Garment manufacturing business same as other business, every factory set for profit generation. In garments industry, fabric consumption is an important factor and task for garment Merchandiser. Because profit can be maximized by saving from each cost factor of garment making. For making garment product, fabric is the most important factor and it takes almost 50 % to 70% of the total product making cost. Actually, garment making cost depends on fabric, and for an order how much fabric is needed to fill up the order including cut wastage. That’s why fabric consumption must be calculated accurately to maximize the profit from an order.
Presently, most of the garment industry is using a cad marker for fabric consumption by the technical pattern master. No one bothers how it is done. If we have product technical sheet, then we can calculate the fabric consumption of garment by using technical sheet. Also need specific information of fabric like - fabric is solid or all over print, chest print, stripe or any specific design. For better understanding and calculation, follow the below example;
Basic formula of fabric consumption:
Formula - 01: In centimeter
(Body Length + Sleeve Length + Seam Allowance) x (½ Chest + Seam Allowance) x 2 x GSM / 10,000 x 1000 + 10% (Wastage and extra cutting) x Doz. + TF (Trim Fabric)
Formula - 02: In Inch
(Body Length + Sleeve Length + Seam Allowance) x (½ Chest + Seam Allowance) x 2 x GSM / 1550 x1000 + 10% (Wastage and extra cutting) x Doz. + TF (Trim Fabric)
To estimate the fabric consumption for knitted Basic T-shirt, we will use above one of the formulas. There is some basic information needed to estimate fabric consumption, they are -
Suppose, knitted basic T-shirt has been following information. We need to estimate fabric consumption of the product.
Item: Knitted basic T-shirt garment components are front, back and short sleeves. Fabric GSM (Gram per square) is 160.
Presently, most of the garment industry is using a cad marker for fabric consumption by the technical pattern master. No one bothers how it is done. If we have product technical sheet, then we can calculate the fabric consumption of garment by using technical sheet. Also need specific information of fabric like - fabric is solid or all over print, chest print, stripe or any specific design. For better understanding and calculation, follow the below example;
Basic formula of fabric consumption:
Formula - 01: In centimeter
(Body Length + Sleeve Length + Seam Allowance) x (½ Chest + Seam Allowance) x 2 x GSM / 10,000 x 1000 + 10% (Wastage and extra cutting) x Doz. + TF (Trim Fabric)
Formula - 02: In Inch
(Body Length + Sleeve Length + Seam Allowance) x (½ Chest + Seam Allowance) x 2 x GSM / 1550 x1000 + 10% (Wastage and extra cutting) x Doz. + TF (Trim Fabric)
To estimate the fabric consumption for knitted Basic T-shirt, we will use above one of the formulas. There is some basic information needed to estimate fabric consumption, they are -
- Fabric type and weight of the garment
- Measurement sheet
- Sewing allowance of the garment
- Cutting & sewing wastage in percentage
Suppose, knitted basic T-shirt has been following information. We need to estimate fabric consumption of the product.
Item: Knitted basic T-shirt garment components are front, back and short sleeves. Fabric GSM (Gram per square) is 160.
| Measurement | Centimeter |
|---|---|
| Body Length (BL) | 46.5 cm |
| Sleeve Length (SL) | 14 cm |
| ½ Chest | 34 cm |
| Measurement | Centimeter |
|---|---|
| Body Length (BL) | = 46.5 cm + 4 cm = 50.5 cm |
| Sleeve Length (SL) | = 14 cm + 4 cm = 18 cm |
| ½ Chest | = 34 cm + 4cm = 38 cm |
- TF (Trim Fabric - Neck rib / binding) is 0.15 kg/Doz.
= (BL + SL) x ½ Chest x 2 x GSM / 10,000 x 1000 + 10% Wastage x Doz. + TF
= (50.5 + 18) x 38 x 2 x 160 / 10,000 x 1000 + 10% x 12 + TF
= 1.0995 + 0.15 = 1.25 kg / Doz.
Formula - 02: If garment measurement use in Inch
Item: Knitted basic T-shirt garment components are front, back and short sleeves. Fabric GSM (Gram per square) is 160.
| Measurements without allowance | Inch |
|---|---|
| Body Length (BL) | 18.307 inch |
| Sleeve Length (SL) | 5.511 inch |
| ½ Chest | 13.386 inch |
| Measurements with allowance | Inch |
|---|---|
| Body Length (BL) | = 18.307 inch + 2 inch = 20.307 inch |
| Sleeve Length (SL) | = 5.511 inch + 2 inch = 7.511 inch |
| ½ Chest | = 13.386 inch + 2 inch = 15.386 inch |
- TF (Trim Fabric - Neck rib / binding) is 0.15 kg/Doz.
= (BL + SL) x ½ Chest x 2 x GSM / 1550 x 1000 + 10% Wastage x Doz. + TF
= (20.307 + 7.511) x 15.386 x 2 x 160 / 1550 x 1000 + 10% x 12 + TF
= 1.166 + 0.15 = 1.3164 kg / Doz.
Please note that, we used above formula to estimate only fabric weight that is consumed by a garment. Using the above formula, we didn’t include fabric loss due to fabric width, marker process loss and dying process loss or any defects. When we are going to purchase fabric from mills, we have to consider all of these parameters.
