A Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is a unique code brands use to track and organize their products. Each SKU is customized by the business and can include product details like season, size, material, color and more.

Step 1: Start with the Season

Start with broader categories like season and year and then narrow down. For example, “FW23” for a Fall/Winter 2023 collection. 

2. Add the Product Category

This could be a simple 2-3 letter abbreviation or number that represents each item in your collection. For example, “DRS” for dresses or “JKT” for jackets.

Pro Tip: SKU numbers consist of several codes combined together, so it’s a good practice to separate each section into hyphens.

3. Add Codes for Variations (size, material, color, etc.)

Include other distinct details such as size, material, and color information within your SKUs. Depending on the type of product, you might have more/fewer details, so consider what key descriptions will help you identify and sort your products efficiently.

If you have a small red dress, you can make your SKU into FW23-DRS-S-R.

4. Include a Sequence Number

Include a sequence number to distinguish between individual products within the same subcategory.For example, “FW23-DRS-S-R-101” for the first dress in your line, “FW23-DRS-S-R-102” for the second one, and so on.

Tips for Creating SKU Numbers for Clothing

Here are some more tips to make sure you’re creating SKU numbers efficiently:

1. Keep it simple: Don’t overcomplicate your SKUs with unnecessary details or codes that even you will have a hard time deciphering.

2. Stay consistent: Stick to one format once you’ve decided on it. This makes sure there’s no mix-up between different products or variations. 

3. Create an SKU Guide: Create an SKU guide / SOP file to help other members and newbies understand how your SKU codes work. This can be done in a simple spreadsheet.

4. Use unique identifiers: “B” can mean Black, Brown, or Blue. Use unique and distinctive codes, ensuring that each attribute has an exclusive identifier even as your product line expands.

Pro Tip: I always create 3-digit code for colors and silhouettes for my freelance clients. I would build out a master list and every time we created a new color or silhouette, we’d add a new code to it. For example, burgundy would be BUR and burnt orange would be BUO (not BUR). Skirt would be SKT and skort would be SKO. This ensured we weren’t duplicating codes, which can create massive confusion.

SKU vs UPC vs Style Numbers

• SKU numbers are internal codes you create to track product details like size, color, and material.
• UPCs are standardized barcodes used by retailers and point-of-sale systems to identify products universally.
• Style numbers are used during the product development phase to identify the style. Some fashion brands use SKU / Style numbers interchangeably, while some develop entirely new SKU codes once products are green lit for production.

Pro Tip: If clothing is sold in any sort of retail outlet (like Amazon, online shops beyond the brand’s own, or brick-and-mortar shops), UPC codes are required and are obtained from the GS1 organization. If the clothing will only be sold on a brand’s own website or direct-to-consumer, UPC codes are not required. 

Want to Learn More About the Garment Production Process?

Creating SKUs is just one piece of managing your clothing line. If you want to see how SKU numbers fit into the bigger picture of garment production, check out my full guide on the Garment Production Process.