Calculating Fabric Consumption

Fabric consumption is an important factor in garment merchandising. Profit of an order mostly depends on it. As a result, fabric consumption should be done accurately after receiving the order.

Fabric cost bears approximately 40 - 50% of the total cost of any garments. So, calculation of correct fabric consumption is very important to achieve the maximum profit from an order.

Fabric Consumption for Knit Tshirt
Fabric consumption per dozen, (All measurements in cm)
Note:

1. Types of fabric and fabric GSM will be confirmed by the buyer.
2. For body length and sleeve length, approximate sewing allowance (12 cm) should be needed at body hem, shoulder joint, sleeve hem and armhole joint.
3. For chest width, approximate sewing allowance (6 cm) should be needed at both side seams.
4. And approximate fabric wastage in various stages is 10%

Example:

Courtesy www.garmentsmerchandising.com

• Fabric GSM- 160,
• Total order quantity- 10000
• Body length or shirt length- 79cm
• Sleeve length- 43cm
• ½ Chest width- 61cm
• = 3.45 + 10% (in kg)
• = 3.795 kg per dozen.

Fabric consumption calculation method for woven shirt:

Courtesy www.garmentsmerchandising.com

Let,
Fabric width- 55”
Wastage-10%
(Note: 2.54 used to convert into inch from cm and 36 used to convert into yds from inch).
Total fabric consumption for the woven long sleeve shirt is-
= (44.379 + 10%) per dozen.
= 48.82yds per dozen.
Total fabric consumption for 10000pcs (833.33 dozen) woven long sleeve shirt is (48.82 × 833.33) = 40680.59yds.

Knit fabric consumption should be done by using the following formula - 

Here, we will follow the measurement chart for XL size.

Now, all the measurements are applied on the following formula-

Fabric consumption per dozen, (All measurement in cm),

So, fabric needed for 10000pcs (833.33 dozen) garments is 3162.5kg.

A garments merchandiser should identify each parts of a “woven long sleeve shirt” before starting the consumption calculation.

The buyer “GAP” forwards a “woven long sleeve shirt” item order (10000 pcs) to you with the following specification. Consumption method for the above order will be discussed in the below in part by part.

1. Fabric consumption for the Body Parts (Body + Chest):

Here, we will apply the following formula (Per dozen),

= 20.31yds per dozen……………………………………………………………………….. (1)

So, consumption for the Body Parts (Body + Chest) is 20.31yds per dozen.

2. Fabric consumption for the Sleeve:

Here, we will apply the following formula (Per dozen),

= 17.64yds per dozen………………………………………………………………………… (2)

So, consumption for the sleeve is 17.64yds per dozen.

3. Fabric consumption for the Collar:

Here, we will apply the following formula (Per dozen),

= 1.68yds per dozen………………………………………………………………………………… (3)

So, consumption for the Collar is 1.68yds per dozen.

4. Fabric consumption for the Cuff:

Here, we will apply the following formula (Per dozen),

= 0.344yds per dozen……………………………………………………………………………. (4)

So, consumption for the Cuff is 0.344yds per dozen.

5. Consumption for the Collar Band:

Here, we will apply the following formula (Per dozen),

= 0.63yds per dozen…………………………………………………………………………….. (5)

So, consumption for the Collar Band is 0.63yds per dozen.

6. Consumption for the Pocket:

Here, we will apply the following formula (Per dozen),

= 0.735yds per dozen………………………………………………………………………. (6)

So, fabric consumption for the Pocket is 0.735yds per dozen.

7. Consumption for the Yoke:

Here, we will apply the following formula (Per dozen),

= 3.04yds per dozen………………………………………………………………………….. (7)

So, consumption for the Yoke is 3.04yds per dozen.

Now,

= [{Number (1) + Number (2) + Number (3) + Number (4) + Number (5) + Number (6) + Number (7)} + Wastage%]

= {(20.31 + 17.64 + 1.68 + 0.344 + 0.63 + 0.735 + 3.04) + 10%}

So, total fabric consumption for the woven long sleeve shirt is 48.82yds per dozen.