Skip to main content

Line Sheets for Fashion: A Tool of Strategy and Sales

 We don’t just show a product. We tell a story. We guide the buyer’s eye. We build trust.

That’s what a line sheet does. It’s not fluff. It’s not extra.
 It’s essential.

The line sheet is your silent partner at the table—
 The document that speaks when you don’t. The structure that brings order to your creativity.It connects your vision to a buyer’s need.And when done right, it converts curiosity into commerce.

Below, we outline the essential components of a well-built line sheet.
Not just what to include—but why it matters.

What to Include in Your Line Sheet

  • Your brand name
     Your branding is more than visual—it’s a language.
     A consistent use of logos, colors, and fonts across your materials builds recognition.
    Make your brand memorable. Make it cohesive. Make it matter.  Let them see you before they see the product.
    One voice. One message. One memory.

  • Collection name (if applicable)
     Buyers need to reference your work clearly.
     Naming a collection allows them to differentiate, recall, and reorder with ease.
     Especially when multiple collections live under the same brand story. If you name it, they can reference it. If you repeat it, they’ll remember it.
    And when it’s time to reorder?They’ll know exactly what to ask for.

  • Season and year
    This isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a non-negotiable.
     Your line sheet must reflect when the product will be in stores—not when it's being shown.
     If you're presenting in August 2025 for a Spring 2026 delivery, then label it accordingly: Spring 2026.


  • Delivery window or delivery date
    Buyers buy on timing, and your linesheet should reflect that. We don’t fumble around giving “guestimates” of when the product will arrive - we provided an estimate time of arrival.  A delivery window gives flexibility within structure—something every retailer needs.
     For example:

    • Delivery 1: January 1 – February 15, 2026

    • Delivery 2: February 16 – April 1, 2026

 Whether your window spans 14, 30, or 45 days, clarity is key.In today’s supply chain climate, offering a window rather than a fixed date is often the more strategic route.

  • Product image
     A line sheet is a visual sales tool.Include clear, front-and-back photos of each style.
     Display available colors visually or list them using color chips or swatches.Make sure what buyers see aligns with what they’ll receive.

  • Style information
     Include the following for each product:

    • Style number and name

    • Fabric content

    • Available colors

    • Available sizes

    • Wholesale price

    • Suggested retail price

  • Most importantly—stay consistent.
     If your tech pack refers to the color as “Cherry,” your line sheet should say “Cherry.”
     Align your vocabulary across departments and documents to avoid confusion in production, delivery, or sales. Confusion kills credibility.

How to Create a Line Sheet

There’s no one way to build your line sheet.
 But there is a right way—for you.
 Start with your current tools. Grow into your next stage.
 Below are three pathways:

Create One Yourself — $

A strong start doesn’t require fancy tools.
 You can build a line sheet using:

  • Adobe Illustrator

  • Adobe Photoshop

  • Excel or Google Sheets

  • Word or Google Docs

Insert your photos. Add your product details. Format clearly. Print clean copies.And don’t forget the basics—bring pens to your event. Because writing orders is still a pen-to-paper moment.

PLM Systems $$

If you already use a PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) tool, take advantage of its built-in line sheet functionality.
 Many platforms—such as:

—allow you to generate clean, formatted line sheets at the click of a button.
 Download as a PDF, email to your buyers, or print for your next showroom presentation.
 It’s built-in efficiency for growing brands.

Wholesale Platforms — $$$

Ready to scale? Then automate.
 Platforms like these can streamline your wholesale sales:

These platforms allow buyers to place orders directly. They sync with your inventory systems.
 They reduce paperwork.And they offer real-time visibility into product availability.

But know this: This route costs. Most require a monthly fee.These platforms are best for brands already active in retail environments. So take this route when your revenue can carry it.Build first. Expand wisely.


Final Word

A line sheet is not a one-time task.
 It is a repeatable system.
 Every collection. Every season. Every market. So keep it simple

If you’re showing multiple collections at one event? Each needs its own line sheet.Clearly marked. Clearly separated.

Don’t overcomplicate the process –own the process. Build a template. Refine it over time.What matters most is that your information is clear, complete, and consistent. Because in fashion, as in business, clarity creates momentum. And momentum creates movement.


Let your line sheet do the heavy lifting of converting creativity into sales.

-Jay H.

Cloth & Coin Staff
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How the U.S.–China Trade War Is Reshaping Fashion E‑Commerce

The 2025 escalation in U.S. tariffs—combined with changes like the de minimis rule —have significantly disrupted fashion e‑commerce, squeezing margins and reshaping sourcing strategies for small apparel brands. According to a Reuter’s article, as of June 2025, U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports have risen to 55%.  The end of the $800 de minimis parcel exemption in May has dismantled the duty‑free route that ultra‑fast fashion platforms relied on—Temu and Shein’s U.S. daily active users dropped sharply, by 52% and 25% respectively ( cnbc ). Tariffs on apparel from traditional outsourcing countries like Vietnam (currently at 20% with a 40% penalty on goods suspected of transhipment), Bangladesh (currently 9-10%, but has a proposed increase to 37% on the table that has not yet been implemented), Cambodia (49% imposed early 2025) and Indonesia (32% set to take effect July 8, 2025) now double import duties, pushing landed costs up by 10–25% in recent months.  --- What It Means for...
Post a Comment
Read more

When the Factory Doors Stay Closed: What Lesotho’s Crisis Teaches Small Apparel Brands About Resilience and Responsibility

There’s a particular kind of silence that settles when factory gates don’t open. In Lesotho, a country once known as the Denim Capital of Africa , that silence is growing louder. Every morning, crowds of women—many of them single mothers—wait at the entrance of shuttered garment factories in the hopes that someone, anyone , will call their name for a shift. But the gates don’t open. And the jobs… they’re disappearing. Professionally, I’m still catching up on the full impact of what’s unfolding. But here’s what we know: According to a July 20, 2025 NPR report , back in April, the U.S. announced a 50% tariff on goods imported from Lesotho, citing trade imbalances. While those tariffs have been technically “paused,” the damage has already begun. Orders have dried up. Production has stopped. And factories that once supplied brands like Levi’s and Walmart are folding—fast. The story hits hard. Not just because of the scale of job loss (over 12,000 garment workers , with ripple effects for t...
Post a Comment
Read more

What’s Going On With Tariffs (And Why You Should Be Paying Close Attention)

If you’ve been trying to stay in the know on global supply chain shifts—especially as a small fashion brand—you’ve likely heard some rumblings. Over the weekend, things got louder. On August 1, 2025, the United States will impose a 30% tariff on all imports from both the European Union and Mexico . For many of us who’ve been working hard to pivot production away from China, this feels like a whiplash moment. And if I’m being honest… it’s a moment of reckoning. Why This Matters For context, the European Union includes countries like France, Italy, Germany, and Spain—nations many small fashion labels source specialty fabrics or trims from. Maybe your brand doesn’t produce in Paris, but do you rely on Parisian silks or Italian denim? Those costs are now subject to steep hikes. The reasoning? Ongoing trade tensions and breakdowns in negotiations. The U.S. government is taking a hardline stance, and in response, both the EU and Mexico are preparing to retaliate with their own tariffs on U...
Post a Comment
Read more