Choose where the work changes hands
Order fabric rolls when your team will cut and sew the interior; cut panels when it will sew prepared pieces; and sewn liners when it needs the agreed assembly. These formats describe stages of preparation, separately from the fabric category. Selecting Oxford or polyester taffeta does not specify how the material should be delivered.
A clear enquiry describes both the fabric and the handover point. It should also say who supplies the pattern, who approves the sample and which components belong in the quotation.
| Supply format | What arrives | Work to plan with your team | Quotation basis to confirm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric rolls | The agreed fabric in rolls | Cutting, sewing and installation | Metres or yards at the stated usable width |
| Cut panels | Named pieces cut to an approved pattern | Sewing and installation | Individual pieces or a listed set |
| Sewn liners | The agreed sewn assembly and listed components | Installation and any excluded operations | One defined liner set per model and size |
Rolls: keep cutting and sewing with your team
Roll supply is a practical starting point when you have your own patterns and production line, or need to use the same fabric across several sizes. Your team plans the cutting layout and assembles the interior.
Confirm usable width, colour allocation and the order unit. A metre of fabric describes length, not a fixed number of suitcase sets. Consumption depends on the pattern, width, panel arrangement and any print-direction restrictions. Do not calculate a firm set quantity from roll length alone.
- Specify metres or yards consistently across the enquiry and quotation.
- Identify the approved fabric and colour reference.
- Discuss roll identification and shade grouping where relevant to production.
Cut panels: define every piece in the set
Cut panels move the cutting stage to the supplier while leaving sewing and final assembly with your team. Provide the approved pattern revision, panel names and quantities. Mark the grain direction, fabric face and print orientation on each relevant piece.
State whether dimensions describe the cutting edge or finished seam line. Seam allowances, hems, notches and openings must be defined separately. Confirm how panels should be grouped by model, size and colour so a production operator can identify a complete set.
Sewn liners: agree the complete assembly scope
Sewn liners combine the agreed panels into a liner assembly. Send internal suitcase dimensions, drawings and preferably a usable pattern or physical reference. Identify the shell attachment method, divider arrangement and any access needed around trolley channels or wheel housings.
List pockets, zippers, mesh, binding and other components explicitly. A request for a complete liner should not leave either party guessing what is included. Coats distinguishes different seam constructions and explains that assembly choices affect seam appearance and behaviour; those choices belong in the sample review.
Compare equivalent quotations
Use the same material reference, size breakdown and component list when comparing formats. Check the quotation unit carefully: a panel is not necessarily a pair, and a set is only clear when its contents are listed. Include the delivery destination and requested timing so the proposal can address the whole order.
For cut panels or sewn liners, approve a trial set in the actual suitcase before agreeing the production version. Record any revised dimensions or components in a new drawing revision.