Quality comes first! 

Customers have the right to expect top quality garments and Hanes has an outstanding reputation not only for good value, but also for high standards and excellent quality control assurance.

Hanes monitors their entire production from beginning to end. HbI quality auditors pay daily visits to each of the factory premises in the countries of origin where they conduct both in-line and final inspections. In addition a European quality team conducts a second and thorough audit at the receiving end.

In-line inspections

Very early on in the production process there are important in-line quality inspections to ensure “quality is built into the product in the first place”.

• Fabric inspection of each and every batch (!) such as:
  
  • Weight control (GSM)
  • Fabric color control (spectrophotometer for solid colours)
• Visual control of fabric cutting process
• Measurement control of initial production
• Box control of initial production

Final inspections

Before Hanes products are shipped out from the country of origin each and every order is checked by HbI auditors and subsequently checked again by the European quality team once they arrive at the distribution centre. In general an AQL 4 is applicable for most testing procedures.

• Visual control:
  
  • Fabric appearance/hand feel
  • Label structure/surface touch
  • Label touch overprint
  • Label softness edges
• Box controL
• Measurement controL
• Physical control
  
  • Fabric weight
  • Dimensional stability to washing
  • Color fastness to OekoTex standard 201 (washing, crocking and rubbing tests)

Product Development

Apart from the regular audits which are conducted on a daily basis for all products a separate and even more stringent procedure is set up when new products, fabrics, colors, accessories or labels are launched.

In order to guarantee the highest quality of products the assistance of official and reputable quality labs is ensured throughout the entire development process. The additional testing criteria are very versatile and include amongst others following:

• Fiber composition
• Pilling after cleanse
• Abrasion resistance and tear strength (woven fabric only)
• Color fastness to washing, water, acidic & alkaline perspiration, rubbing and light

Those criteria are based on generally accepted industry norms such as ISO, ASTM and BS.