Reading a fabric spec and quotation

Two quotes for what looks like the same fabric may describe two different things. Learn to read the full specification.

Data you must find

• Composition: the fibre percentages.
• Construction: woven or knit and its type.
• Weight (GSM) and the real usable width.
• Finish and treatments.
• Minimum quantity and lead time.
• The price per metre or per kilogram and its terms.

Full width and usable width

The full width includes the selvedge, which is not used. The usable width is what matters in your calculation, because a cheaper but narrower fabric may cost you more per piece.

Compare by cost per piece

Do not compare price per metre alone. Work out each fabric’s consumption per piece and its cost, as we will do in the next module.

Exercise

Put the specs of your three candidates into the comparison template with the six data points, and note what is missing and ask the suppliers for it.