The Importance of Fabric Details in Apparel Tech Packs
Fabric is a crucial element of any apparel style, and the fabric details included in a tech pack are essential. With accurate fabric details, moving forward with the production process is possible. Therefore, the tech pack designer must provide a detailed description of the fabric in the tech pack, including color, blend, composition, yarn count, and wash care instructions. Similarly, brands need to explain in detail the type of garments they require, providing the designer with a clear idea of the appropriate fabric for the desired styles. Effective coordination between the designer and the client is critical during the design phase, enabling the tech pack designer to provide an appropriate fabric description that best suits the style.
Essential Aspects of Fabric Description in Apparel Tech Packs
When creating a tech pack, the fabric description should include four essential aspects: composition, blend, texture, and color. While discussing fabrics in detail is beyond the scope of this discussion, it is crucial to note that fabric characteristics vary and require detailed research. It is also critical to be aware of testing characteristics when selecting fabrics. To ensure high-quality garments, it is crucial to conduct thorough testing on fabrics, including but not limited to colorfastness, shrinkage, and pilling. Manufacturers can produce garments that meet the desired specifications and quality standards by providing detailed fabric descriptions and testing results in a tech pack.
- GSM testing is essential for fabric evaluation, particularly for knitwear fabrics. GSM, or Grams Per Square Meter, reflects the weight and thickness of the fabric. To calculate the GSM of a fabric, a circular piece is cut to an even size of 11.2 cm and weighed. The weight of the fabric is then used to determine the GSM. This measurement is vital in determining the appropriate use of fabric in a particular garment and ensuring consistency across multiple batches of fabric.
- Yarn Count is an essential aspect of fabric testing, and it refers to the thickness of the yarn used in the fabric. It is calculated by its mass per unit length, and its unit of measurement is "tex." Yarn manufactured by the compact spinning system is known for its better smoothness, higher luster, and improved abrasion resistance compared to classical yarn. It has 40-50% better abrasion resistance, 20-30% lower hairiness as measured with the Uster apparatus, 60% lower hairiness as measured with the Zweigle apparatus, 8-15% higher tenacity and elongation at break, and more minor mass irregularity. Understanding yarn count is crucial in determining the quality and characteristics of the fabric and can help in selecting the appropriate yarn for a particular garment style.
- Fabric Composition: Fabric composition refers to the materials used to create the fabric, which can include a single type of fiber, such as 100% cotton or 100% polyester, or a blend of different fibers, such as a cotton/polyester blend. The composition of the fabric can affect its properties, such as its durability, texture, and breathability, and it is essential to specify the composition in the tech pack to ensure that the correct materials are used in production.
- Color: Pantone is a color-matching system used in the fashion and design industry to ensure consistency and accuracy of colors across different materials, products, and processes. Designers and manufacturers use Pantone colors to specify and communicate the exact shade of a color they want to use in their designs. Pantone provides a wide range of color shades and swatches, and their color codes are recognized globally as a standard for color communication. Using Pantone colors in your tech pack ensures that your fabric and garment colors are consistent and accurate throughout the production process.
At Urban Purple, we provide comprehensive services to help you build and grow your apparel brand. Our services cover the entire spectrum of brand development, from clothing design to shipping and marketing. We can help you with apparel design, tech pack design, sample development, and apparel production.