Using stock fabric can speed up garment development and reduce lead times. However, stock fabric cannot always follow the same pattern-making process as custom-developed fabric. One of the most important differences is shrinkage control before final pattern making.
1. Stock Fabric Is Not Custom-Developed Fabric
With custom fabric, specifications such as composition, GSM, finishing, and shrinkage performance can be considered and adjusted during development.
Stock fabric has already been produced and finished. Its shrinkage rate and dimensional stability depend on its construction and finishing process. Even fabrics with the same composition and GSM may behave differently after washing.
Therefore, stock fabric must be tested before its final use in garment production.
2. Why Must Shrinkage Be Controlled First?
If a pattern is developed without understanding the fabric’s shrinkage rate, the finished garment may not meet the required measurements after washing.
For example, a cotton T-shirt may have the correct body length and chest width before washing, but shrinkage can make it shorter or narrower afterward.
This can lead to incorrect sizing, fit problems, and inconsistencies between approved samples and bulk production.
A correct pattern cannot compensate for uncontrolled fabric shrinkage.
Simply enlarging the pattern is not a reliable solution. The actual shrinkage rate must be tested before the final pattern and garment specifications are confirmed.
3. The Correct Process for Stock Fabric
A reliable development process should include three key steps:
- Test the fabric: Measure shrinkage in both length and width under the intended washing conditions.
- Control shrinkage: Apply suitable pre-shrinking or finishing treatments when necessary, then verify the results.
- Finalize the pattern: Develop or adjust the pattern based on the prepared fabric, and validate the finished garment through washing tests.
This process helps reduce measurement deviations, avoid unnecessary rework, and improve consistency between samples and bulk production.
Conclusion
Stock fabric offers flexibility and shorter lead times, but proper preparation is essential. Unlike custom-developed fabric, its existing characteristics must be understood before final pattern making.
At Arena Houseware Lab, we believe reliable garment sourcing starts with understanding the fabric. Proper shrinkage testing and control help brands achieve more accurate sizing, better quality, and more consistent production results.
