Stainless Steel Piping Cord — Specification, Uses and Sourcing Notes
Stainless Steel Piping Cord: Specification, Uses and Sourcing Notes
Stainless Steel Piping Cord is the version buyers specify when the base material is fixed by performance rather than by price. This entry sets out what the material actually changes, which specification to write into the tech pack, and where the cost sits — the three questions that decide whether the item passes bulk approval.
What it is
Stainless Steel gives piping cord its drape and hand feel. In practice that means the trim behaves differently in cutting, in finishing and in wear: shrinkage allowance has to be built into the spec. Buyers who specify the material up front avoid the most common failure — an item that looks right on the sample card and behaves differently in bulk.
Typical specification
| Item | Piping Cord |
|---|---|
| Base material | Stainless Steel |
| Standard size | 8# Gauge |
| Common finishes | Black Nickel Finish, Antique Brass Plating, Silicone Wash Finish |
| Processes | Bonding, Sanforising, Rotary Printing |
| Typical applications | Sleepwear, Footwear, Caps, Coats |
| Test standard | Bluesign |
| Usual packing | 200 pieces per polybag, 2000 per carton |
Properties that matter in buying
- Dimensional stability — 2% allowance is built into the spec before cutting.
- Colour fastness — tested to Bluesign on the actual base material, not on a substitute.
- Mechanical performance — elastic recovery after 50 cycles or washes.
- Compliance — Bluesign documentation issued with the shipment.
- Consistency — the approved counter sample becomes the reference for every reorder.
Common uses
- Down Jackets
- Socks
- Bags
- Trousers
- Jeans
- Workwear
How to specify it
- Name the base material in the tech pack, not just the item.
- Fix the size and tolerance in writing before sampling starts.
- Approve a counter sample made from the actual bulk base material.
- Order the test report against the standard your market requires.
- Retain a golden sample at the factory and a second one with you.
Related reading
Related specifications on this site cover feather trim, magnetic snap, flannel fabric, sewing thread, and the processes most often paired with piping cord include flame retardant finishing, brushing, heat transfer printing.
Send the reference sample or tech pack and we will come back with a costed specification, a sampling timetable and the compliance documents your market requires.
