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Fago Textile buyer guides · 16 October 2026
Start with the garment and its care requirements
Knitted fabric shrinkage can change garment fit, cutting requirements and the amount of usable material in a wholesale order. Before buying cotton jersey, interlock or sweatshirt fleece, agree how dimensional change will be measured and which results your production team needs to approve. A label such as “pre-shrunk” is not a complete purchasing specification.
This guide is for apparel brands, garment factories and fabric importers preparing bulk orders. Use it alongside your approved sample and knitted fabric quality checklist. The aim is a clear buying decision: which fabric, tested under which conditions, is suitable for your garment?
1. Understand what influences knitted fabric shrinkage
Knitted construction and processing both influence dimensional stability. Yarn, loop structure, tension during wet processing and finishing can affect how a fabric changes when washed. CottonWorks explains that relaxation and finishing treatments can reduce residual shrinkage; their effectiveness depends on the material and process. See its shrinkage and skewing reference.
When specifying knitted fabric shrinkage, record the exact article rather than asking for a result for “cotton” in general. A report for one weight or finish should not automatically approve another. When comparing single jersey and interlock, keep separate sample references and requirements for each construction.
2. Put the test conditions in the order brief
Ask your technical team or nominated laboratory to define the procedure before samples are tested. ISO 5077 covers determination of dimensional change after specified washing and drying procedures. Referencing a method is useful, but the order also needs the applicable conditions and acceptance limits. Do not assume every test with the word “shrinkage” uses the same wash or drying cycle.
- Identify the fabric article, composition, finished GSM, width and finish.
- Specify the agreed method, washing conditions, drying procedure and number of cycles.
- Request results separately for length and width.
- State whether the decision concerns fabric, a sewn garment, or both.
- Identify the approver and the latest date for reporting results.
Keep the brief attached to the sample request. If a condition changes, ask whether a new test is needed rather than comparing the revised result with an old report without explanation.
3. Read length and width results separately
A single percentage can hide a different result in the other direction. For a simple arithmetic illustration, a marked length changing from 50 cm to 48 cm has decreased by 4%: (50 − 48) ÷ 50 × 100. A width changing from 50 cm to 49 cm has decreased by 2%. These are example calculations, not Fago Textile test results or recommended limits.
Some reports express shrinkage as negative dimensional change, while a purchasing summary may describe it as a positive percentage reduction. Confirm the sign convention before comparing figures. Ask for the original measurements, test conditions, sample identity and a clear pass/fail conclusion against your agreed specification.
4. Separate shrinkage approval from other quality checks
A satisfactory dimensional-change result does not answer every production question. Include the garment team’s requirements for appearance, twisting, surface condition and the compatibility of body fabric with cuffs or collars. Ask which separate checks are required; do not treat one laboratory result as approval of the complete material.
For hoodie and sweatshirt fabric, list the body material and matching rib as different components in the approval record. For a T-shirt programme, connect the test result to the intended size specification and sewn sample review.
5. Keep bulk-lot evidence connected to the sample
Before releasing a large order to cutting, confirm what evidence represents the delivered production. Record the purchase order, article code, colour, production lot and relevant roll numbers. Ask who selects the test samples and how the results will reach the receiving factory.
If a result misses the agreed limit, hold the affected material for a documented decision. Request an explanation and a proposed next step, such as further assessment or resampling. Do not silently change the acceptance limit to make the report pass. Keep the approved disposition with the order records.
6. Make repeat orders traceable
For repeat purchases, send the knitted fabric shrinkage requirements, previous specification and approved reference with the new enquiry. Highlight any change in construction, finish, care instructions or garment application. A retained sample is useful only when the team can identify which version and production it represents.
Fago Textile accepts enquiries for bulk knitted fabric supply from Turkey. Include your target dimensional stability, test requirements, quantity per colour and destination so the quotation discussion can address the actual order.
Questions buyers often ask
What shrinkage percentage should I accept?
Set a limit with the garment and technical teams for the intended product and agreed care procedure. There is no single purchasing limit suitable for every knitted fabric and application.
Does an approved sample guarantee every roll?
It establishes a reference. Bulk release still needs the agreed inspection, sampling and reporting process linked to the delivered lots.
What should I send with a quotation request?
Send the construction, composition, finished GSM, usable width, quantity by colour and required test conditions. Add a sample or report reference when available.
Plan your next fabric order.
Send your fabric specification, quantity by colour and destination to Fago Textile in Istanbul, Türkiye.
