If a defect is observed: Faults are classified and scored with penalty points of 1, 2, 3 and 4, according to their size and significance.
Each defect should be counted as a separate defect even if the nature is the same and then based on the points allocated to each defect, total points should be calculated.
No more than 4 penalty points can be assigned for any single defect.
No linear yard or meter can contain more than 4 points, regardless of the number of defects within that yard or meter.
A continuous running defect which exceeds 9 inches (23 cm) should be assigned 4 points. In the event there is an additional defect within the same linear yard or meter it should be considered as a separate defect and assigned defect point accordingly.
Any continuous defect (i.e., roll to roll shading, narrow or irregular width, creasing, uneven finish, barre’, skew, etc.) should be assigned a maximum of 4 points for every yard or meter within a shipment.
Each full width defect should assign 4 points.
Obvious, noticeable and severe defects are to be assigned 4 points for each yard or meter in which they occur, regardless of size.
- All defects must be marked with sticker at the location of defect or with a marker (sticker, swift tack, etc.) at selvedge edge.
- Fabric width must be checked a minimum of 3 times during inspection and documented on the inspection report.
- Defects must be documented by type and point count on the inspection report.
- Actual roll length should be checked and documented on the inspection report.
