Run every zip, open every pocket and follow every seam with your fingers before you look at anything else. On a jacket, those are the parts that fail in use, and they are much easier to correct at the sample stage than after bulk production.
A streetwear jacket sample quality check takes longer than a T-shirt check, because a jacket has more parts: a main zip, pocket zips or flaps, a collar or hood, cuffs, a hem, sometimes a lining, and all the trims. The list below follows the order we suggest. It applies to twill, denim and nylon jackets in our white label streetwear range, and most of it applies to overshirts and cargo pants too.
Zips
The main zip is used every time the jacket is worn.
- Run it fully, up and down, ten times or more. It should move smoothly without catching on the fabric.
- Check it lies flat when closed. A wavy zip usually means the fabric was stretched or eased unevenly while it was sewn.
- Check the ends. The bottom of the zip should be secured, and the top should not scratch the chin when closed.
- Check the puller. If you chose a branded zip pull, check the logo, the finish and that it is attached firmly.
- Pocket zips: same checks, plus whether the zip is easy to find and open with one hand.
If the zip is meant to be hidden behind a placket or storm flap, check it is fully covered when closed.
On a nylon jacket, also check that the fabric does not catch in the zip teeth when you close it quickly. Light fabrics are more prone to this than twill or denim, and a small change to the zip guard or the seam allowance usually solves it at the sample stage. Note it if you see it.
Pockets
Pockets carry phones, keys and wallets, so they need to take weight at the corners.
- Position. Compare against the reference or sketch you sent. Check left and right pockets sit at the same height.
- Size. Put a phone in each pocket. It should go in easily and not fall out when you bend.
- Corners. Look for bar tacks or reinforcement stitching at the pocket corners and openings.
- Flaps and closures. Flaps should cover the opening and sit flat. Snaps, buttons or hook-and-loop closures should close firmly and line up.
- Inside pockets. Check depth and that the pocket bag is sewn securely.
On cargo pants, the side cargo pockets need the same checks, plus whether they hang straight when filled.
Stitching and seams
Follow each seam along its length.
- Stitches are even in length and tension, without skipped stitches.
- Topstitching runs straight and the same distance from the edge throughout.
- Seams do not pucker, especially on nylon, which shows puckering easily.
- Thread ends are trimmed.
- Stress points (pocket corners, the base of the zip, belt loops on cargos) are reinforced.
- Thread colour matches your choice, whether tonal or contrast.
On denim and twill, look at flat-felled or double-stitched seams to check both rows are parallel.
Fit, collar and cuffs
Try the sample on someone at your sample size, standing and moving.
| Area | What to check |
|---|---|
| Shoulders | Shoulder seam sits where intended, especially on boxy and dropped-shoulder fits |
| Chest | Room to close the zip over a hoodie, if that is how it will be worn |
| Sleeves | Length with arms down and raised; cuffs close neatly |
| Body length | Hem sits where intended, front and back |
| Collar or hood | Stands or lies as intended; hood fits over the head |
| Hem | Straight, with drawcord or adjusters working if chosen |
Measure the sample flat and compare with the agreed size chart.
Trims, labels and the wash
Check every trim against what you ordered: buttons, rivets, snaps, zip pullers, drawcords and toggles. Branded trims should show your logo clearly and be attached securely. Check labels and patches for position, wording and stitching. Read every word.
If the jacket has a wash or finish, compare it with your reference in daylight. Then wash the sample once following the care label, and check:
- shrinkage, by re-measuring body length and sleeve;
- colour change or uneven fading;
- embroidery and patches for puckering;
- screen prints for cracking;
- that zips still lie flat.
Writing changes
Write each change as one line with a measurement or reference, and add a photo with the point marked. For example: “Chest pocket 2 cm higher” or “Bar tack at both side pocket corners”. We confirm each change back to you before production, and bulk production follows the approved sample. For how samples fit into the order, see ordering streetwear outerwear.
Every order passes our quality check before it is packed. When your sample arrives, use this list, then send us your notes and photos in one message so we can confirm the changes together.