Manufacturer · Fashion Accessories
Accessories for a clothing brand ("trims") are all the components other than the main fabric that go into the garment: buttons, zips, hardware, elastics, cords, ribbons, labels and packaging. New brands often leave some of them out of the tech pack, which leads to delays and discrepancies in production. The checklist below helps you describe each accessory by type, size, colour, finish, position and quantity per garment, so that the factory and the supplier work to the same specification.
Why a brand needs a trims list
The tech pack (technical specification) describes the model in detail – from the pattern to the seams. The trims list, also called the BOM (bill of materials) or "trim card", is a key part of it. It allows you to:
- calculate the exact cost price of the garment;
- order all accessories on time and in the right quantities;
- ensure the same look between the sample and the series;
- change factory or supplier without losing information.
Checklist: accessories for a clothing brand
1. Fastenings
- Buttons – type, material, size in ligne or millimetres, colour, number per garment, spare button.
- Zips – type (nylon coil, metal, moulded plastic, invisible), size, length, tape and teeth colour, slider type.
- Hooks and bars, wire hooks and eyes, snap buttons – size, finish, attachment method.
- Hook and loop – width and colour.
2. Hardware
- Rivets, eyelets – diameter, shank length, finish, logo.
- Buckles, rings, adjusters – inner width, material, finish.
- Cord stoppers and cord ends – hole size, colour, logo.
- Zip pullers – shape, material, logo.
- Metal logo plates – size, attachment method.
3. Haberdashery
- Elastics – width, type (knitted, woven), colour, stretch.
- Cords – diameter, flat or round, colour.
- Ribbons and tapes – grosgrain, satin, ribbed, for hanger loops and bindings.
- Fusible interlining and reinforcement tapes.
- Threads – type, count and colour for visible seams.
4. Labels
- Main logo label – woven, printed or leather; size and sewing method.
- Size label.
- Care and composition label with fibre composition and care symbols.
- Label with country of origin and manufacturer details.
- External labels or plates.
5. Finishing and packaging
- Hang tags, strings or seal tags.
- Barcode stickers.
- Bags, tissue paper, boxes.
- Spare buttons in a bag.
How to describe each accessory in the tech pack
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Name | Eyelet with washer |
| Supplier code | Code from the catalogue or sample |
| Size | Inner diameter, shank length |
| Material / finish | Brass, antique brass, nickel-free |
| Colour | To a sample or a colour card |
| Logo | No logo / relief / engraved |
| Position | Hood drawcord exit, left and right |
| Quantity per garment | 2 |
| Photo or sketch | Position on the garment |
Add a physical sample for each line, attached to a "trim card" – a card on which the actual accessories are mounted. It is the most reliable way for the factory to see exactly what has been approved.
Order in which to buy the accessories
- Custom accessories with logo – ordered first, because they require design, tooling and sample approval.
- Accessories dyed to a sample – zips, buttons and ribbons coloured to match the fabric.
- Standard accessories from stock – cord stoppers, rings, elastics and threads.
- Labels with variable data – sizes and composition, confirmed after the final choice of fabric.
- Packaging – last, but it must not be forgotten.
Common mistakes by new brands
- Undescribed "small" accessories – hanger loop, spare button, care tape.
- Different hardware finishes from different suppliers.
- A care and composition label without checking the EU textile labelling requirements.
- A logo sent as a low-resolution photo instead of a vector file.
- No reserve for rejects and sales samples.
- Accessories not tested in the wash together with the fabric.
Example list for jeans
To see what the checklist looks like in practice, here is a typical set of accessories for classic five-pocket jeans:
- metal jeans button for the waistband – 1 pc plus a spare;
- rivets for the front pockets and coin pocket – usually between 5 and 7 pcs depending on the model;
- metal fly zip with an auto-lock slider;
- leather or jacquard label on the back of the waistband;
- woven logo label inside the waistband;
- size label and care and composition label;
- hang tag with string;
- threads for the decorative topstitching in a contrasting colour.
All metal elements – button, rivets and zip slider – should be in one finish and withstand the denim processing.
How many accessories to order
Calculate the number of each accessory per garment, multiply by the number of garments by size and add a reserve for rejects, machine setup and samples. For press-on hardware the reserve is usually larger than for sew-on items. Minimum quantities depend on the article, so with custom accessories check whether a small first run will be more expensive per piece than subsequent ones.
You will find all types of hardware in the garment accessories category, and the other trims under buttons, zips and labels.
All your brand's accessories from one manufacturer
Polkom works with clothing brands from all over Europe and supplies buttons, zips, hardware, haberdashery and labels from one place – more than 10,000 articles with large stock availability. We make accessories with your logo, produce samples quickly and help you put together your trims list. Send your tech pack or list via our inquiry form and you will receive a quote for the complete set.
