A brand with two factories and twenty styles can already see its labels drift: a care label on the wrong side, last season’s swing tag on a new item, size tabs in a slightly different shade. A trim specification prevents that, and as a label and packaging manufacturer we help brands build one from the very first order.
The terms vary from company to company, so here is how we use them in this guide.
| Term | What it is | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Trim book | Master standard for the whole brand or collection: every approved item, code, colour and placement rule | Design, sourcing, quality |
| Trim list | A per-style extract showing which items one style uses, where and how many per garment | Factories, production planners |
| Trim card | A physical card with real approved samples attached | Factory floor, quality control |
Step 1: inventory everything that is not fabric
Walk through one finished garment and its packaging and list every item. Group them as follows:
- Brand labels: main woven label, logo patches, leather, metal or silicone badges, logo tapes.
- Information labels: care labels with composition and symbols, size labels, origin, style or batch labels, QR labels linking to product data.
- Tags: main hang tag, price or barcode sticker, function cards, strings, seals or pins.
- Packaging: poly bags with warning text, bag stickers, tissue paper, boxes, shopping bags and carton labels.
Packaging is the group most often left out, which is exactly why it tends to vary between suppliers.
Step 2: give every item a permanent code
Codes make the document work across languages and companies. Use a short prefix for the item group and a running number. We suggest:
| Prefix | Group | Example |
|---|---|---|
| BL | Brand labels and logo tapes | BL-01 main neck label |
| IL | Information labels | IL-03 three-language care label |
| ST | Size tabs | ST-02 centre-fold size tab |
| HG | Hang tags and strings | HG-01 main swing tag |
| PA | Packaging | PA-04 recycled poly bag |
Never overwrite a code when a specification changes. Add a version, such as BL-01-v2, so old purchase orders still make sense. Use the same codes on your purchase orders, artwork file names and on the cartons the trims arrive in.
Step 3: write the specification row
Each item gets one row with no room for interpretation. An illustrative example:
| Code | Item | Specification | Size (mm) | Colour | Position | Fixing | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BL-01 | Main neck label | Damask, centre-fold, ultrasonic cut | 45 × 18 | Navy / ivory | Centre back neck | Sewn into seam | Approved |
| IL-03 | Care label | Printed satin, three languages | 30 × 60 | White, black print | Left side seam, 100 mm above hem | Sewn into seam | Approved |
| ST-02 | Size tab | Woven, centre-fold | 15 × 15 | Navy / ivory | Beside main label | Same seam as BL-01 | Approved |
| HG-01 | Swing tag | Recycled board, matt | 55 × 85 | Kraft, black print | Through main label | Cotton string | Sample sent |
| PA-04 | Poly bag | Recycled film, warning text | 280 × 380 | Clear | Folded garment | Self-seal | In development |
Useful extra columns are Pantone reference, supplier reference, artwork file name, quantity per garment and the date of the last change.
Step 4: add placement drawings
Words rarely describe placement precisely enough. Add a flat sketch of each product group with arrows and measurements: distance from neck or hem, which side, in the seam or on top. Define placement per product group (tops, bottoms, outerwear, knitwear) rather than per style, so each group has one standard.
Step 5: manage approvals
Record a status for every item: in development, proof approved, sample sent, approved, discontinued. Keep the approved digital proof and the approved physical sample together. When something changes, issue a new version and mark the old one as discontinued with a date, so factories cannot use up superseded stock by accident.
Step 6: brief the factories
Send three things to every factory:
- A PDF of the trim book with drawings and photos.
- A spreadsheet trim list per style with codes and quantities per garment.
- A physical trim card with real approved samples.
Quote the trim codes on every purchase order, and ask the factory to confirm the codes received before sewing starts.
Step 7: keep it alive
Review the document at the start of each season. Remove discontinued items, add new styles and check that colour references still match the latest approved samples. A small, current trim book is more useful than a large outdated one.
How we support trim books
Send us your styles or your existing list. Our design team proposes label types, sizes and folds, prepares digital proofs and supplies physical samples for your trim cards. Because we manufacture labels, tags and packaging under one roof, codes and colours stay consistent across the whole set, with delivery throughout the EU. Write to [email protected] to begin.
What is the difference between a trim book and a trim list?
The trim book is the master standard for the whole brand. A trim list is the extract for one style, showing which items it uses, where they go and how many per garment.
Do small brands need a trim book?
A simple spreadsheet with codes, sizes, colours and positions is enough to start. It grows into a full trim book as styles and factories are added.
How should I code trim items?
Use a short prefix per item group and a running number, then add a version suffix when a specification changes instead of overwriting the code.
Should packaging be part of the trim book?
Yes. Poly bags, stickers, tissue paper and boxes vary between factories more than labels do, so specifying them avoids inconsistency.
Can you supply samples for our trim cards?
Yes. We produce physical samples of each approved label, tag and packaging item for your trim cards.
