Six checks before it ships

Six checks before it ships

If a tee doesn’t clear all six, it doesn’t ship. Clean rules. No shortcuts.

1) Fabric & Hand

What it means
The base has to feel premium on skin and fall clean on body—every time.

How we test

  • Fiber & knit: 100% combed cotton only; knit inspected for needle lines, holes, and uneven ribs.

  • GSM & drape: GSM verified for each lot (±5% tolerance); drape check on hanger and body form.

  • Softness & pilling: hand-feel and rub test; pilling resistance checked on swatches.

  • Shrink control: pre-wash cycle to target ≤3% dimensional change.

Pass / fail rule

  • Pass if GSM is within spec, knit is uniform, and shrinkage ≤3%.

  • Fail if any scratchiness, visible barré lines, or fabric twist shows up post-wash.

You’ll notice
Soft hand, weight that holds shape, and a clean fall from shoulder to hem.

2) Color & Print

What it means
Graphics should be crisp, colors true, and prints set to last.

How we test

  • Color match: artwork checked under daylight and warm light; no banding or ghosting.

  • Edge clarity: micro-inspection for jagged edges or ink bleed; alignment to master art.

  • Cure & bond: print stretch test and tape-pull; no micro-cracking or flake.

  • Clean surface: no pretreat stains, haloing, or pinholes; white ink opacity verified on darks.

Pass / fail rule

  • Pass if edges stay sharp and ink holds on stretch/rub after test wash.

  • Fail if there’s cracking, peeling, shadowing, or off-center placement.

You’ll notice
Lines stay sharp, colors stay loud, and the print moves with the fabric.

3) Seams & Build

What it means
Construction should feel as clean inside as outside.

How we test

  • Neck & shoulders: reinforced tape; collar recovery snap-back tested.

  • Hems: double-needle hems checked for even stitch density and tension.

  • Overlocks: inside turned out; loose threads trimmed; no scratchy tags or raw edges.

  • Thread strength: tug test at high-stress points (neck, armhole, side seam).

Pass / fail rule

  • Pass if stitches are balanced and seams sit flat with zero loose threads.

  • Fail if puckering, skipped stitches, or seam bite marks are visible.

You’ll notice
A collar that doesn’t wave, hems that don’t tunnel, and a tee that feels clean against skin.

4) Fit & Pattern

What it means
Your size should feel like your size—across drops.

How we test

  • Grading: India-tuned blocks for Regular and Oversized fits.

  • Measurements: chest, length, shoulder, and sleeve checked against master patterns (tight tolerances).

  • Consistency: a sample per size is re-measured pre- and post-wash to confirm same fall.

Pass / fail rule

  • Pass if all key points measure within tight tolerances both before and after one wash.

  • Fail if the tee skews off-spec or changes fall after wash.

You’ll notice
Predictable fits—your M feels like an M, every time.

5) Wear & Wash

What it means
Real-life cycles without drama.

How we test

  • Wash protocol: multiple cycles, inside-out, cool water; tumble low; quick iron.

  • Shape retention: check for side-seam torque, body twist, or hem wave.

  • Collar roll: collar height and roll measured after cycles.

  • Color & print: fade/bleed and print stability rechecked post-wash.

Pass / fail rule

  • Pass if there’s no abnormal twist, collar stays neat, and color/print hold steady.

  • Fail if skew, warping, or unusual fade shows up.

You’ll notice
After a few washes it still fits, falls, and looks like the first wear.

6) Finish & Pack

What it means
You open the bag and it’s ready to wear.

How we test

  • Final prep: steamed, lint-rolled, and dust-checked under bright light.

  • QC sign-off: each piece gets a QC card signed by the checker.

  • Clean pack: recyclable, tamper-evident sleeve; care card included; barcode scanned for traceability.

  • Dispatch check: address verified; seal inspected before hand-off.

Pass / fail rule

  • Pass if the tee is wrinkle-free, clean, and correctly labeled.

  • Fail if there’s any stain, crease set, or packing defect.

You’ll notice
Minimal packaging, maximum care—unbag and wear.

What fails gets fixed (or cancelled)

  • We repair only where quality stays uncompromised; otherwise we reject the piece.

  • If a lot doesn’t meet spec, we hold the drop or remake—your trust > our timeline.

A note on screens vs. fabric

Minor differences in color can occur across screens and natural lighting. We keep them tight; if it looks wildly off, it won’t pass QC.

Care that keeps the pass

Wash cold, inside-out. Tumble low or line dry. Do not iron directly on the print.

Questions? Write to support@thedrip6.com.