{"id":6843,"date":"2025-12-14T20:09:41","date_gmt":"2025-12-14T13:09:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mekonggarment.com\/?p=6843"},"modified":"2025-12-25T16:46:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-25T09:46:35","slug":"what-are-international-tolerances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mekonggarment.com\/zh\/what-are-international-tolerances\/","title":{"rendered":"What Are International Tolerances?"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you buy clothes online, you often see this note under the size chart: “Size is manually measured. A difference of 1\u20133 cm may occur. Returns are not accepted for this reason.\u201d <\/strong>This is not a random excuse. It is based on international garment tolerance standards<\/a><\/strong>. So what do tolerances really mean<\/a>, and what range is considered reasonable? Unlike machines or metal parts, clothing cannot be made<\/a> with perfect precision. Small size differences are normal and expected in the apparel industry.<\/p>\n

Why Clothing Sizes Always Have Tolerances<\/h2>\n

Fabric Instability<\/h3>\n

Fabric is alive in a way machines are not. Different fabrics stretch, relax, and shrink in different ways. Cotton, wool, viscose, and blends can all react differently to heat, steam, ironing, or washing. Even after finishing, garments may slightly change size once they are pressed or washed. This natural behavior makes exact sizing impossible.<\/p>\n

=> Related Article: <\/strong>How Does a Prototype Sample Affect My Clothing Production Cost?<\/a><\/p>\n

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Manual Cutting<\/h3>\n

Before sewing begins, fabric must be cut. In most garment factories<\/a>, cutting is still done by people, not fully automated machines. Even with templates and markers, small deviations are unavoidable. A few millimeters lost or gained during cutting can affect the final measurement.<\/p>\n

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Stitching and Sewing Process<\/h3>\n

Sewing is still a labor-intensive process in most garment factories today. The final size of a garment<\/a> depends on seam width, stitch tension, and the operator\u2019s skill. Even when following the same pattern, different sewing techniques can create slight size changes. This is why tolerances are always built into clothing production<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Most garments today are still sewn by hand-operated machines. The final size depends on:<\/strong><\/p>\n