Industry Lingo

January, 19th 2012

Every industry has its share of terms and phrases that only those within it can recognize. From the outside looking in, one might think the apparel industry has its own language. Case in point, the words “dart” and “tipping” mean something completely different to those working in fashion and apparel.

Bar Tack

A group of stitches used to reinforce speciἀc areas on a garment, such as at the bottom of a Ḁy opening or on either end of a pocket opening

Dart

A wedge or diamond shape removed from the body of a garment section by stitching or by cutting and stitching to aid in the shaping of the garment. A dart can be functional or used in various forms as a design element.

Dog Ears

The undesirable frayed seams present at the inside corners of the pockets caused when the pocket corners are turned back and stitched down improperly.

Pret-a-porter

French term meaning ready to wear

Yield

Amount of fabric (yardage) used to cut one garment, or, when referring to knit fabric, yield = weight of fabric. The yield is used as a costing factor.

Ombre

A graduated or shaded effect of color or texture used in a stripe motif

Ringer

A t-shirt with collar and sleeve cuffs of a different color than the body of the shirt

Singles

A term used to indicate the diameter of a yarn; the smaller the number, the thicker the yarn

Tipping

The embellishment of a garment by adding some type of trim to the edges of cuffs, plackets, pockets or hems for decoration.

Habberdasher

A retail dealer in men’s furnishings, as shirts, ties, gloves, socks, and hats