A fabric card is a reference card with mounted fabric swatches, documenting the approved fabrics for a style or collection with supplier and specification details.
What's on a Fabric Card
- Swatch of approved fabric - the physical reference standard
- Supplier and item number - exactly what to reorder
- Fiber content and weight - GSM, construction, finish
- Colorways - all approved colors for the style
How Brands Use Them
Fabric cards serve as the sourcing reference when reordering, the QC comparison standard when bulk fabric arrives, and the archive record of what was used each season. When a fabric dispute arises with a mill, the card is the evidence.
FAQs
- What's the difference between a fabric card and a swatch?
- A swatch is just the fabric piece; a card includes the documentation around it.
- Should fabric cards be kept?
- Yes - they're your quality reference for reorders and dispute resolution.
- Digital or physical?
- Physical for color/texture accuracy; digital for sharing.
Glossary: see the full fashion glossary for more apparel industry terms.