In the fashion industry, color consistency is critical to maintaining brand identity and delivering high-quality products. Whether you are working with fabrics, prints, trims, or packaging, slight variations in dye lots, materials, or lighting conditions can lead to costly errors and customer dissatisfaction.

Pantone, the global standard for color communication, helps designers and manufacturers maintain accuracy across different textiles, suppliers, and production facilities. However, without a structured color management system, discrepancies can still occur.

This guide will explore how to master color management, the importance of digital color libraries, and how PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems like KŌBŌ can help streamline color consistency from concept to production.

Why Is Color Management Important in Fashion?

Achieving precise and repeatable color results is essential for maintaining:

• Brand consistency – A signature color should remain the same across multiple seasons and collections.

• Production efficiency – Reducing color variations minimizes sample rounds and production delays.

• Customer satisfaction – Consumers expect their purchases to match the advertised color in online stores and lookbooks.

Common Color Management Challenges

1. Variations in Dye Batches – Even with strict quality control, different dye lots can cause slight shifts in fabric color.

2. Different Materials Absorbing Color Differently – A cotton shirt and a polyester jacket using the same dye formula may appear different.

3. Supplier and Factory Differences – Without proper guidelines, different manufacturers may produce slightly altered shades of the same color.

4. Lighting Conditions Affecting Perception – Colors appear differently under fluorescent, daylight, and LED lighting, causing mismatches.

How to Achieve Consistent Pantone Color Matching

Step 1: Establish a Standardized Color Library

A digital color library is essential for ensuring that all team members, suppliers, and manufacturers reference the same standardized color palette.

How to Set Up a Color Library:

• Select core brand colors and define them with Pantone or Lab values.

• Maintain fabric swatch samples to reference physical variations.

• Store approved color formulations and dye recipes in a central database.

• Use colorimeter devices to measure and match colors accurately.

Step 2: Use Pantone Matching System (PMS) Codes

The Pantone Matching System (PMS) is the industry standard for consistent color communication. Every color has a unique numerical code, ensuring that different production teams use the same reference.

Why Use Pantone?

• Ensures color accuracy across print, fabric, and product packaging.

• Available in coated (C), uncoated (U), and textile-specific (TCX) versions.

• Reduces the guesswork involved in matching colors manually.

Step 3: Convert Colors for Different Materials

A color may look different on cotton, polyester, or leather due to variations in absorption and reflectivity. To compensate for these differences:

• Conduct lab dips for fabric testing before bulk production.

• Adjust Pantone or Lab values based on material properties.

• Test samples under multiple lighting conditions to ensure visual consistency.

Step 4: Implement Digital Color Approval Processes

Instead of relying on physical swatches, digital color approvals allow brands to communicate precise color information in real time.

• Use spectrophotometers to measure color accuracy.

• Compare RGB, CMYK, and Lab values for digital vs. physical accuracy.

• Approve colors within KŌBŌ PLM to ensure consistency across departments.

Best Software for Color Management in Fashion

1. Pantone Connect – Digital Color Library & Matching

A cloud-based color matching tool that integrates with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign for precise Pantone color selection.

• Access over 15,000 Pantone colors.

• Save custom color palettes for different collections.

• Convert colors across print, digital, and textile applications.

2. Datacolor & X-Rite – Spectrophotometers for Measuring Color Accuracy

• Measures exact color values using Lab, RGB, and CMYK models.

• Ensures brand color consistency across suppliers.

• Detects slight shade variations to prevent production errors.

3. Adobe Color – Digital Color Harmonization

• Allows designers to create harmonized color palettes based on color theory.

• Provides Hex, RGB, and CMYK values for digital consistency.

• Integrates with Illustrator and Photoshop for seamless design workflows.

4. KŌBŌ PLM – Color Management in Product Development

• Stores color standards and dye formulations in one place.

• Links color approvals directly to tech packs.

• Ensures manufacturers and suppliers access the latest color updates.

How PLM Systems Like KŌBŌ Improve Color Consistency

1. Centralized Color Library

KŌBŌ PLM enables brands to create and manage a single source of truth for color specifications, ensuring that every team and supplier works with the same references.

2. Real-Time Color Approvals

With digital color approvals, brands can review and adjust colors instantly, reducing sample rounds and production errors.

3. Supplier Integration

Manufacturers can access color standards, dye recipes, and tolerances in KOBO PLM, ensuring that every production run meets quality expectations.

4. Automated Reporting for Compliance

Track Pantone and Lab values across collections to maintain color consistency year after year.

Common Mistakes in Color Management and How to Avoid Them

1. Relying Only on Digital Screens for Color Approval

Monitors display colors differently based on calibration and brightness settings.

Solution: Always test physical swatches under multiple lighting conditions.

2. Skipping Lab Dips and Strike-Offs

Without testing fabric swatches, colors may appear differently in bulk production.

Solution: Conduct lab dips and strike-offs before finalizing colors.

3. Inconsistent Dye Formulations Across Suppliers

Different factories may interpret color formulas differently, leading to mismatched batches.

Solution: Maintain strict dye formulations and tolerances in KŌBŌ PLM.

Conclusion

Color management is a critical component of fashion product development. By using Pantone standards, digital color libraries, spectrophotometers, and PLM systems like KŌBŌ, brands can ensure color consistency across materials, suppliers, and collections.