Fabric Roll
A fabric roll is the standard shipping unit for textile fabric, typically 50-150 meters. Each roll has unique attributes: dye lot, shade, GSM, width.
Fabric roll is the fundamental physical and logical unit in textile operations. Each roll is a continuous length of fabric, typically 50-150 meters for woven fabrics and 20-30 kg for knitted fabrics.
Every roll has roll-unique attributes: dye lot ID, shade coordinates (L*a*b* or DE values), GSM, width (before and after finishing), length, defect score (4-point points), and QC grade.
Generic ERP systems treat inventory by SKU (a single item code for 'Blue Cotton Twill 250 GSM'). Textile ERPs must track each roll individually because buyers expect shade-consistent shipments — mixing rolls from different dye lots causes visible shade variation.
Vastra ERP stores each roll as a sub-inventory record with its own barcode, attributes, location, and allocation history. Picking rules ensure same-dye-lot rolls are allocated together to each order.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a standard fabric roll?
Woven fabric rolls are typically 50 to 150 metres. Knitted fabric is usually handled by weight rather than length, commonly 20 to 30 kilograms per roll.
What attributes are tracked against each roll?
Dye lot identifier, shade coordinates in L*a*b* or Delta-E values, GSM, width before and after finishing, length, the 4-point defect score, and the resulting QC grade.
Why track rolls individually rather than by SKU?
Because an item code records what was ordered, while an individual roll records what was actually produced. Rolls from different dye lots vary in shade, and shipping a mixed-lot order produces visible variation in the finished garments.
What is roll-level allocation?
It is the practice of reserving specific physical rolls against a specific customer order, rather than reserving a quantity of a fabric code. Picking rules keep same-dye-lot rolls together so each shipment is shade-consistent.
Related terms
Dye Lot
A dye lot is a batch of fabric or yarn dyed together in a single cycle. Each lot has slight shade variations that must be tracked for order consistency.
GSM (Grams per Square Meter)
GSM (grams per square metre) measures fabric weight per unit area. It is the textile industry's primary metric for classifying fabric density, and it determines how a fabric drapes, wears, costs and is graded.
4-Point Inspection System
The 4-point system grades fabric quality by assigning penalty points for defects based on length and severity. It's the textile industry's standard quality method.
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