Decision 02 · Material identity
Define What “PU Rainwear” Means in the Finished Garment
“PU” names one part of a material system, not a complete garment specification. A reliable quotation identifies what carries the PU layer, what touches the wearer, how panels are joined and which evidence must follow the finished product.
Coating and backingIdentify the PU layer and its textile backing
Ask the supplier to state whether the proposed route is a PU-coated textile, a laminated construction or another buyer-approved composite. Record backing fiber, knit or woven structure, finished weight, usable width, face and reverse appearance, color, hand feel and agreed tolerances. Do not reduce a finished composite to a confusing phrase such as “100% PU” unless that description is technically accurate for the exact material.
The backing affects drape, strength, stretch, heat buildup, seam response and print behavior. Two materials with a similar coated surface can perform very differently in a long coat, child's overall or articulated work jacket.
Comfort systemSpecify lining, hand feel, weight and movement as separate attributes
Unlined, mesh-lined, jersey-lined, fleece-lined and detachable-insulation routes solve different comfort and season problems. Define the lining area, attachment, color, shrinkage expectation, pocket construction and how it behaves at cuffs, hems and openings. “Comfortable” is not an inspectable field; finished weight, inner-surface feel, mobility and moisture management are.
Approve the whole garment on a wearer or appropriate form with expected clothing layers. Material swatches alone cannot reveal sleeve drag, lining twist, hood pull or the way a longer coat behaves while walking or riding.
Finished systemConnect water resistance to seams, closures and openings
A water-resistant face does not automatically stop entry through needle holes, seam junctions, pocket mouths, front closures, neckline gaps, cuffs or hems. State the intended seam method, tape or welding route where relevant, placket geometry, zipper treatment, pocket protection and the overlap needed between jacket and trouser.
Performance language must match the agreed method and specimen. A fabric test, seam sample and finished-garment challenge answer different questions. Keep their results separate.
Claim boundaryRecord evidence boundaries instead of using unlimited adjectives
Replace words such as waterproof, breathable, heavy-duty, safe and compliant with controlled statements: the test method, threshold, specimen, conditioning, date, issuing party and SKU scope. If a value has not been chosen or verified, mark it as buyer-defined or evidence-required.
This approach does not weaken a sales page. It tells technical buyers that the supplier understands how to prevent a fabric document, company certificate or component sheet from being misapplied to an entire product family.