Fabric Measurement and Finishing Quiz: Metres, Panna, Thaan and More

Length and width

• 1 metre = 39.37 inches; 1 yard = 36 inches = 0.9144 metres. Indian wholesale fabric is usually priced per metre, though older trade talk still uses yards and "gaj".
• Panna is the trade word for fabric width. Common widths include 44 inches and 58 inches. A wider panna gives more pieces from each metre, so always compare price per metre and width.
• A thaan is a full roll or bolt of fabric as it comes from the mill.

Buying by weight

Knitted fabric is often traded by the kilogram in knitwear hubs such as Tiruppur and Ludhiana, because its length changes with stretch. Here GSM matters: at the same price per kilo, a lower-GSM fabric gives more square metres.

Sets and pieces

A three-piece dress material includes fabric for the top (kurta), the bottom and a dupatta. Unstitched dress materials are taxed as fabric at 5% GST.

Simple arithmetic you will use daily

Price of a cut = rate per metre × metres. 2.5 metres at ₹120 a metre is ₹300. For landed cost, add GST if you cannot claim it, transport and packing: the fabric margin calculator does this for you.

Finishing terms

• Shrinkage: cotton and viscose can shrink after the first wash. Ask about it, or pre-wash before stitching.
• Sanforised: a mechanical finish that pre-shrinks cotton so it shrinks very little later.
• Mercerised: cotton treated with caustic soda under tension, which gives more lustre, strength and better dye take-up.