Building a Garment Measurement Spec: Points of Measure, Tolerances and Grading
The measurement spec is the part of a tech pack that decides whether a garment fits - and whether an inspector can pass or fail it objectively. Vague or missing measurements are where fit drift creeps in and where factory disputes start. A good spec is just three things done clearly: the right points, how to measure them, and how much variation you'll accept. Here is how to build one.
Points of measure: name them and define how to take them
A point of measure (POM) is a single dimension on the garment - chest width, back length, sleeve length, neck drop. A usable spec does two things for each:
- Names it unambiguously - "chest 2.5 cm below armhole, edge to edge, laid flat," not just "chest."
- States the method - flat vs on-body, relaxed vs extended (critical for knits), edge-to-edge vs seam-to-seam.
If two people can measure the same garment and get different numbers, the POM isn't defined well enough.
Building a Garment Measurement Spec: Points of Measure, Tolerances and Grading
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