A legging that looks opaque on a hanger may show through when worn in a squat. The problem can involve fabric coverage, color, local extension, pattern shape or the size selected. Start by reproducing the complaint under controlled conditions rather than immediately increasing fabric weight.
A practical squat observation can help compare samples. It is not a universal laboratory standard and cannot support an unlimited promise that every garment will be opaque on every body, in every light.
Keep the first comparison controlled
Identify the style, size, fabric article, color, production lot and care history. Compare a complaint sample with a retained reference where possible. Measure both before concluding that the fabric itself changed.
Use fit participants within the intended body-size ranges, with consent for any photographs and a clear purpose for retaining them. A suitable form or fixture can assist repeatable material comparisons, but it does not replace review of actual garment fit and movement.
Agree the lighting, viewing distance, garment position and contrasting backing or underlayer. Camera exposure can change the apparent result, so record it where photographs are used. Do not compare an overexposed image of one sample with an ordinary image of another.
Opacity observation record
Use a separate line for each color, size and care condition. Record what became visible and where, rather than writing only pass or fail.
| Record field | What to write | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Sample identity | Style, size, color, lot and pattern version | Separates material drift from design changes |
| Fit condition | Body range or fixture dimensions and garment measurements | Identifies local overextension |
| Viewing setup | Light, distance, background and camera settings | Makes the comparison repeatable |
| Movement | Standing, agreed squat depth and relevant transitions | Locates the condition that reveals the problem |
| Observation | Seat, knee or gusset; nature of show-through | Directs the correction to the affected area |
| Care history | Wash/dry procedure and cycle count | Distinguishes new from cared-for behavior |
| Decision | Retest, material change or fit revision | Connects the observation to an approval action |
Diagnose the pattern of failure
If one size fails while adjacent sizes do not, review garment measurements, grade rules and the body range assigned to that size. Local tension over the seat may come from rise or hip shaping, not only overall circumference.
If several sizes fail in one color, compare that color’s material and finishing records with the approved reference. A dark sample cannot stand in for every pale or saturated colorway. Examine printed fabric under extension as well, since opening the structure can change both coverage and artwork appearance.
If the issue appears after care, compare dimensions, surface and recovery before and after the same procedure. Do not infer elastane damage merely from a photograph. Ask for appropriate material analysis or testing where the cause remains uncertain.
Use fabric data without treating it as an opacity verdict
Mass per unit area helps confirm material consistency, but GSM alone does not establish coverage. Knit structure, yarn characteristics, finish and the amount of extension all matter. A heavier replacement can alter fit, heat sensation and cost without solving the actual cause.
Stretch and recovery reports can support investigation when their method, direction and loading conditions are known. Maximum extension is not the intended operating condition of a legging. Work with the pattern maker to establish a comfortable fit that leaves acceptable coverage through movement.
Do not assume that adding elastane, choosing a double knit or darkening the color automatically fixes the product. Each is a possible development change that needs representative samples and repeat evaluation.
Approve a correction, not just a better photograph
For a fit-led correction, change the relevant pattern area and repeat the movement review across the affected size group. For a material-led correction, check all intended colors and any changes in seam behavior, recovery and care.
Keep an unaltered comparison sample and record the exact change. If several variables change together, the team may not know which one resolved the issue or whether the solution can be repeated at reorder.
Write the buyer-defined acceptance condition into the approval record, including its limitations and the treatment of borderline observations. Retain the approved garment, record and image setup. Revisit the checks when material, color process or pattern changes, and use customer returns to refine the protocol rather than relying on an undefined squat-proof label.
Related sourcing guidance
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