GSM Why Shipments Get Rejected Over This
Many disputes come down to GSM. Below is what inspectors check and why shipments fail.
The core definition
grams per square metre, the standard measure of fabric weight. Working figures for GSM normally sit around 140-320 GSM for activewear in mainstream production. Note ISO 3801 fabric mass on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Most common cause of failure
Results usually fall outside 140-320 GSM for activewear because the target was never written into the order. Record elastane content alongside GSM, because blends shift the measured value. A result outside 140-320 GSM for activewear usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
How it is checked
Inspection and laboratory work both refer to ISO 3801 fabric mass. Keeping reference values for GSM lets suppliers quote without extra sampling rounds. Ask for conditioning details together with ISO 3801 fabric mass, since both affect the reading.
Related faults
it predicts coverage, warmth and cost more reliably than thickness, so related complaints often point back to this single parameter. Working figures for GSM normally sit around 140-320 GSM for activewear in mainstream production. Note ISO 3801 fabric mass on the tech pack so nobody tests against an older revision.
Avoiding rejection
Agree targets, tolerances and the method before production, then test per lot rather than per shipment. Record elastane content alongside GSM, because blends shift the measured value. A result outside 140-320 GSM for activewear usually points to process drift rather than to the fibre itself.
