Textile from A to Z

A

A-LINE – The earliest A-line designs were created by Christian Dior in the 1950s. This style line for apparel is when the dress fits at the shoulder or the skirt at the waist and gradually flares out to a wider hemline, remembre the shape of the letter A.

APLIQUE – Cutting shapes from textile fabrics and attaching them to another fabric or garment. The ornamental fabrics are frequently sewn to the base fabric, but may also be attached with adhesive.

B

BALLON SKIRT – Tulip skirt and bubble skirt can be similar concepts. This type of skirt is voluminous and creat a bubble (shape) efect.

BERMUDAS – It is a semi-casual garment and depending on the fabric and combination with another type of clothing, it can be used on different occasions. They are like shorts but a little longer, down to the knees.

BLOUSE – Is a more classic, sophisticated and fluid shirt, usually made for women. It can be made in different delicate fabrics and different colors.

BOAT NECK – Is a type of collar or piece cut referring to the neck area. It usually has oval shape and can be applied to different types of men’s and women’s clothing.

C

CHINO PANTS – Pants made of 100% cotton and ending in the ankle. Chino pants can be used as a more formal or casual garment, depending on its fabric.

CROP TOP – When a top or sweater ends above the waist is a crop top. 

CULOTTES – Longer than shorts but shorter than trousers, culottes usually have a fluid fit and a straight cut.

COLLECTION – is a group of clothes projected by a fashion designer for a specific weather season or special campaign for clothing brand.

D

DRAPE – Is the way a fabric or garment hangs. It is the process of positioning and pinning fabric onto a dress or tailor’s dummy, to develop the more fluid structure. It is frequently used in haute couture.

F

FASHION – “Fashion” is a concept used as a synonym for the current style in clothing. Fashion begans in the Western Europe in the late middle ages. At that time just the richer people had access to fashion but nowdays, everyone knows what is fashion or not.

H

HAUTE COUTURE – Expensive, fashionable clothes produced by leading exclusive fashion designers. The expression “Haute couture” means the finest dress making in French language and it is used around the world.

J

K

KIMONO – is part of the traditional national dress of Japan. Kimonos are loose-fitting, T-shaped and have wide sleeves, typically cut in one piece with the rest of the garment. Kimonos are full length and wrapping to close at the front.

L

LOOK-BOOK – is a book that shows the collection of photographs compiled by a designer to present their complete collection of clothing, accessories or footwear. They’re usefull to help select key pieces for editorial or sale orders.

LINE – One of many terms that have multiple meanings in the fashion world. That expression can be used to refer to the shape of a garment, or related to the collection of the clothing designed and produced by a designer or manufacturer for a particular season or time period.

M

MANUFACTURED FIBER – Any fiber that is not found in nature and which is produced by an industrial process.

N

NAPPING – is a finishing technique, where the short fibres are lifted from the fabric surface to create a ‘nap’.

O

OXFORD – A basic shoe style that either laces shut or is closed with some other fastening. Details of styling and cut will vary. Originally, the term was used by shoemakers to distinguish between low cut shoes and boots. Today the major distinction is in the fact that the shoe has a closing.

OMBRE – This refers to the style in which color graduates from light to dark ones.

OVER SIZE – Garments which are of a much looser fit.

P

PEPLUM – A ruffle or flared section in the construction of a jacket or blouse that extends a short distance below the waistline.

PRINCESS SHAPE – The origin of the style is attributed to Charles Worth, the fashion designer who made clothing for the Empress (princess) Eugenie of France in the mid-1800s. This expression is used related to a dress shape that is tight from the top to the waist and after the waist it becomes more fluid.

PUFFED SLEEVES – Puffed sleeves (and later puff-ball skirts) are decadent ‘puff’ of fabric. The shape of this style of sleeves remember the kings and is gathered at the top and bottom, but full in between, allowing it to puff up and create fullness.

Q

R

RUCHING – Current fashion descriptions use the term ruching to refer to clothing with large areas of fullness gathered in to form a rippled effect.

RUFFLE – is a decorative frill of lace or gathered ornamentation of fabric, often used to trim or embellish the wrist or neck.

S

SILHOUETTE – Outline or shape of a design or garment.

SHIFT – A basic dress style that has simple, straight lines and does not fit to the body. Very popular in the 1960s and in other periods of fashion story.

SPORTSWEAR – Currently, this term can be to refer to clothing for active sports, to clothing worn to watch sporting events and to casual wear.

STYLIST (FASHION) – A person who dresses (or advice how to dress) the clients in styles that she  or he curates. This type of service can be requested for editorial purposes, for celebrities events, for
branding purposes in marketing or another reasons.

T

TIE DYE – A method of decorating garments or fabrics in pre-selected areas. To get multicolored effects, the fabric can be tied in other areas and dipped in another colored dye. This process can be repeated as often as desired.

TRAPEZE-LINE – Trapeze Lines were popularised by Christian Dior’s successor, Yves Saint Laurent in spring 1958. The trapeze line reinvented the A-Line, what had be “most wanted silhouette in Paris,” with the same swing as its circus counterpart.

TRENDY – An
adjective used to describe someone who is very fashionable or some clothes or accessories that are fashion at this moment.

U

V

VINTAGE – Clothing inspired from a previous era. Fashion and things belonging to the time 20 years or older can be considered to be vintage.

W

X

X-LINE – X-line
celebrate the female figure: a small waist, emphasis on shoulders and a full hem follows in the shape of the letter ‘X’. This shape or line is very popular in dresses and coats.

Y

Z

ZIPPERS – Zippers have two rows of ‘teeth’ that slide together to bind and fasten openings on bags, skirts or trousers. Zips can be inserted into a slash or seam with a closed end.

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