What Is a Bill of Materials (BOM) in Apparel Production?
The Bill of Materials (BOM) is the master inventory list of every fabric, thread, trim, label, and packaging component needed to manufacture your garment.
General industry knowledge • Reviewed by Fenalt editorial team
A Bill of Materials (BOM) is the itemized procurement sheet inside a tech pack that details every raw material requirement and component yield.
In commercial clothing manufacturing, an incomplete BOM creates supply chain bottlenecks. If a single zipper puller, neck label, or thread color match is missing from the BOM, production halts until the component is sourced. A complete BOM enables accurate FOB pricing and seamless raw material purchasing.
Component Breakdown
6 Essential Categories Included in an Apparel BOM
1. Primary & Secondary Shell Fabrics
Shell fabric composition (e.g. 100% combed cotton), GSM weight (e.g. 450 GSM French Terry), fabric width, finish (e.g. silicone soft wash), Pantone colour code, and estimated yardage/meter consumption per garment.
2. Linings, Interlinings & Pocketing
Secondary fabrics used inside hoods, pockets, collar bands, or waistbands - including fusible woven/non-woven interlining weight (GSM), pocket twill composition, and adhesive specifications.
3. Sewing Threads & Seam Tapes
Core-spun polyester or cotton thread specifications, thread weight/Tex size, Pantone color matching codes, and seam-sealing tapes for waterproof or activewear construction.
4. Hardware, Fasteners & Trims
Zippers (YKK gauge, tape length, metal vs nylon coil, slider finish), metal snaps, buttons, eyelets, cord locks, Aglet tips, rivets, and elastic banding dimensions.
5. Branding Labels, Care Tags & Packaging
Woven main neck labels, satin care/content tags with legal wash symbols, size flag labels, hangtags, safety pins, printed polybags, and barcode sticker specifications.
6. Master Packaging & Export Supplies
Individual polybag thickness (microns), silica gel desiccant packs, folding cardboard collar stays, and export carton marking specs (carton dimensions, max weight, size ratios).
Data Architecture
Structure of a Professional BOM Sheet
Item Category & Description
Identifies the specific material component (e.g. Shell Fabric, Neck Label, Front Zipper).
Material Specification & Color Code
Provides full technical details: composition, weight (GSM), finish, and Pantone TCX/C reference.
Supplier Reference / Code
Lists mill name, supplier item code, or stock part number for exact reordering.
Consumption Yield per Garment
Quantifies exact material used per unit (e.g. 1.25 meters fabric, 1 piece zipper, 2 buttons).
Placement / Location on Garment
Defines physical location (e.g. Center front closure, interior left side seam 10cm above hem).
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Bill of Materials (BOM) in apparel manufacturing?
A Bill of Materials (BOM) is a comprehensive itemized master table inside a tech pack that lists every raw material, fabric, trim, thread, label, hardware, and packaging component required to produce a single finished garment.
Who is responsible for creating the BOM?
The brand's technical designer or product developer compiles the initial BOM during tech pack creation. The manufacturer's sourcing team reviews and updates it with exact mill supplier codes, fabric consumption yields, and unit component costs.
Why is an accurate BOM essential for FOB unit costing?
The BOM is the primary foundation for FOB unit cost calculation. Omitting small components - such as specialized drawstrings, care tags, or heavy-duty threads - leads to unexpected cost surcharges during bulk production.
What is fabric yield or consumption in a BOM?
Fabric yield (or consumption) is the total quantity of fabric required to cut and assemble one garment, including cut-waste allowances. For example, a hoodie may require 1.35 meters of 180cm-wide French Terry fabric per garment.
What is the difference between a BOM and a Tech Pack?
A tech pack is the complete multi-page design specification blueprint (sketches, POM tables, specs, BOM). A BOM is one specific master page inside the tech pack that details all raw material components and supply references.
How does Fenalt use the BOM during manufacturing?
Fenalt's Dhaka procurement team uses the BOM to source raw fabric rolls, negotiate trim prices, conduct lab-dip dye matching, and verify incoming raw material deliveries against pre-production specs.
Master raw material procurement
Fenalt audit BOMs, sources raw fabric rolls, and manages trim procurement with Dhaka-based factory oversight.
Submit Your Project