From initial sketch to final sample, garment production is built on precision — and pattern grading is one of its most vital components. Often working behind the scenes, this technical process ensures that a design maintains its fit, shape, and style across a full range of sizes.
Whether you’re producing womenswear, menswear or childrenswear, high-quality grading allows garments to move seamlessly from concept to customer — helping brands deliver consistent results across collections and markets.
What Is Pattern Grading?
Pattern grading is the process of resizing a base pattern (usually a sample size) into additional sizes. But it’s not simply about making something bigger or smaller. Each part of the garment — shoulders, sleeves, darts, necklines, waistlines — requires specific adjustments to maintain the integrity of the original design.
When grading is carried out properly, the proportions, balance and overall look of the garment remain consistent throughout the size range.
Why Grading Is Essential to Fashion Production
Supports a Smooth Production Process
Accurate grading ensures that every size is ready for sampling, manufacturing and retail. From factories to fitting rooms, well-graded patterns reduce the need for adjustments and speed up the overall production cycle.
Maintains Design Intent Across Sizes
Each design has its own character — and that needs to remain intact across all sizes. Professional grading ensures that the original silhouette and detailing of a garment is preserved, so it looks and feels as intended from start to finish.
Minimises Sampling Rework
When grading is done correctly, first samples are more likely to pass approvals without time-consuming changes. This can result in fewer delays and lower development costs.
Custom Grading for Every Garment Type
No two garments are alike — and neither are their grading requirements. A fitted blazer, a relaxed T-shirt and a structured dress will all require different grading strategies. The same applies to childrenswear, where growth stages and proportions change rapidly.
That’s why working with an experienced team is so important. Pattern grading must be tailored to the garment type, end use, and production process — using a mix of technical understanding and creative judgement.
The Role of Grading in Consistency and Quality
Grading plays a major part in maintaining consistency across a product line. When executed with care and expertise, it supports the overall quality of your garments, ensuring each one meets the expectations of your design and production teams.
It also makes future development easier. Once a base pattern and grade rule set are established, new styles can be developed more quickly and efficiently — with reliable results every time.
Digital and Traditional Grading Techniques
At Gradeline-Datagraf Ltd, we offer both digital and manual grading services to suit the needs of our clients. While CAD (computer-aided design) systems allow for speed and precision, traditional grading still plays a role in certain applications — particularly in bespoke or heritage styles.
Our team works with you to determine the most appropriate method based on your brief, ensuring a flexible and high-quality solution.
Partnering With Experts Makes All the Difference
Choosing the right grading team gives your designs the best possible foundation. With over 150 years of combined industry experience, we understand the nuances of fabric behaviour, garment construction, and commercial production.
Whether you’re an established brand or an emerging designer, we offer grading support tailored to your goals — always focused on detail, fit and quality. From high street retailers to independent labels, our clients trust us to deliver reliable results time and time again.
Pattern grading might not be the most visible part of the production journey — but it’s undoubtedly one of the most important. When handled by experts, it helps ensure that every garment is production-ready, cost-effective and true to your original design.
Established in 1986, Datagraf Ltd T/A The Grading Bureau have come together with Gradeline, who were established in 1989, to build Gradeline-Datagraf Ltd and create an unrivalled, high-quality, cost-effective service, both within the UK and to an extensive international client base.
For over 30 years, we have specialised in pattern grading for women’s, men’s and children’s wear, and we pride ourselves on always creating an enduring end product of the highest calibre.
Our expert staff have in excess of 150 years of combined industry experience. We work on all manner of briefs for industry-leading clients, including high-street names and designers.
We have a proven track record of high-level work, which has won us numerous loyal customers all across the UK, Europe and UAE.
📞 Contact us on 020 8211 3301 📧 production@gradeline-datagraf.co.uk