Reviewing pilling on a fleece dog-jacket sample

Locate contact areas on the finished garment

A promising fleece swatch may look different once it becomes a jacket. Review a finished sample and mark where fabric contacts itself, a harness strap or a fastening during intended use. Note whether the design includes a seam, binding or another material at each point. Ask the supplier to identify exactly which fleece is present, which side faces out and whether the construction matches the proposed order. A swatch can help compare alternatives, while the garment tells you where to look.

Agree what appearance change would be unacceptable. A merchandising team may be concerned about a conspicuous change on a dark chest panel, while a technical reviewer may also need to distinguish fibre balls from wear, snagging or loose threads.

Photograph a control and keep samples matched

Use the same lighting, distance and angle for each sample. Take an overall photograph, then photograph each contact point beside an untouched area of the same garment. Keep a control sample or retained swatch in its original condition. For buyer screening, document any controlled handling you use, including contact material, repetitions and sequence. Use the same approach for all alternatives. Keep this screening separate from a formal test or performance rating.

Check again after the proposed care process

Repeat photos after the planned care cycle and drying method. Pay attention to the difference between widespread surface change and a narrow band along a seam. If two fleece alternatives look comparable over the back but one develops a rough stripe beside a binding, review that construction detail before rejecting the fleece as a whole. Ask whether the binding or seam orientation can change. Review a fresh sample if the supplier makes a revision, and use the same handling and care conditions to compare it.

Choose a decision and record its limits

Approve the material for further development, request a construction adjustment or commission formal testing if a buyer needs a specified rating. Write the decision beside the fabric reference and sample revision. If a lab result is required, agree the method and acceptance threshold with the technical team rather than converting a photo comparison into a grade. Carry the decision into the order record so a colour or mill substitution triggers a fresh review where needed. Retain one representative sample and the comparable photos for production approval. This gives a later reviewer a usable reference even if they did not attend the original meeting.