As I mentioned in my post about Tech Packs, a Bill of Materials (BOM) is a detailed list that itemizes all the materials and components required to produce a specific garment or fashion accessory. It’s a comprehensive recipe for creating the item, outlining each ingredient needed for manufacturing the intended final product.
A typical Bill of Materials includes:
- Style Information: The BOM begins with essential information about the garment, such as its style name, product code, and a general description.
- Material Details:
- Fabric: The type, composition, weight, color, and other defining attributes of the fabric.
- Trims: Details about elements like zippers, buttons, threads, labels, elastic, ribbons, and any other accessories or embellishments.
- Interlinings and Linings: Layered materials used to give structure or support.
- Other Materials: Additional elements like patches, drawstrings, cords, beads, sequins, rhinestones, or more.
- Quantities: The BOM indicates the quantity of each material required for producing one unit of the garment. This allows for accurate planning of resources and makes it simple to estimate the cost of a run. In the event that a run needs to be scaled up or down, the necessary numbers are handy.
- Measurement Units: Specifies the measurement units used for each material quantity, such as meters for fabric, pieces for buttons, or spools for threads.
- Colorways: If the final product is intended to come in different color options the BOM includes the material details and quantities for each variant.
- Construction Information: When necessary, BOMs will provide construction notes to guide the production process, especially for complex or specialized pieces.
By detailing the quantity and cost of each material, the BOM helps manufacturers estimate the total production cost and set appropriate pricing for the garment.
Overall, the Bill of Materials is a fundamental document that streamlines the apparel manufacturing process, ensuring efficient and accurate production of each garment while adhering to design specifications and brand standards.