A vague enquiry gets a vague price. When a buyer writes "please quote for bath towels", a supplier has to guess the weight, size, quality, and branding, and the quotation that comes back cannot be compared with any other. A clear specification sheet fixes that. It takes a few minutes to write and it saves weeks of back and forth.

What a towel specification should cover

1. Towel type and use

State the product (bath, hand, face, gym, kitchen, or pool towel) and where it will be used: hotel rooms, spa treatments, retail shelves, a gym chain. The end use tells the supplier what matters most, whether softness, durability, or fast drying.

2. Size

Give the finished dimensions in centimetres or inches, for example 70 × 140 cm. Say whether the size is measured before or after washing, since cotton towels shrink a little in early washes.

3. Weight

State the GSM (grams per square metre), or the weight per piece in grams. Either works, as long as the size is fixed. If you are not sure, describe the feel you want and ask the supplier to propose a weight.

4. Composition

Specify 100% cotton or a polyester and cotton blend, and the blend ratio if you have one in mind. If yarn quality matters to you, say so: for example combed cotton, or ring-spun yarn.

5. Colour

White, or a dyed colour. For colours, give a reference such as a Pantone code or send a physical swatch. Describe any stripes or contrast borders.

6. Border and construction

Mention the border style you want (plain, dobby, or a jacquard design) and the hem finish. If you have an existing towel you like, send it or a clear photograph.

7. Branding

If the towels will carry your logo or name, say how: embroidery, or woven into the towel by jacquard. Share the artwork, its size, its position on the towel, and the thread or yarn colours.

8. Labels and packing

List what each towel should carry: a woven label, a care label, a hangtag, a band. State how the towels should be packed, for example individually bagged, or bundled in sets, and how many pieces per carton.

9. Quantity

Give the quantity per size and colour, and say whether this is a one-time order or a repeating programme. Volume affects price, so an honest estimate produces a more useful quotation.

10. Delivery terms and destination

Name the destination port or city and the Incoterm you prefer, such as FOB or CIF. State the date you need the goods.

11. Compliance and testing

If your market or your customer requires a particular certificate, test report, or labelling rule, list it at the start. It is far easier to plan for at quotation stage than after production.

A short example

Bath towel for hotel guest rooms. 70 × 140 cm finished size. 550 GSM. 100% cotton, white. Dobby border. Hotel name embroidered in one colour, 8 cm wide, centred above the border. Care label sewn in. Packed in polybags of five, export cartons. 3,000 pieces. CIF Jebel Ali. Required at destination by a stated date.

A few lines, and a supplier can price it accurately and make a matching sample.

What happens next

A good supplier will confirm the specification, point out anything that is unclear, and produce a sample for approval before bulk production begins. Approve the sample in writing, and keep it. It is the reference for the whole order.

Ready to send a specification? Use our Request a Quote form, which follows the same structure, or contact Mansa Exim International directly.