Blog

When a clothing brand develops a garment, the finished product is made from much more than just the main fabric. A T-shirt may need fabric, rib, sewing thread, labels, printing, packaging, and hang tags. A hoodie may also require drawcords, eyelets, zippers, elastic, and additional trims. To keep all these materials organized, garment manufacturers use a document called a Bill of Materials, commonly known as a BOM. For new clothing brands, understanding the BOM is important because it helps control sourcing, costing, quality, and production accuracy. This guide explains what a Bill of Materials is, what information it contains, how it is used in garment manufacturing, and why it is an important part of the tech pack. What Is a Bill of Materials in Garment Manufacturing? A Bill of Materials (BOM) is a structured list of all the materials, trims, accessories, labels, and packaging items required to manufacture a garment. It acts like a complete material checklist for the product. For example, a T-shirt BOM may include: Main fabric Neck rib Sewing thread Main label Size label Care label Print Hang tag Polybag A hoodie BOM may include: Main fleece fabric Rib Drawcord Eyelets Zipper Thread Labels Printing or embroidery Hang tag Polybag The BOM helps ensure that every required component is identified before bulk production begins. Why Is a BOM Important? Garment manufacturing involves multiple materials from different suppliers. Without a clear BOM, important components can be forgotten or incorrectly sourced. A BOM helps with: Material planning Costing Supplier communication Purchasing Production preparation Quality control Inventory management It also helps different teams work from the same information. For example, the merchandiser, sourcing team, factory, and quality team can all refer to the same BOM. BOM vs Tech Pack: What Is the Difference? A BOM is usually one part of a garment tech pack. A tech pack may include: Garment sketches Measurements Construction details Fabric specifications Colour information Print details Label placement Packaging BOM The BOM focuses specifically on what materials are required. The rest of the tech pack explains how the garment should be made. So: Tech Pack = Full Production Specification BOM = Material List Inside the Tech Pack What Information Is Usually Included in a BOM? A garment BOM may contain several columns. Common fields include: Item number Material category Material description Colour Size Quantity Unit of measurement Supplier Supplier code Approved reference Cost The exact format depends on the company or factory. Example of a Simple T-Shirt BOM Item Description Colour Specification Quantity Main Fabric Cotton Single Jersey Black 220 GSM As required Neck Rib 1×1 Rib Black Match body As required Sewing Thread Polyester Thread Black Matching shade As required Main Label Woven Brand Label Black/White 5 × 2 cm 1 pc Size Label Satin Label Black S–XXL 1 pc Care Label Printed Satin White Care details 1 pc Print Screen Print White Front chest 1 pc Hang Tag Printed Card Black Brand artwork 1 pc Polybag Transparent LDPE Clear Garment size 1 pc This is only an example. Actual BOM details depend on the garment. 1. Main Fabric in the BOM The main fabric is usually the most important line item. The BOM should clearly identify: Fabric name Fibre composition GSM Width or DIA Colour Finish Supplier For example: Fabric: Polyester InterlockComposition: 100% PolyesterGSM: 160DIA: 60Colour: NavyFinish: Quick-dry Clear fabric information helps prevent incorrect sourcing. 2. Secondary Fabrics Some garments use more than one fabric. Examples include: Rib Mesh Lining Contrast panels Pocket lining Cuff fabric These should be listed separately. For example, a sports T-shirt may use: Main polyester interlock Mesh side panels Rib neckline All three belong in the BOM. 3. Sewing Thread Thread should also be included. Important details may include: Thread type Colour Supplier Count or specification For example: Polyester sewing thread – black – matching body shade Different garment areas may use different thread types. 4. Labels in the BOM A garment can contain several labels. Common examples include: Main label Size label Care label Composition label Country-of-origin label Each label should be listed separately if needed. The BOM can specify: Material Size Colour Artwork Placement reference 5. Zippers Zippers should be clearly defined. Details may include: Type Length Colour Material Supplier Slider type For example: No. 5 nylon coil zipper – 65 cm – black A vague entry such as “black zipper” is not specific enough. 6. Buttons Button information may include: Material Size Colour Number of holes Branding Quantity per garment For a polo shirt, for example: 3 plastic buttons – 14L – matching body colour 7. Drawcords For hoodies, joggers, and shorts, the BOM may include drawcord information. Specify: Material Shape Diameter Length Colour Tip style For example: Round polyester drawcord – black – 120 cm – metal aglets 8. Eyelets Eyelets should also be listed. Specify: Material Size Finish Colour Example: Metal eyelet – 8 mm – matte black 9. Elastic Elastic is commonly used in: Waistbands Cuffs Sportswear Innerwear The BOM may specify: Width Stretch Material Length per garment For example: 40 mm knitted elastic – black 10. Printing Printing can also be listed in the BOM. The entry may include: Print method Colour Size Artwork reference Placement For example: Screen print – white – 20 × 25 cm – centre front This helps connect artwork requirements with costing and production. 11. Embroidery Embroidery can be included in the same way. Details may include: Logo size Thread colour Stitch count Placement Example: Left chest embroidery – 6 cm wide – white thread 12. Hang Tags Hang tags are often included in the BOM. Specify: Material Size Artwork String Quantity For example: 300 GSM printed hang tag – 5 × 9 cm – black string 13. Packaging Materials Packaging may also appear in the BOM. Common packaging items include: Polybag Size sticker Barcode Tissue paper Shipping box Carton For example: 1 transparent polybag per garment 1 size sticker per polybag Why Quantity Is Important in a BOM A BOM should show how much of each material is needed. For countable items, this is simple. Example: 1 main label 1 care label 3 buttons 2 eyelets For fabric and thread, the quantity may be calculated differently. Fabric may be shown in: Kg Metres Yards Consumption per garment This information supports material planning and costing. Units of Measurement in a BOM A BOM may use different units depending on the material. Common units include: Kg Metre Yard Piece Pair Set Cone Roll For example: Fabric = Kg Buttons = Pieces Elastic = Metres Labels = Pieces Using correct units prevents purchasing errors. Supplier Information in a BOM The BOM may include supplier information. This can include: Supplier name Supplier code Contact Article number Material reference This helps factories reorder the same approved material. For example: Supplier: XYZ TrimsArticle Code: ZIP-065-BLK This is much safer than relying on memory. Why Colour References Matter Colour should be clearly documented. Instead of writing: Green use: Pantone reference Supplier colour code Approved swatch Lab dip reference For example: Olive Green – Pantone 18-0527 TCX Accurate colour references help keep different trims visually consistent. BOM and Garment Costing The BOM is a major input for garment costing. Each material has a cost. For example: Material Example Cost Main Fabric ₹110 Rib ₹8 Thread ₹4 Labels ₹10 Print ₹35 Hang Tag ₹5 Packaging ₹10 Material Cost ₹182 This is only an example. The manufacturer can then add: Cutting Stitching Finishing Overheads Wastage This helps calculate the total garment cost. BOM and Sourcing The sourcing team uses the BOM to identify what must be purchased. For example: Before production begins, they need to ensure availability of: 500 kg fabric 5,000 labels 10,000 buttons 5,000 polybags The BOM becomes a purchasing reference. BOM and Inventory Planning A clear BOM also supports inventory planning. Factories can track: Required quantity Available stock Pending orders Shortages This reduces the risk of production delays. BOM and Quality Control The quality team can use the BOM to verify that the correct materials were used. For example: The BOM specifies: Matte black eyelet But production uses: Shiny silver eyelet That is a material mismatch. Without a BOM, this error may be missed. BOM and Sample Development The BOM should be reviewed during sampling. The proto sample may use temporary materials. But by the pre-production sample stage, the final approved BOM should ideally be used. This helps ensure: Correct trims Correct labels Correct colours Correct packaging BOM Revision Control BOMs can change during development. For example: Version 1: Plastic zipper Version 2: Metal zipper Version 3: Branded zipper puller added Changes should be recorded clearly. A revision table can include: Version Date Change V1 01-10-2026 Initial BOM V2 04-10-2026 Zipper updated V3 08-10-2026 Label size changed This helps everyone use the latest information. Why Version Control Is Important Imagine the merchandiser is using BOM V3, but the factory is still using BOM V1. The result could be: Wrong zipper Wrong label Wrong packaging Version control prevents this. Always mark the latest approved BOM clearly. Simple BOM Workflow A garment BOM usually follows this process: Design → Tech Pack → Initial BOM → Sample → Material Changes → Revised BOM → PP Sample → Final BOM → Bulk Production The BOM evolves as the garment develops. Example BOM for a Hoodie A hoodie may include: Item Description Main Fabric Cotton-Polyester Fleece Rib 2×2 Rib Thread Polyester Thread Drawcord Round Cotton Cord Eyelets Matte Black Metal Zipper Nylon Coil Zipper Main Label Woven Label Size Label Satin Label Care Label Printed Satin Print DTF Back Print Hang Tag Printed Card Polybag Transparent This is much more detailed than simply writing “hoodie materials.” Example BOM for a Polo Shirt A polo BOM may include: Piqué main fabric Collar Cuff Buttons Thread Main label Size label Care label Hang tag Polybag Each item should have its own specification. Example BOM for Sportswear A sportswear BOM may include: Polyester interlock Mesh Elastic Heat-transfer label Reflective trim Zipper Thread Print Packaging Performance garments often require more technical material details. Standard BOM vs Detailed BOM A basic BOM may only include: Material name Colour Quantity A detailed BOM may include: Supplier Article code Composition Size Finish Unit Consumption Cost Approval status Larger brands and more complex products usually require more detailed BOMs. Common BOM Mistakes New Clothing Brands Make 1. Missing Materials Small items such as: Size labels Thread Stickers Eyelets are sometimes forgotten. Every production component should be listed. 2. Vague Descriptions “Black zipper” is too vague. Specify: Type Size Length Finish 3. No Colour Reference General colour names can create shade differences. Use an approved reference. 4. Missing Quantities The factory must know how much is required per garment. 5. Wrong Units Confusing pieces, metres, and kilograms can create purchasing mistakes. 6. No Supplier Reference Custom materials can be difficult to reorder without supplier codes. 7. Poor Version Control An outdated BOM can create production errors. How New Clothing Brands Can Create a Simple BOM If you are creating your first product, start with a simple spreadsheet. Use columns such as: No. Category Description Colour Specification Qty Supplier Then list every material required for the garment. For example: Main fabric Rib Thread Main label Size label Care label Print Hang tag Polybag You can make the BOM more detailed as your business grows. BOM Checklist Before Production Before approving production, check: Is every material listed? Are fabric details correct? Are trim colours approved? Are sizes correct? Are quantities correct? Are supplier codes included? Are labels approved? Is packaging included? Is the latest revision being used? A five-minute BOM review can prevent expensive mistakes. BOM and Low MOQ Clothing Production Small brands often produce low quantities. In this situation, BOM planning becomes even more important. Custom trims may require higher MOQs than the garment order. For example: You need: 100 hoodies But the custom label supplier requires: 1,000 labels The BOM helps reveal these sourcing challenges early. Brands can then decide whether to: Use standard trims Order extra inventory Change suppliers Simplify the product BOM and Sustainable Sourcing Brands interested in lower-impact production can also use the BOM to track material choices. Examples include: Recycled polyester thread Recycled labels FSC-certified paper tags Reduced-plastic packaging Recycled fabric Supplier documentation should support sustainability claims where applicable. Why a BOM Helps Manufacturers Quote More Accurately A manufacturer cannot provide an accurate price if materials are unclear. Compare: Option A: “I need a hoodie.” versus: Option B: “I need a 300 GSM fleece hoodie with 2×2 rib, metal eyelets, cotton drawcord, DTF back print, woven label, and individual polybag.” The second request gives the manufacturer far more information. A clear BOM leads to better costing. Frequently Asked Questions What does BOM mean in garment manufacturing? BOM means Bill of Materials. It is a complete list of materials, trims, accessories, labels, and packaging required to manufacture a garment. Is fabric included in the BOM? Yes. Main fabric and any secondary fabrics should be listed. Are labels included in the BOM? Yes. Main labels, care labels, size labels, and other required labels are commonly included. Is packaging part of the BOM? It can be. Many garment BOMs include polybags, stickers, hang tags, and other packaging materials. Is a BOM the same as a tech pack? No. The BOM is one section of the tech pack. The tech pack contains broader technical information about the entire garment. Who creates the BOM? The BOM may be created by: Designer Technical designer Merchandiser Product developer Manufacturer The final version should be approved before production. Can a BOM change during sampling? Yes. Materials may change based on: Cost Availability Quality Design All changes should be recorded. Why is BOM important for costing? The BOM lists all the materials that must be purchased, making it easier to calculate the product’s material cost. Final Thoughts A Bill of Materials may look like a simple spreadsheet, but it plays a major role in garment manufacturing. It tells the manufacturer exactly which materials are required to build the product. A good BOM helps control: Fabric Trims Labels Colours Quantities Suppliers Cost Packaging It also connects several important parts of the production process, including sourcing, sampling, costing, purchasing, and quality control. For new clothing brands, the BOM does not need to be complicated. Start with a clear list of every material used in the garment and make the information more detailed as your products become more complex. Most importantly, keep the BOM updated. If the manufacturer knows exactly what materials are required, there is less room for confusion during production.