Fabric Knowledge & Sourcing Guide
Course Description
This intensive 10-hour program equips fashion brand founders, designers, and product developers with practical expertise in fabric understanding, material performance, and global sourcing strategies. The course bridges creative design thinking with technical textile knowledge—enabling confident fabric decisions, supplier negotiations, and cost-quality optimization. Students learn fiber types, weaving and knitting structures, industry-standard testing methods, and fabric sourcing workflows from mills to finished garments.
This course combines real-world case studies with tactile fabric swatch exercises, comparative analysis, and supplier database creation—ideal for anyone building a fashion label or managing apparel production.
Course Duration and Format
- Total Hours: 10 (divided into 5 sessions x 2 hours)
- Mode: Onsite or Virtual (live interactive)
- Level: Intermediate (for emerging brands, designers, and merchandisers)
Detailed Syllabus
Module 1:
- Fabric Fundamentals (2 hours)
- Fiber types: Natural vs. synthetic vs. blended fibers
- Weaves and knits: Structural differences and performance
- Fabric weight, GSM, and drape—how they affect garment fit and aesthetics
- Identifying fabrics by touch and texture (hands-on analysis)
- Introduction to fabric specifications and swatch library building.
Module 2:
- Material Science and Testing (2 hours)
- Fiber properties: Strength, elasticity, moisture, and thermal behavior
- Color fastness, shrinkage, and tensile testing basics
- Understanding international testing standards (ASTM, ISO, AATCC)
- Lab test reports: How to read and interpret them
- Quality assurance techniques for sampling and production
Module 3:
- Fabric Sourcing and Supplier Management (2 hours)
- Supply chain landscape: Mills, traders, converters, and stockists
- How to source fabrics locally and internationally (India, China, Turkey, Korea)
- Effective supplier communication and negotiation
- MOQ, pricing, lead time, and consistency management
- How to create and maintain a supplier directory
Module 4:
- Fabric Planning for Fashion Brands (2 hours)
- Matching fabric to design and price segment
- Sustainable and functional fabric options for modern brands
- Batch selection and mill orders for capsule collections
- Handling sourcing challenges: delays, defects, and substitutions
- Cost breakdown analysis—raw materials to final garment cost
Module 5:
- Practical Exercises and Case Studies (2 hours)
- Swatch analysis and comparison workbook
- Sourcing simulation: Selecting the right fabric for a given design brief
- Mill communication mock exercise and sample order documentation
- Understanding import/export documentation and GST implications
- Building a personalized “Brand Fabric Bible” for future collections
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the program, participants will be able to:
- Identify, compare, and select suitable fabrics for specific garments and markets.
- Confidently read fabric test reports and communicate with technical teams.
- Develop a strong network of reliable domestic and international suppliers.
- Create comprehensive fabric specification sheets and sourcing documentation.
- Apply pricing, quality, and sustainability parameters for strategic material planning.
- Build a professional swatch library and vendor database customized for their brand.
Prerequisites
- Basic understanding of garments, patterns, or fashion design.
- No advanced textile background required, but prior exposure to apparel development is helpful.
- Recommended for fashion entrepreneurs, production managers, startup founders, or sourcing agents.