1. Garment description and drawings
Describe each garment separately: intended use, climate, and the components (collar, closures, pockets, reinforcements). Add technical flat drawings with measurement points, and say which points carry tolerances.
2. Fabric and trims
For each fabric, state fibre composition, weight in g/m², weave or knit, and any finish (water repellency, flame retardancy, insect repellency). For trims — zips, buttons, hook-and-loop, thread — give type, size and colour. If a performance figure matters, give the test method with it; a number without a method can be read in more than one way.
3. Colour and camouflage pattern
Give the colour reference or pattern name. Many national camouflage patterns may only be printed with authorisation, so state who holds the rights and attach the authorisation if production depends on it. If near-infrared reflectance is required, say so here.
4. Sizes and quantities
List the size range and the measurement chart. Wherever possible, split the total quantity by size: the size split changes fabric consumption and therefore price.
5. Labelling, marking and packing
Define care labels, size labels, contract or lot marking, and the language of each. Specify units per polybag, per carton and the carton marking.
6. Tests and acceptance
Name the tests required before production (on fabric, on the pre-production sample) and at delivery, who performs them and what the acceptance criteria are. If an independent inspection is needed, say at which stage.
Many buyers define acceptance with a sampling plan — an inspection level and an acceptable quality limit (AQL) under ISO 2859-1 — and approve a first article or pre-production sample before bulk production starts. Name both in the specification so that every supplier quotes against the same acceptance rules.
7. Commercial terms
Quantity, delivery terms, destination, target delivery date and whether partial deliveries are acceptable. These shape the quotation as much as the garment itself.
From specification to request
The combat uniform set page has a blank RFQ worksheet that follows these sections, including a size split table. Send it with your specification through the quote form, with the quantity per size, destination and target date.
Standards and sources cited
Standards are named so that each requirement can be written with its test method. Editions change: check the edition your contract or tender requires. The documents themselves are sold or published by their owners; the links lead to their official pages.
- ISO 2859-1:2026 — sampling schemes indexed by acceptance quality limit (AQL) for lot-by-lot inspection. This edition replaced ISO 2859-1:1999 in January 2026; many current contracts still cite the 1999 edition, so name the one you apply. ISO catalogue
- ISO 13934-1:2013 — tensile properties of fabrics, strip method (maximum force and elongation). ISO catalogue
- ISO 13937-2:2000 — tear force of fabrics, trouser-shaped specimens (single tear method). ISO catalogue
- ISO 105-A01:2010 — general principles of colour fastness testing; the other parts of the ISO 105 series are the individual tests (for example washing or rubbing). ISO catalogue
- Incoterms® rules — delivery terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce. ICC
Questions buyers ask
Is a reference sample enough without a written specification?
A sample shows the target, but it does not fix tolerances, fabric performance or tests. Use it together with a written specification.
Should the specification name a fabric supplier?
Usually it should name fabric performance and composition rather than a supplier, unless a specific fabric is mandatory.
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