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We could put it simply and say the role of ironing in garment manufacturing and quality control is the difference between someone looking at a piece of clothing and saying 'ew' or 'oooh.'
Let's face it, creased clothing just doesn't look good. In some cases, depending on how creased the item is, it doesn't even look like the original and totally ruins the vibe!
So, you see, the role of ironing in the garment industry is more than you'd first think. Read on to find out more.
Controlling the Quality
While ironing can be perceived as an arduous task of flattening crumpled pieces, it is practically one of the most effective quality control methods in a garment's manufacturing sequence.As factory employees steam a shirt or lay it flat on the ironing board, they are not only giving it a new, fresh look; they are analyzing every detail for faults. Obvious problems, like uneven seams and pull marks in the material, are clearly visible.
It is, to be frank, clever. A pause in ironing allows for a sufficiently thorough examination of the output—an opportunity before the final product is sent out. What happens if something is wrong? It gets flagged!
Setting the Final Shape
Have you ever worn a shirt that fits you perfectly off the rack? Well, that's ironing at work. Newly manufactured clothes can appear a little dull at first glance; rather, quite shapeless and a tiny bit lifeless. And that is why we do the iron.The sculpting is done—the only thing necessary is to set the clothes in the right position and shape. Steam and pressure will take care of detailed crafting. Hems sit straight, seams are precise, collars get that crafted crisp edge, and sleeves get their curves.
If these elements are not balanced in the final step, even the best-crafted fabrics can appear depreciated.
Related Post: Finishing Tools, Machines, and Equipment for Garment Manufacturing
Helping with Seam and Fabric Memory
It may sound creepy, but the fabric does have memory.If a cloth is ironed with heat and steam, there are some places it will be forced to return to, creating weak points of resistance. This form of folded, packed, and shipped clothes makes a huge difference globally.
Thinking of a dress, let us take a pleated design. Those scissor-like retracting folds cannot retain position unless pressed, ironed, and trained into place. Similarly, the sharpness of trousers with creases or lines on tailored jackets.
Preventing Returns and Complaints
The reality is this: a customer will not care if a piece has been stitched almighty if it looks like a curled-up napkin.When a customer walks into a store and sees a shirt, chances are that if it is not pressed, the customer is not buying it. A pressed one? Surely, it is going to be something that gets the attention of the customers. Or, if it isn't ironed and there's a fault somewhere that the customer finds, they'll return and complain.
Ironing might not get the spotlight, but it’s definitely stage-managing the whole show. It's also now interesting to see that a lot of ironing is happening using automation and robotics now to ensure more precision.