A hoodie sample can look “wrong” — even when you can’t explain why

Last month, I was contacted by a brand owner from Australia.
He wanted to produce hoodies for brand promotion and had already made samples through Alibaba.

His feedback was simple but very common:

“The quality doesn’t feel right, but I don’t really know what’s wrong.”

This is something I see a lot — especially with first-time or growing brands.

So instead of asking him to remake blindly, I reviewed the sample images in detail and broke the issues down from a manufacturing perspective.

Here’s what we identified and improved:

1️⃣ Fabric: the issue wasn’t the blend — it was the density
The original fabric was a blended fleece with loose construction.
It looked soft but lacked structure, felt sloppy on the body, and would likely pill after wear.

Considering Australia’s colder climate, we recommended 380g Australian fleece used by major brands.
For color, we avoided regular black (which fades easily without proper fixation) and chose contrast black, slightly higher in cost but far more stable and premium in appearance.

2️⃣ Fit & trims: small choices define whether it looks like a “brand”

• Overall silhouette was shapeless

• Rib cuffs and hem lacked elasticity

• Hood drawstring looked like a basic shoelace — cheap and generic

We upgraded to:
✔ Matching high-quality cotton rib
✔ Brand-specific drawstring
✔ Metal eyelets to secure the hood openings

The hoodie instantly looked more intentional and brand-ready.

3️⃣ Appliqué embroidery: quality lives in the edges
The original appliqué had uneven edges and visible fraying.
We adjusted size, placement, and color combinations, discussing each step with the client instead of simply following the artwork.

Good embroidery isn’t just execution — it’s planning.

4️⃣ Workmanship: the details customers notice immediately
The kangaroo pocket was visibly uneven — left side higher than the right.
This isn’t a technical limitation, but a quality control issue.

Your customers may not know sewing, but they can see mistakes.

5️⃣ My honest advice to the client
Before focusing on price, be clear about your positioning.

If you’re building a brand,
👉 don’t chase the lowest quote
👉 work with manufacturers who understand branding, not just production

Many apparel problems aren’t about how to make it —
they’re about knowing why it should be made a certain way.

That’s where we add value.

If you’re planning hoodies, sweatshirts, or branded apparel and feel something is “off” with your samples,
you’re welcome to send them over — I’ll help you identify the real issues before they become costly mistakes.