Fabrics Consumption in the Apparel Industry

 

Fabrics consumption is a crucial aspect of the apparel industry. As 60% to 70% of the cost of a garment comes from fabrics, it is essential to calculate the accurate fabric consumption to estimate the cost of the product correctly. The fabric consumption formula is based on the length, width, and GSM (grams per square meter) of the fabric. It is important to note that there is always a minimum of 5% wastage during fabric consumption.

To calculate the weight of a fabric piece, we use the formula length x width x GSM / 1550000 for fabrics in inches or yards. For fabrics in centimeters or meters, the formula is length x width x GSM / 10000000. For instance, a fabric piece with a length of 10 yards, width of 40 inches, and GSM of 180, weighs 1.67 kgs.

When calculating the fabric consumption of a product, we need to consider the number of panels or parts, as well as the wastage percentage. For a basic pant with a length of 40 inches, width of 12 inches, and GSM of 210, the fabric consumption is 0.27 kg.

For a T-shirt with chest, body, and sleeve length, and half armhole measurements, we use the formula [{(chest x length) + (sleeve length x full armhole)} x 2 x GSM + wastage%] x 12 to calculate the fabric consumption in kgs/dzn. For example, a T-shirt with a chest of 46 cm, body length of 60 cm, sleeve length of 23 cm, half armhole of 27 cm, and GSM of 200 weighs 2 kgs.

For a T-shirt with chest, body, and sleeve length, and half armhole measurements in inches, and fabric width of 48 inches, we use the formula [{(chest x length) + (sleeve length x full armhole)} x 2 / fabric width / 36 + wastage%] x 12 to calculate the fabric consumption in yards/dozen. For instance, a T-shirt with a chest of 18 inches, body length of 24 inches, sleeve length of 9 inches, half armhole of 10 inches, and fabric width of 48 inches, weighs 8.95 yards.

When a product has more parts like collars, pockets, cuffs, etc., we need to calculate the consumption of each part separately and then add all the consumptions to determine the total fabric consumption.

Lastly, when making a marker for cutting fabrics, we need to calculate the marker consumption and fabric consumption in dozen. For instance, a marker of 5 pcs shirts with a length of 7 yards 4 inches, width of 60 inches, and GSM of 180 weighs 1.78 kgs. The fabric consumption in dozen is (marker consumption / pcs) x 12, which in this case, is 4.28 kgs.

In conclusion, fabric consumption is a crucial aspect of the apparel industry, and accurate calculations help in estimating the cost of the product correctly. The above formulas and examples can be used as a guide for beginners to master fabric consumption.