First, what is a line sheet?

A line sheet is a document designed to assist buyers in the placement of their orders. It's a sales tool which is not to be confused with a marketing tool.

Line sheets depict styles in flat, black and white sketches. Line sheets are not to be confused with "look books".

Your color sketches are what would be considered part of a "look book". Look books usually have photographs and style numbers. They are visual tools to give buyers (and publication editors, etc.) a view of your line. Sometimes look books have product information, but usually they do not. (below is a page from a lookbook i shot for Montee Holland - Tayion Collection

Your line sheet is similar to a sketched look book. . A line sheet has all of the product information a buyer needs to order. ALL of it. Of course, it may not have your minimum order info (but it sometimes does).

I strongly suggest that you put separate categories of merchandise in separate documents.
Accessories together, outerwear together and so on. If you need to merchandise items together, this is what a look book is for. But a line sheet should be categorized because it makes it easier for buyers to sort out their merchandising. This also makes it easier as your line grows, so it's good to start now.

You might think that you don't have enough items to do that, but you will use more space on your line sheet if you incorporate this additional information.

1. Put your company contact information on every single page. EVERY SINGLE PAGE. Or your sales rep's contact info. Every single page because when you have multiple pages, sometimes buyers will unstaple the pages they don't need.

2. Put your delivery dates and order cut off dates on every single page.

3. It's a good idea to put your minimum order amount on the page as well. For example:
The Last Collection
Delivery 3/15 – 3/30
Order by 2/15
Minimum 4 pcs per style, per color

4. For each ITEM, you should have the following information: Style number, style description,
fabric composition, wholesale price, color and sizing. For example:
a. Style #15001 Wide leg Capri
b. 100% linen (If you are grouping your items by fabric, which many companies do on their line
sheets, then you can put it on the page once)
c. S,M,L,XL (if all your sizing is the same for every item on the page, then you can put it on the
page once)
d. Available in white, cream, taupe and black (if all your colors are the same, then you can put
it on the page once)
e. $60

Lastly, a line sheet needs to be functional more than it needs to be artistically pleasing. Your look book and photographs generate interest, your line sheets are a tool for the buyer to order.

What you have to think of when laying out a line sheet is how easy it is to write an order based on the information you have presented and the layout.

If your teachers don't like technical data, don't put it in
there. In real life however, you're going to have to have it.

Q & A

Do line sheets have technical drawing or
photographs on them? Back views? Or are they presented in conjunction with a look book for
visual reference? Are there swatches?

Line sheets do not have photographs. Sometimes they will have back views. I think that depends on how
much room you have on your sheet and whether your sketches are clean enough to depict details. Line sheets are a ubiquitous working document.

It's best to assume that a buyer will only see your line sheets without having seen the look book or any press materials. Your line sheets should contain sufficient information that any buyer could order your products without an order form.

About swatches, I've seen those done one of two ways. Either a company will make up separate swatch cards
that are independent of the line sheets and pass those out in conjunction with line sheets or just as often or
swatches can be glued to line sheets.

Related:
If you are producing a line or would hope to, you really need to read The Entrepreneur's Guide to Sewn
Product Manufacturing.

line sheets part 2

Great Links