Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Why New Clothes Include Extra Fabric Swatches Inside
Some new clothes come with a small matching piece of fabric inside.
This piece is called a fabric swatch.
It is not usually leftover material from making the clothes.
You can wash the swatch first to see if the colour runs or the fabric shrinks.
You can also test detergent, stain remover, ironing, or steam on it.
This helps protect the whole garment from damage.
The swatch can later be used for small repairs.
It can also help find a matching thread.
It is a good idea to keep it with the clothing or its care instructions.
Fabric swatches help test whether clothing will shrink, fade, bleed, or react badly to detergents.
They can be used to check ironing temperatures, steaming effects, and sensitivity to heat.
The swatch may help with minor repairs because it matches the garment’s colour, texture, and weave.
It can help tailors match repair threads and materials to the original garment.
Fast-fashion brands often omit swatches to reduce costs, while premium clothing is more likely to include them.
- Who
- People buying new clothes, along with clothing manufacturers and tailors, are involved.
- What
- A fabric swatch is attached to some garments so owners can test washing, detergents, heat, and potential repairs.
- When
- It is useful before the garment’s first wash and during later maintenance or repairs.
- Where
- The swatch is usually tucked inside the garment, often near spare buttons.
- Why
- It helps prevent damage, identify colour bleeding or shrinkage, test heat sensitivity, and support matching repairs.
- Name
- Fabric swatch
- Main purpose
- Testing washing, detergent, colour, and heat reactions
- Repair use
- Can provide matching fabric for minor repairs
- Material match
- Usually has the same colour, texture, and weave as the garment
- Brand practice
- Many fast-fashion brands omit swatches to reduce costs and speed production
- Premium clothing
- Higher-quality or premium garments are more likely to include them
- Storage advice
- Keep the swatch with garment tags, in a sewing kit, or alongside laundry instructions