Bulk
Bulk is a trade term for fabric produced and arranged for use in mass production of products, rather than for samples, or for the production stage of that fabric, based on approved specifications.
Contents5 sections
Definition and trade position
Bulk is not a fabric weave name or material name, but a trade term for fabric produced for mass production. It is used as fabric for cutting and sewing products, as opposed to garment length or sample roll used in the planning and prototyping stage.
It is used in situations such as fabric ordering, dyeing and processing, fabric inspection, and delivery to sewing factories. “Bulk confirmation” usually means checking whether mass-production fabric matches the approved sample or sample-stage specifications.
Difference from sample fabric
Sample fabric is a small quantity of fabric used for design confirmation, review of sewing specifications, and making display samples. By contrast, bulk corresponds to the actual production quantity, so even with the same product number and color number, the production time, dyeing batch, processing conditions, and other factors may differ.
In particular, indigo dyeing and sulfur dyeing may show differences in color appearance, color fading, and unevenness between the sample stage and the bulk stage. The evaluation results for samples alone do not always guarantee mass-production quality.
Specifications and figures to check
When bulk arrives, compare the purchase order, approved sample, and fabric inspection record, and confirm the product number, color number, blend ratio, finish, number of rolls, and length of each roll. Fabric width, fabric weight, shrinkage rate, stretch, and color difference are judged against the standard values and measurement methods agreed upon at adoption.
There is no industry-wide uniform guideline for acceptable numeric ranges. After calculating the required quantity from the necessary yardage and cutting plan, it is important to manage the effective length within each roll, defect locations, pattern repeat, and allowances for loss.
- Measured length per roll and total meters
- Fabric width and selvage condition
- Physical properties such as fabric weight, shrinkage rate, and skew
- Differences in hue, depth of color, and texture within and between lots
- Details, location, and compensation terms for fabric defects
Points to prevent misunderstandings
The scope of terms such as “bulk completion,” “bulk confirmation,” and “bulk release” may differ depending on the company or trading partner. Clarify at the time of ordering whether the term refers to the fabric itself, the full set of materials for mass production, or the confirmation process before mass production.
Keep the approved sample in a way that makes the color, texture, front and back, grain line, finished side, and inspection standards clear, and record the person who approved it and the approval date. If post-processing or product washing will be performed, carry out a preliminary test with bulk fabric and check the finished result.
Frequently asked questions
Are bulk fabric and sample roll the same fabric?
Even if the same product number and color number are arranged, sample roll means a small quantity produced for confirmation, while bulk means full-scale production for mass production. Because color, texture, shrinkage rate, and other factors may differ depending on production timing and dyeing or processing conditions, bulk is checked before mass production.
What do you prioritize when checking bulk?
First compare it with the approved sample and confirm the product number, color number, blend ratio, processing, and front/back side. Then confirm the fabric width, fabric weight, shrinkage rate, color difference, texture, defects, and roll length. If there are downstream processes such as product washing or printing, evaluate the fabric after those processes as well.
Can lot differences in bulk be prevented?
It may be difficult to eliminate them completely, but they can be managed more easily by arranging within the same lot, sharing the approved sample, and performing fabric inspection and color confirmation before mass production. At cutting, it is important to check color differences and depth of color for each roll and handle the fabric so that they are not mixed within the same product.
