If you work in the fashion industry, you are well aware that the quality of garments is extremely important.  Therefore, our quality assurance policies must be strict and well disiplined.  There is only way way to truly be certain that the quality of your clothing and fabric is meeting the desired standards.  All apparel manufacturers should do "quality testing".
 
So, now that we are in agreement that testing is a requirement, we must decide where to conduct testing.  Many manufacturers do their own private testing.  However, Apparel Search suggests using third party testing facilities.  The reason that Apparel Search suggests using third party resources is that "testing" is there primary business.  In addition, because the test "result" does not effect their business directly, they can be very fair in regard to the testing result.  They are not bias in any way.
 
One of the apparel testing and textile testing facilities that I would suggest would be a company called Intertek.

Intertek provides the following testing solutions for textiles and apparel (according to their website 1/29/10):

Fiber Identification – Most countries importing apparel and soft home furnishing products require fiber identification labels indicating the fiber type and percentage of fiber components. Some countries even use fiber composition to classify quota categories. Intertek’s experienced technicians can accurately identify fibers and fiber blends, including bamboo and cashmere.

Feather and Down Testing – Intertek offers special feather and down testing for quantitative analysis, filling power, thermal properties, migration, and penetration resistance.

Flammability Testing –It is critical that materials used in apparel are in compliance with flammability regulations. In particular, adult apparel and children’s sleepwear have specific requirements that must be acceptable before importing or selling a product. Regulations for upholstery, rugs and carpets should also be followed.

Care Label Instructions – Many countries have mandatory or voluntary standards for care label instructions applicable to textile and apparel. Intertek conducts the following tests to determine the most appropriate consumer care conditions for the tested products:

*               Colorfastness to washing, bleaching, and dry cleaning
*               Dimensional stability, appearance retention, and ironing

Performance Testing – Intertek offers a variety of tests meeting specific performance standards related to consumer end use of textile products, including:

*               Dimensional Stability to Washing and Dry cleaning
*               Colorfastness to Light, Crocking (Rubbing), Washing, Bleaching
*               Physical tests – Strength, Abrasion, Pilling Resistance
*               Chemical Tests – Finish Analysis and pH

Eco – Textile Testing – The trend of green consumerism has extended to textile and apparel products. Major European and U.S. textile product buyers have responded to this public awareness by viewing their textile products from an ecological standpoint, and are establishing relevant requirements. Intertek provides a comprehensive spectrum of Eco-Testing services targeting environmental protection and consumer health and safety. Eco-Testing includes:

*               Banned Azo Colorants and Ozone Depleting Chemicals
*               Heavy Metal, Pesticide Residues, and Fungicides such as Dimethylfumarate        
*               Formaldehyde Content
In response to ever changing governmental regulations and the ever increasing consumer demand for high quality, testing is essential to minimize risk and protect the interest of both manufacturers and consumers.  Therefore, it is critical to find a good textile testing lab such as Intertek.
 
Learn more about textile testing on the Apparel Search website in the Quality Testing section.  From there you can learn about fabric testing methods, quality assurance, quality control, and inspections.