What is the most important number on a spec sheet?

There is no single one. Composition and GSM together tell you the most: the blend decides behaviour, the weight decides durability and warmth.

Why does fabric width matter?

Wider fabric fits more garment pieces per meter, so it changes how many meters a uniform needs and therefore the cost. Always compare fabrics at the same width; ours are all 150 cm.

What does a wash-fast finish guarantee?

That the colour is engineered to survive repeated laundering without significant fading. It is essential for any uniform washed frequently.

Where can I see full specs for your fabrics?

Every product page lists composition, GSM, width, weave, colours and finish, with a shade card available on request.

How to Read a Fabric Spec Sheet

Quick answer

A fabric spec sheet describes six things: composition (the blend), GSM (the weight), width (usable meters), weave (the construction), colour options, and finish (how it behaves in wear). Read together, they tell you how a fabric will feel, wear, wash and cut, which is everything you need to compare two fabrics or brief a mill.

The six fields on a spec sheet

Field	What it means	Why it matters
Composition	The fibre blend, e.g. poly-viscose 65/35	Decides comfort, durability, care and cost
GSM	Grams per square meter (weight)	Heavier wears longer and warmer
Width	Usable fabric width, often 150 cm	Determines meters needed per garment
Weave	Construction: plain, twill, dobby	Affects strength, drape and texture
Colour	Available shades and custom options	Consistency across a program
Finish	Treatments: wash-fast, wrinkle-resistant	How it behaves in real wear

Composition: the blend decides behaviour

Composition is the first line to read because it governs everything else. A poly-viscose 65/35 blend behaves very differently from pure cotton: more wrinkle resistance, better wash fastness, lower cost, slightly less breathability. Every Benny Cotts suiting states its blend, so you know what you are comparing.

GSM and width: the numbers that cost money

GSM is weight, covered in depth in our GSM guide. Width is the quiet one buyers forget: at 150 cm you fit more garment pieces across the cloth than at 110 cm, so fabric needed per uniform, and therefore cost, changes with width. Always compare fabrics at the same width. All our fabrics are 150 cm.

Weave and finish: how it wears

Weave is the construction. Plain is simple and even; twill (the diagonal line in trousers and structured suiting) is stronger and drapes well; dobby adds a subtle woven texture. Finish is the treatment layer: wash-fast holds colour through laundering, wrinkle-resistant reduces ironing, and abrasion-resistant survives high-wear points.

Read weave and finish together with GSM: a 220 GSM twill with a wash-fast finish tells you far more than the weight alone.

A worked read of a real spec

Take Officer Choice: composition poly-viscose blend, 210-230 GSM, 150 cm width, plain or structured suiting weave, khaki/navy/olive plus custom shades, wash-fast and wrinkle-resistant. That reads as a mid-weight, durable, colour-stable suiting built for uniforms that must hold a line and a shade, exactly what a force or security buyer wants.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the most important number on a spec sheet?: There is no single one. Composition and GSM together tell you the most: the blend decides behaviour, the weight decides durability and warmth.
Why does fabric width matter?: Wider fabric fits more garment pieces per meter, so it changes how many meters a uniform needs and therefore the cost. Always compare fabrics at the same width; ours are all 150 cm.
What does a wash-fast finish guarantee?: That the colour is engineered to survive repeated laundering without significant fading. It is essential for any uniform washed frequently.
Where can I see full specs for your fabrics?: Every product page lists composition, GSM, width, weave, colours and finish, with a shade card available on request.

Updated 9 July 2026 · Benny Cotts, Bhilwara

Fabrics