QUALITY CONTROL: Standards & Guidelines

Ennis Fabrics maintains the highest standards possible in the textiles and supplies we present to our customers. Our inventory is managed with a piece based system allowing for the highest quality control. We sell both cuts and rolls and have the ability to match dye lots. The following are the standards we use for shipping to our customers.

These standards are based on those set by the American Home Funishings Alliance (AHFA), the residential furniture industry’s recognized leader in the development of product and technical standards; the Asssociation for Contract Textiles (ACT); and the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association’s (CFFA’s) paper on Standard Test Methods for Chemical Coated Fabrics and Films. These are sources subscribed to by most North American manufacturers. These resources specify test methods, practices and minimum voluntary acceptance guidelines for various types of upholstery fabrics and standards for vinyls and coated fabrics.

In no case would we supply items as first quality that could not meet these guidelines. Clearouts or seconds are of a lower standard and are priced accordingly.

Allowances: The following allowances will be made for fabric flaws: 

FLAW SIZE

ALLOWANCE

Less than 1⁄₈ yd

More than 1⁄₈ yd

Two flaws (measured as 1 long flaw)

1⁄₈ yd

Length of flaw

Length of flaw

 

MARKING OF FLAWS

Factory flaws are marked with either a red or yellow plastic “swiftach” type of marker or a length of colored thread or string in the selvage of material. When marked with a red tag, the flaw is considered a “spot” or filling (weft) direction flaw. It usually will be less than 1⁄₈ yard and is marked with a red tag for identification and numbering of flaws per roll.

When a yellow flag is used, this represents a warp direction flaw, and there is a flag to mark both the start and end of the flaw. In most cases a flaw of this type would not be included in your shipment, but in case of a full roll order, the exact yardage between flags is deducted from the gross yardage on the roll, and no more than two pieces per roll.

FLAW DENSITY

This refers to the acceptable number of flaws in a given cut. A maximum of one flaw per 5 yards is allowed. If the cut is equal to or less than 5 yards, then the cut must be free from flaws.

 

MAXIMUM FLAWS FOR FIRSTS:

Pile Fabrics

 

Woven Fabrics

 

Vinyls and Industrial Fabrics

1 flaw per 7 yards up to a maximum of 7 flaws per 50 yard roll

1 flaw per 9 yards up to a maximum of 5 flaws per 50 yard roll

2 flaws per 39 yards, 3 flaws per 49 yards, 4 flaws per 59 yards

 

BREAKS IN ROLLS

A break in a roll is considered to be a flaw and the allowance given is usually ¹⁄₈ yard. All orders 10 yards or less must be filled with a single piece of fabric. If this is not possible then the customer must approve shipment ahead of time.

If the length of the cut is greater than 10 yards, a break is acceptable provided there is a suitable allowance. No single piece will be less than 2 flaw free yards. If more than 2 pieces are required to fill an order, the customer must approve this prior to shipping, regardless of length.

SHADE & DYE LOT

For decorative and woven fabrics, a match is 3/4 to 5.0 on the Greyscale ASTM D2616-12. This is true also for industrial and recreational fabrics.

CROCKING

Crocking is the transfer of color from a fabric to fabric through the process of rubbing. On some fabrics, free dye or fibers may remain on the surface possibly causing crocking to occur. For suedes, dry crocking is 3/4 to 5, wet crocking is 3 to 5. Both are measured against the AATCC 8 Color Transference Scale. This rating is most prevalent for very dark or rich colors (i.e. black, navy, red).

ROLL ORDER SIZE

Roll lengths vary. Please confirm when placing orders for full rolls.

CLEAROUTS

Clearouts or seconds may contain flaws and have been priced accordingly.

 

TERMS & CONDITIONS*

* This information is offered for general guidance only. It is accurate to the best of our knowledge and it is not intended to relieve the user from their responsibility to investigate and understand other pertinent sources of information and to comply with all laws and procedures applicable to the safe handling and use of these materials.

 

TERMS

Payment terms are net 30 days from the date of the invoice. Shipments in Canada are F.O.B. Edmonton, Toronto, or Vancouver. Shipments in the U.S. are F.O.B. Indianapolis.

OVERDUE ACCOUNTS

A 1.5% service charge per month (18% per annum) will be charged on overdue accounts.

ORDERING

When placing an order, please provide the following information: pattern name, color number and shipping instructions. If exact color match is required, please request a cutting of present stock or send a cutting to be matched. If matching a previous order, please quote the order number. If it is unavailable, send a cutting of the fabric for matching. Please note that dye lots may vary.

BACK ORDERS

Back ordered items will be shipped as soon as available unless advised otherwise by customer.

 

HOLD STOCK POLICY

Reservations placed on fabric orders will be honored for 48 hours with the following exceptions:

AN ORDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR A 5-DAY HOLD IF:

  • Fabric ordered requires dye lot matching.

  • When customer makes a sale to their client but must wait to verify the exact yardage for a more accurate order.

  • When waiting for freight quotes.

  • When customers do not have space to take all inventory at once.

  • Customer is quoting a project but must verify exact details from the customer (e.g. yards, color and pricing).

AN ORDER IS ELIGIBLE FOR A 10-DAY HOLD IF:

  • Customer has requested to see fabric cuts before approval of an order.

  • When “Ship Complete” is requested but part of the order is on backorder.

Returns

Returns will only be accepted within 90 days of purchase. Arrangements must be made prior to return shipments. Please see the Returned Goods and Claims Policies. Please read our Quality Control Standards and Guidelines carefully. Fabric may not be returned for credit once it has been cut or marked. Inspect yardage for flaws, length, quality and that it is the correct pattern and color before cutting. To ensure prompt credits on approved returns, please provide the following: Invoice or packing slip number, pattern name, color number, yardage shipped and the reason for return. Refused shipments or cancellations after orders have been cut are subject to a 15% restocking charge. Cuts under 5 yards are not returnable.


LOST GOODS

Customers must advise Ennis Fabrics within 90 days of a shipping date that goods are lost in shipping and that a claim is required. We cannot honor any freight claims past this point.


SHOWROOM SAMPLES

A deposit of twenty dollars ($20.00) per sample and a deposit of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per complete sample book will be collected at the time a customer completes a “Sample Loan Out Sheet.” Unless otherwise stated, all samples are expected to be returned to our showroom within 2 weeks, at which time your deposit will be returned to you. If samples are not returned within 4 weeks the deposit will be forfeited.

 

ENNIS FABRICS 2-YEAR FABRIC WARRANTY

Ennis Fabrics’ fabrics will be repaired or replaced if they fail to give normal wear for two years from the date of delivery. This warranty expressly does not cover: 

  • Cuts
  • Burns
  • Stains
  • Pilling
  • Soiling
  • Pet damage
  • Damage caused by improper applications
  • Damage caused by improper installations
  • Damage caused by unreasonable use.
  • Fading caused by sunlight (unless product is specified UV resistant)

Claims will not be honored when covers have been removed for cleaning.

Claims will not be honored for fabrics that have been altered with any further processing done outside of treatments facilitated by Ennis Fabrics. If the identical fabric is not available, Ennis Fabrics will provide an equivalent fabric.

What is “pilling” and why is it not warranted by Ennis Fabrics?

As a result of normal wear and use, upholstered fabrics will begin to form little balls, or “pills,” of excess fabric on their surface. This is called pilling, a common characteristic of many upholstered fabrics. Ennis Fabrics does not consider pilling a defect because the fabric is not deteriorating. Over time, when all excess fibers have been released from the fabric, the pilling will stop. To restore the look of the material, we recommend occasionally “shaving” the product’s surface with a battery-operated furniture or clothing shaver to remove the pills and restore the look of the fabric’s surface. Please remember that this may need to be done 3-4 times, but the pilling on the surface will stop once the excess fibers are gone.

Crocking

Certain Dyes, including indigo dyes commonly used in denim jeans, may migrate onto the surface ( known as reverse crocking) of the material and become visible on lighter colors. The occurrence can be increased by humidity and temperature. Once the dye has penetrated the topcoat the stains may be irreversible and permanent. Ennis fabrics will not assume responsibility for dye transfer and migration caused by this type of external contamination. Certain inks, including ball point ink can create permanent stains.

3rd PARTY PROCESSING

Ennis Fabrics may send goods to the laminator, quiltor, slitter or anywhere else the customer asks us to ship the goods for further processing. However, Ennis Fabrics is not responsible for goods that we did not directly make arrangements for.