A Digital Product Passport (DPP) is a living ID card for a garment.
It tells what the item is made of, how it was built, where it came from, and how to care, repair, and recycle it.
Many regions are moving toward rules that will ask for this info.
Good news: you can start now.
Small, clean data beats big, messy data.
This guide focuses on the quiet pieces that decide repair, life, and end-of-life: stitches and trims.
Threads look tiny. Trims look small.
But they make or break durability and recycling.
Here’s the stitch-and-trim data your passport should hold.
Stitch data: the essentials
1) Stitch type and location
- Code (lockstitch, chain, overlock, cover).
- Used for side seam, shoulder, hem, hood, seat, vamp, eyestay.
Why: repair teams and recyclers need to know how the garment comes apart.
2) Stitch density/length
- SPI – stitches per inch or measured in cm or in mm.
Why: high SPI means more holes and more thread mass; it affects strength, look, and recyclability.
3) Thread fiber family
- Base Polymer Type: Complete polyester (trilobal polyester thread) or complete polyamide or 100% cotton, etc.
- Recycled Sewing thread or bio-based content (%).
Why: mono-material stories, strength, and end-of-life sorting depend on this.
4) Thread ticket / size
- Ticket number and tex/denier if known.
Why: tells hole size, expected seam strength, and repair needle choice.
5) Thread finish & functions
- Anti-wick, FR (flame-resistant), antimicrobial (metal-free), water-blocking, dope/solution dyed.
- Declare any restricted-chemistry status (PFAS-free, metal-free).
Why: affects comfort, care, claims, and compliance.
6) Color identity
- Spectral color ID or LAB target; tolerance (ΔE).
Why: global color alignment and fewer re-dyes; also supports part replacement later.
7) Needle spec
- Needle type (ball point, micro, leather/tri), size (NM 70/10, etc.), any coating.
Why: seam quality and fabric damage trace back to needle choice.
8) Machine class & energy note (optional but useful)
- Machine type (lockstitch single-needle, 4-thread overlock, coverstitch).
- Typical speed and energy mode if tracked.
Why: helps footprint models and line replication.
9) Disassembly flag
- “Release chain” present? Seam designed for easy opening?
- If yes: where to pull, direction, and re-closure instructions.
Why: enables repair and take-back programs.
10) Test results link
- Seam strength/slippage, burst, flex count, wick test outcome.
Why: proves durability behind the passport claims.
Trim data: what to record
1) Trim identity & class
- Trim type: zipper, button, snap, cord end, eyelet, label, tape, patch, reflective, film.
- Part ID with version.
2) Material family
- Polymer or base: PET (polyester), PA (polyamide), POM, metal type, paper/cellulose, leather alternative.
- Recycled or bio-based content (%), and source claim if available.
Why: clean sorting and eligibility for mono-material recycling.
3) Mass per garment
- Weight of the trim (g) and count (e.g., 6 snaps × 1.2 g).
Why: carbon math, material balance, and disassembly time.
4) Attachment method
- Sewn, bonded, riveted, welded, adhesive.
- Removability rating (tool needed? heat needed?).
Why: repair speed and end-of-life effort.
5) Color + tolerance
- Spectral/LAB with ΔE band, or “undyed/greige.”
Why: replacements later must match under store and daylight.
6) Compliance & chemistry
- PFAS status, nickel release for metal, biocide claims (if any), and region rules met.
Why: audits and market access.
7) Supplier & lot trace
- Supplier name, site code, lot/batch, date.
Why: recalls, quality escapes, and lifecycle audits.
8) Durability tests
- Pull strength (zips/snaps), abrasion cycles, wash cycles, heat/steam tolerance.
Why: ties claims to proof.
Data structure: make it easy to read and reuse
- One product → many components. Give each stitch program and each trim a unique ID.
- Link, don’t bury. Store long PDFs elsewhere; the passport carries short fields with links.
- Use common vocab. Adopt GS1 attributes where possible (IDs, dates, units).
- Version everything. If a thread or trim changes mid-season, bump the component version and date.
Capture workflow (simple and real)
- In design: choose fiber family (mono if possible), target stitch menu, and trim set.
- In sourcing: lock supplier IDs, recycled content proofs, and spectral color files.
- In manufacturing: scan lot numbers at line start; confirm needle, SPI, and thread ticket match the tech pack.
- In QA: upload seam/trim test results to the same component IDs.
- At pack-out: print a QR/NFC that points to the passport, not a static PDF.
Example (short, human-readable)
- Stitch S-01 (side seam): 301 lockstitch, 9 SPI, thread PET rPET 80%, ticket 40, anti-wick, LAB black ΔE ≤ 1.0, needle BP 75/11, release chain: no, tests: pass (burst 350 kPa, wick 5 mm/30 min).
- Trim T-03 (zipper front): Coil PET tape/teeth, rPET 60%, mass 14 g, sewn + bartack, removable with unpick tool, color LAB black ΔE ≤ 1.5, PFAS-free, supplier ZP-12 lot 24H7, pull test 500 N pass.
This level is enough for repair shops, recyclers, and auditors to act.
Good practice that keeps data honest
- Calibration habit. Color devices and scales checked monthly; keep a log.
- Tolerances in the tech pack. No freehand choices on line.
- Red/amber/green flags. Mark components that block recycling (e.g., mixed-metal trim on a mono garment).
- Privacy note. Share what is needed for care, repair, safety, and recycling. Keep sensitive supplier prices out of public view.
What this unlocks
- Faster repairs. Techs know needle size, thread ticket, and stitch code—no guessing.
- Fewer returns. Clear specs cut weak seams and trim failures.
- Cleaner take-back. Recyclers see polymer families and mass; sorting is fast.
- Trusted claims. You can show recycled content, PFAS-free status, and durability tests per component.
Wrap
A Digital Product Passport is not just a buzzword.
It’s a tidy set of facts that travel with the garment for years.
Capture stitch type, SPI, thread family, ticket, finish, color, needle, plus trim material, mass, attachment, chemistry, and tests.
Doing this will make your garments easier to repair, safer to recycle, and simpler to prove—on any audit, in any market.