Introduction:
It is impossible to work without any form of specification, and a written description or verbal agreement is just not enough. Relying on sending your only sample to a factory 10,000 miles away is also not a good idea. Before a product is finalized, it can be amended many times, and the specification is the only accurate method to note any changes. In this article, I will discuss about reefer coat or jacket and how to prepare a spec sheet for reefer jacket.
An important aspect of quality assurance is to match products with suitable factories. New factories trying to build up their customer base or factories short of work will sometimes offer to make products that they are not used to making; they’re only focused on getting orders, but in the long run, this can waste a lot of time and create many problems. However detailed your specification is, it’s the interpretation of the detail that is most important and that can only be done by factories that are constantly making that type of product. For example, a factory making unstructured jackets will struggle making tailored jackets, because it is unlikely to have the right skills or machinery.
Here is shown a combination of complete specifications that include fabric details, chart with all sizes, and packaging instructions. Other specifications are for products in the stages of development where fabric and sizing have not been finalized, and the aim is to quickly get a price and correctly fitting sample. Once these are approved, labeling, packaging, and graded size chart will be added to complete the package.
This is another reason for choosing the right factory. When a buyer likes a style but is undecided as to which fabric quality to use, a factory experienced in making similar products will be able to source suitable fabrics and trims. The specification only needs to focus on the style features of the product.
Care and composition labels can be finalized only when the production fabric quality and colors are confirmed. Factories and the buying department will already have a ballpark figure worked out for different methods of packaging and shipping. The buyer can choose between shipping by air and shipping by boat, or a combination of the two.
What is Reefer Coat / Jacket?
A reefer jacket (or reefer coat, pea coat, pea jacket, pilot jacket) is a warm, double-breasted coat of heavy wool, traditionally worn by sailors and later American navies. The reefer coat, or jacket, was originally used by ‘reefers’ in the British Navy. Although the reefer jacket might seem a tad cumbersome for performing strenuous activities like climbing rigging, its high wool content meant that it was extremely warm. And, in contrast to the long duffle coats with thigh straps worn by officers, the reefer jacket was cut short and sat just at the top of the thighs, allowing for ease of movement.
Principally the same as a pea coat, however instead of black or navy blue buttons, a reefer jacket uses brass buttons. Naval officers wore reefer jackets whereas enlisted sailors would wear pea coats with dark buttons.
How to Make Spec Sheet for Reefer Jacket:
This specification (spec sheet for reefer jacket) could be based on a similar style garment and the existing specification quickly modified to the new style. The buyer has specified cotton for the outer, but the weight and construction are to be finalized, and the buyer might decide on a blend of cotton and polyester. Whatever the final fabric choice, we can instruct the factory to refer to the minimum fabric performance for shower-resistant garments and quilted coats copied from the supplier’s manual. Rather than trying to put all the details on one page, it is better to create pages for each section of the garment (Figure-1).
But here I have given all figures and process step by step in one place.
1. The first page of the specification, as shown in Figure-2, is the minimum textile performance required.
2. The second page, as shown in Figure-3, is the overall look of the product.
3. The third page, as shown in Figure-4, shows the garment interlinings.
4. The fourth page, as shown in Figure-5, shows the front with pocket detail.
5. The fifth page, as shown in Figure-6, shows the back and cuff detail.
6. The sixth page, as shown in Figure-7, shows the collar construction.
7. The seventh page, as shown in Figure-8, shows the design and construction of the inside lining.
8. The eighth page, as shown in Figure-9, shows individual components of the lining.
9. The ninth page, as shown in Figure-10, shows details of the buttons and button holes.
10. The tenth page, as shown in Figure-11, is the garment size chart.
11. The eleventh page, as shown in Figure-12, shows the size chart, measuring points.
12. The twelfth page, as shown in Figure-13, shows the garment packaging.
Detail can be copied, pasted, cropped, and enlarged to highlight detail.
References:
- The Fundamentals of Quality Assurance in the Textile Industry by Stanley Bernard Brahams
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pea_coat
- https://www.dufflecoatsuk.co.uk/blogs/news/what-is-a-reefer-jacket
- https://www.thefreedictionary.com/Reefer+jacket
Editor of Fashion2Apparel. She is a fashion designer and ex-lecturer in Fashion Designing. She wants to spread fashion knowledge throughout the world.
