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Inspection checkpoints · Leather and footwear

Leather and footwear inspection: what we check.

A leather goods and footwear inspection checks leather, stitching, edges, hardware and bonding on a random sample drawn to ANSI/ASQ Z1.4. Here is what our inspectors check on bags, small leather goods and shoes.

15
defects we look for
6
on-site tests
0 / 2.5 / 4.0
typical AQL
Leather goods and footwear
CriticalNeedle fragment or tack left in a shoe or bag
MajorSole bonding gap or delamination
MinorGlue mark that cleans off

Bags, wallets and small leather goods, belts, gloves, and leather, textile and synthetic footwear.

Defects by class

Critical, major, minor: how we class them.

Each defect in the sample is photographed and counted in its class. Your AQL plan sets how many are allowed; for critical defects the answer is none.

AQL 0

Critical defects

Likely to injure the user or breaks a mandatory rule of the destination market. One critical defect in the sample means the lot is not accepted.

  • Needle fragment or tack left in a shoe or bag
  • Sharp edge on hardware
  • Mould on leather, lining or packing
  • Children’s footwear: small part that detaches
AQL 2.5 typical

Major defects

Likely to cause a failure, reduce usability or make the product unsaleable, so a customer would return it.

  • Sole bonding gap or delamination
  • Pair mismatched in size, shade, height or shape
  • Scar, cut or colour patch on a visible panel beyond the agreed grade
  • Skipped or broken stitches; thread ends not secured
  • Edge paint cracked or peeling
  • Zip, buckle, clasp or magnet not working; hardware plating peeling
  • Handle or strap loose; heel loose
AQL 4.0 typical

Minor defects

A departure from the specification that does not affect use and is unlikely on its own to cause a return.

  • Glue mark that cleans off
  • Slight colour variation in a hidden area
  • Untrimmed thread ends
  • Small unevenness in edge paint

Your specification and approved sample decide the final class. Where a buyer defines zones (for example, zone A for the most visible surfaces), a defect in zone A is usually classed higher than the same defect in a hidden area.

On-site tests

Tests we run at the factory.

  1. 01
    Sole bond flex

    Shoes flexed by hand to show any gap between sole and upper.

  2. 02
    Rub fastness

    Dry and wet white cloth on the leather surface and edges.

  3. 03
    Handle and strap pull

    Pulled at the load in your specification.

  4. 04
    Moisture reading

    Leather moisture meter; silica gel checked in the pack.

  5. 05
    Hardware cycles

    Zips, buckles and clasps opened and closed repeatedly.

  6. 06
    Odour check

    Strong solvent or mould odour recorded.

Measurements

Points we measure.

Measurement points for leather goods and footwear
PointHow we measure
Length, width, heightBags and small leather goods
Handle drop and strap lengthAdjustable straps at both ends
Leather thicknessThickness gauge at several panels
Insole lengthFootwear, per size
Heel and shaft heightFootwear, per size

Unit: mm unless stated. We measure at least five units per size or version against your specification and tolerances, and report every reading.

Packing and labelling

Packed right, labelled right.

  • Pairs are left and right of the same size, in the right box
  • Paper stuffing, tissue and dust bags as specified
  • Silica gel in each box or bag
  • Box labels match the size, colour and style inside
  • Cartons dry, sealed and marked
  • Shipping marks, carton count, gross weight and dimensions agree with the packing list
Market marks

What your market expects.

EU and UK
Footwear material labels for upper, lining and outer sole (Directive 94/11/EC).
EU and UK
Chromium VI in leather in contact with skin below 3 mg/kg (REACH Annex XVII, entry 47); azo dye limits (entry 43).
US
Country of origin marking; leather claims that follow the FTC leather guides (16 CFR 24); Proposition 65 warning where required.
Care
Care instructions where supplied match the material.

We check marks and documents against your specification. Your compliance team or test lab confirms which rules apply to your exact product.

How we inspect it

On the floor, step by step.

We inspect each sampled piece on a clean, lit table, checking every panel, seam and edge against the approved sample and the agreed leather grade. Shoes are checked as pairs, flexed and measured per size.

Suggested planLevel II with AQL 0 / 2.5 / 4.0 is usual. Luxury lines often tighten major to 1.5.

Leather and footwear inspection questions

Straight answers.

Anything else, ask us directly. A principal replies, not a bot.

[email protected]

What do you check on shoes?

Pairing, size marking, sole bonding, stitching, upper material, heels, lining, insoles, measurements per size, a flex check and a rub test, plus labels, boxes and silica gel. Pairs must match in size, shade and shape.

How do you classify leather defects?

Against the leather grade you agreed with the factory. Natural marks within that grade are accepted; scars, cuts or colour patches beyond it on a visible panel are major; the same on a hidden area is minor.

How do you prevent mould in leather shipments?

We check leather moisture with a meter, confirm silica gel is packed as specified and look for mould on leather, lining and packing. We also note carton condition and storage conditions in the warehouse.

Book a check

Your leather and footwear, checked point by point.

Tell us the product, the factory and the date. We confirm the inspector and the fixed price the same working day.

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