Posted by A Digital Product Passport (DPP) is the ID card for your garment.
It travels with the product from design to resale to recycle.
Auditors use it to check what you say and what you did.
To pass an audit with calm, you need tidy, atom-level data—especially for stitches and trims.
Here is the exact list to capture, no fluff.
Table of Contents
Stitch data: the must-have fields
1) Stitch code & map
- Standard class (flike lockstitch is at 301, 401 for chain, overlock guidance = 504, cover to be at 406).
- Location and length for every seam (hem, shoulder, crotch, etc.).
- Seam allowance (mm).
Why: lets repair teams and auditors reconstruct the build and check strength claims.
2) Density & length
- SPI (stitches per inch) or SPc (per cm).
- Programmed stitch length (mm) for top-stitch and construction.
Why: too high = perforation risk; too low = slippage; auditors compare to test results.
3) Thread identity
- Fiber family (100% polyester (like: recycled polyester thread like polyester corespun thread) or polyamide or cotton or lyocell or aramid).
- Origin: recycled %, bio-based %, virgin, supplier code.
- Ticket / tex / denier (size) and twist if relevant.
- Finish: anti-wick, FR, anti-microbial (metal-free only), solution-dyed, lubricant type.
Why: proves material health, durability, and mono-material stories.
4) Color reference
- Spectral/LAB target + ΔE tolerance, illuminant/observer (e.g., D65/10°).
Why: global color alignment, less re-dye, clean trace for claims.
5) Needle & machine
- Needle type (ball point / micro / leather) and size (NM).
- Coating if used (for heat/friction).
- Machine class (single-needle lockstitch, 4-thread overlock, coverstitch) + speed band.
Why: links seam quality and fabric care; helps failure analysis.
6) Bonding partner (if hybrid)
- Film/tape polymer (PET/PA/PU) and lane width (mm).
- Cure window (temp/dwell) + cool-clamp note.
Why: auditors check ingress protection, delam risk, and recyclability compatibility.
7) Tests & results (per seam family)
- Seam strength/slippage (method, date, lab).
- Flex/burst numbers.
- Wicking/ingress where relevant.
Why: evidence that the chosen SPI/thread passes performance.
8) Disassembly flag
- Release chain present? Pull direction? Re-closure method?
Why: supports repair programs and circularity.
Trim data: the must-have fields
1) Trim type & ID
- Zipper, button, snap, cord end, eyelet, badge, label, tape, reflective, film.
- Component ID + version.
Why: traceability over time.
2) Material family & content
- Base polymer or substrate (PET, PA, POM, metal alloy, paper/cellulose, leather alt).
- Recycled/bio-based % with document link (certificate number).
Why: ties to preferred-materials targets.
3) Mass & count per unit
- Weight (g) × quantity.
Why: carbon math and end-of-life sorting.
4) Attachment & removability
- Sewn (stitch code/SPI), bonded (film chemistry), riveted, welded.
- Removability rating (tool/heat required).
Why: repair and recycling pathways.
5) Color & tolerance
- Spectral/LAB + ΔE or “undyed/greige”.
Why: replacement matching and fewer rejects.
6) Compliance & chemistry
- PFAS status where relevant, biocide claims (if any; non-leaching), nickel release for metals.
Why: audit checkpoints for market access.
7) Supplier & lot
- Supplier site code, lot/batch, date, country of origin.
Why: recall path and due diligence.
8) Durability checks
- Pull strength (zips/snaps), abrasion cycles, wash/heat tolerance.
Why: trims often fail first; show proof.
How to structure it (copy this mini-schema)
Component type: STITCH
- seam_id: S-01 (side seam)
- stitch_code: 301
- spi: 10 (wovens) / 12 (knits)
- thread: PET, rPET 80%, ticket 40, anti-wick, solution-dyed black
- color: LAB target + ΔE ≤ 1.0, D65/10°
- needle: Micro NM 80 (coated)
- bonding: PET film 3 mm, 140 °C / 12 s, cool-clamp 2 s
- tests: seam_slippage 160 N pass; flex 100k pass
- disassembly: release_chain=no
Component type: TRIM
- trim_id: T-03 (zipper front)
- material: PET tape/coil, rPET 60%
- mass_per_unit: 14 g × 1
- attach: sewn + bartack (4 mm, 12 stitches)
- removability: seam ripper
- color: LAB black ΔE ≤ 1.5
- compliance: PFAS-free; metal-free path
- supplier_lot: ZP-12 / 24H7
- durability: pull 500 N pass; 30 washes pass
Keep long docs (certs, lab PDFs) as links; the passport stores facts, not files.
Capture workflow that survives an audit
Design
- Choose fiber family (aim mono where possible).
- Set stitch menu, trim list, color targets, and tolerances before brief.
Sourcing
- Lock supplier IDs, recycled content cert numbers, and spectral files.
- Request EFs (emission factors) if you track carbon.
Manufacturing
- Scan lot numbers on thread and trims at line start.
- Confirm SPI, needle, and film width match the pack.
- Auto-log machine ID and shift.
QA
- Upload seam/trim tests against component IDs.
- Photo evidence for any deviation + approved waiver.
Pack-out
- QR/NFC points to the DPP endpoint—not a static PDF.
- Print a short repair note (needle size, ticket, SPI) to support warranty fixes.
Audit-readiness extras (small habits, big calm)
- Calibration log for color devices & scales (monthly).
- Change control: if thread/trim swaps mid-season, version bump the component and record reason.
- RAG flags in the DPP: mark components that block recycling (e.g., mixed-metal trim on mono garment).
- Data freeze per drop: snapshot the passport on the sell date.
One-week pilot plan
- Pick one style.
- Build stitch & trim components using the schema above.
- Collect spectral files, cert numbers, and two lab tests per critical seam.
- Run an internal audit drill: request the top 10 fields; export in 10 minutes.
- Fix gaps, then roll to the rest of the line.
Wrap
A strong Digital Product Passport is not big; it’s precise.
Capture stitch code, SPI, thread identity, color target, needle, bonding window, tests, plus trim material family, mass, attachment, removability, lot, compliance, durability.
Keep it structured, versioned, and linked to proof.
Do this, and you’ll be audit-ready, repair-ready, and circular-ready—without hunting for info the night before the visit.