Seam-to-seam measurements work as part of the sampling process and it’s important that designers understand that things won’t always work the first time in this phase. Depending on how complex the clothing is to manufacture there may be tweaks that do not become apparent until the first fit sample and prototype of the garment is made. Calculate how much fabric needs to be cut. By using seam-to-seam measurements, manufacturers can calculate how much fabric needs to be used to produce the garments which is vital for costs and accurate production. Keep them simple, at this stage an overload of information isn’t necessary. You can go into more detail later on. BOMs also extend to include features like zippers, buttons, trims, tassels, sequins, jewels and any other type of functional material. You wouldn’t build a house without having a blueprint that details the dimensions, floorplan, materials, etcetera etcetera and the same applies to developing clothing.

Use basic shapes with simple elements, which will at this stage just serve to represent the garments features, placement and shapes. BOM is another semantic of the fashion world and it stands for Bill of Materials. Your BOM is just that: It’s a list of the materials you’ll be using to produce your garments. Away from materials and fabrics, if there’s dyeing involved then your manufacturer is also going to need to buy and then mix a certain amount of dyes to achieve your desired colour. A certain amount of dye will only produce a certain amount of clothing, so this has to be accurate. Determine dyeing costs. If a manufacturer doesn’t have your colour, it will need to be dyed using either natural or conventional dyes. This does come at a cost, and so will need to be incorporated into the overall costs of production.Keep them more detailed than artistic. Remember that they’re a blueprint and not a life drawing class. There are also different advisory steps to take depending on whether you’re including photographs of inspirational styles, or whether you’re including sketches. Just getting started in the world of fashion? Read our step-by-step guide as to how to start your own fashion brand here . 3. A list of fabrics & materials you want to use (Your BOM) Additionally there are other things to be aware of in the sampling process. If you’re printing a fabric, a Print Strike-off must be conducted. A Print Strike-off is where a manufacturer will print on a 50cm x 50cm piece of fabric to test the print quality. If you want your samples to increase in size, you’ll need to make new samples from your new measurements because a manufacturer can’t just add more fabric.

Determine printing techniques. Depending on the prints your garments will have on them depends on the printing technique. Some techniques work better for larger prints because they don’t condense the image or colour, and some work better for smaller prints to enhance the colour. Manufacturers therefore need to assess your artwork files to work this out, so the correct technique can be used without compromising the image quality. Seam measurements help manufacturers do two things. Firstly they help manufacturers to calculate how much fabric, material, and dye is going to be used to create the garment which helps them to calculate the dyeing and printing costs.In the introduction your manufacturer will also want to know whether you’re looking to use sustainable materials, natural dyes, or high-end market niche materials to produce the garments.