Fashion Terminology:
A Complete Beginner’s Guide.
Our Number 1, go-to fashion resource (aka a fashion language interpreter) for fashion start-ups and entrepreneurs, so you can communicate effectively with suppliers and perfect your product.
Tech specs: Also known as technical specifications, these are detailed documents that outline the construction and design requirements for a specific garment.
CADS: Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software is used by fashion designers to create digital representations of garments and patterns. This term can also be used with pattern-makers in relation to the digitising of the pattern’s (putting them into a digital file form).
Trims: These are decorative elements or functional components used in garment construction, such as zippers, buttons, snaps, ribbons, or lace.
Labels: These are small tags or labels attached to garments that display the brand name, logo, care instructions, and size information.
Swing tags: These are hanging tags attached to garments that usually contain additional branding information, product details, or promotional messages.
Poly bags: These are plastic bags used for packaging and protecting garments during transportation and storage.
Patterns: These are templates or guides used to cut fabric into specific shapes for garment construction.
Fabric composition: The breakdown of the fabric's content, including the percentages of different fibers used in its construction.
Hemming: The process of folding and sewing the edge of a garment to create a finished and neat appearance.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer): A company that produces clothing or other products on behalf of another brand or company.
ODM (Original Design Manufacturer): A company that designs and manufactures clothing based on the specifications and requirements provided by another brand or company.
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity): The minimum quantity of clothing or products that a manufacturer requires for an order to be processed.
Cut and Sew: The process of cutting fabric pieces and sewing them together to create a garment.
Fabric Sourcing: The process of finding and selecting the desired fabrics for manufacturing clothing.
Garment Dyeing: The process of dyeing a fully constructed garment to achieve the desired colour or shade.
Lead Time: The time required for the production and delivery of an order, including fabric sourcing, sample development, manufacturing, and shipping.
Grading: The process of creating different sizes of a garment pattern, ensuring consistent proportions and fit across various sizes.
Prototyping: The creation of a sample garment to test the design, fit, and construction before proceeding with bulk production.
Sample production: The creation of a small batch of garments for evaluation, usually done before full-scale production.
Fit samples: These are samples used to test the fit and make necessary adjustments to the garment before moving into production.
SMS or Salesman Sample: This is the set of samples that you request after you have made comments to your suppliers for your fit or proto samples. You may want to order these in all of your correct fabrics, colours or prints and you may use these for your photoshoot to create lookbooks, website product listings and any other materials you may require to advertise or promote your product prior to launch.
Sourcing: The process of finding and selecting suppliers for fabrics, trims, and other materials required for garment production.
Cut and sew: A manufacturing method where garments are created by cutting fabric pieces and then sewing them together to form the final product.
Production run: The large-scale manufacturing of garments after all design and fit adjustments have been finalized.
Quality control: The process of inspecting finished garments to ensure they meet the specified quality standards and requirements.
Wash care instructions: The labels or tags that provide guidelines on how to clean and care for the garment to maintain its quality and longevity.
Garment dyeing: The process of dyeing the finished garments, either as a whole or in specific areas, to achieve desired colors or effects.
Seam allowance: The extra fabric left between the cut edge and the stitching line, allowing room for sewing and finishing the seams.
Product coding terminologies:
Barcode: A barcode is a graphical representation of data that is scanned and read by optical devices, such as barcode scanners or smartphones. In fashion design and production, barcodes are commonly used to uniquely identify products, allowing for efficient inventory management, tracking, and sales. Each product is assigned a unique barcode that contains information such as the product's style, color, size, and other relevant details. Barcodes are used throughout the supply chain, from manufacturing to retail, to streamline processes and ensure accurate product identification.
Style Code: A style code is a unique identifier assigned to a specific fashion product or design. It helps in distinguishing different styles or variations of a particular garment within a brand or collection. The style code typically includes alphanumeric characters and may include information such as the season, year, category, and specific design details. Style codes are used internally within fashion companies for inventory management, production control, and product tracking.
SKU Codes: SKU (Stock Keeping Unit) codes are unique identifiers assigned to individual products within a company's inventory. These codes are used to track and manage inventory at a granular level. Unlike style codes, which may represent a specific design or style, SKU codes are specific to a particular variant or combination of attributes, such as size, color, and material. SKU codes are essential for accurate inventory management, stock replenishment, and sales analysis, as they provide detailed information about the specific product variant.
Quality Control (QC): The process of inspecting and testing clothing at various stages of production to ensure that it meets the required quality standards. It is important to check your product has been QC’d by you, or your team prior to launch or even prior to bulk production (order a Pre-production sample from the lot before the bulk has shipped).
FOB (Free on Board): A pricing term indicating that the cost of manufacturing and delivering goods to the designated port or location is included, but shipping costs beyond that point are the responsibility of the buyer.
CMT (Cut, Make, Trim): A manufacturing service where the manufacturer cuts the fabric, sews the garment, and applies trims based on the specifications provided by the brand or company.
Compliance: Adherence to legal, ethical, and safety standards, such as labor laws, environmental regulations, and fair trade practices.
Subcontracting: The practice of hiring another manufacturer or supplier to perform specific tasks or processes in the production of clothing.
Embroidery: The process of decorating fabric or garments by stitching thread or yarn onto the surface to create decorative patterns or designs.
Printing: The process of applying colored designs or patterns onto fabric or garments using various printing methods, such as screen printing or digital printing.
Grading: The process of adjusting the size and proportions of a garment pattern to create different sizes.
Private Label: Clothing or products manufactured by a company for sale under another brand's name.
Supply Chain: The sequence of processes and activities involved in the production, distribution, and delivery of clothing, including sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics.
Ethical Sourcing: The practice of ensuring that the materials used in the manufacturing of clothing are obtained from suppliers who follow ethical and sustainable practices.
Sustainable Manufacturing: The process of producing clothing in an environmentally responsible and resource-efficient manner, minimizing waste, and reducing the carbon footprint.
Eco-friendly packaging: Sustainable packaging options made from recycled materials or biodegradable alternatives, reducing environmental impact.
Customs Terms:
Harmonized System (HS) code: A standardized numerical system for classifying traded products, used by customs authorities to determine applicable duties and regulations.
Import license: A document issued by the government authorizing the importation of specific goods into a country, often required for certain regulated or restricted items.
Certificate of origin: A document that certifies the country where the goods were produced, often required for customs clearance and to determine eligibility for preferential trade agreements.
Tariff classification: The process of assigning the correct HS code to a product for customs purposes, determining applicable duties and trade restrictions.
Customs valuation: The process of determining the value of imported goods for customs purposes, including the cost of the merchandise, transportation, insurance, and any applicable charges or royalties.
Free trade agreement (FTA): An agreement between two or more countries that reduces or eliminates tariffs, quotas, and other trade barriers, promoting trade and economic cooperation between the participating nations.
Please note that this list is not exhaustive, and the fashion industry has a vast range of terms and jargon associated with different aspects ofdesign, production, logistics, packaging, and customs.
Logistics Terminology:
Supply chain: The network of activities involved in the production, distribution, and delivery of a garment, including sourcing, manufacturing, transportation, and warehousing.
Freight forwarding: The coordination and management of the transportation of goods from the manufacturer to the retailer or customer, including handling import/export procedures, documentation, and customs clearance.
Lead time: The time required to complete a specific task or process, such as manufacturing, shipping, or delivery.
Just-in-time (JIT): A logistics strategy where materials and products are delivered precisely when needed in the production process, reducing inventory costs and waste.
Tracking number: A unique code assigned to a package or shipment that enables tracking its location and delivery status.
Customs duties: Taxes imposed by governments on imported or exported goods, calculated based on the value, quantity, and classification of the products.
Bill of lading (B/L): A legal document issued by the carrier that serves as a receipt of goods, contract of carriage, and a title document of the shipment.
Incoterms: International Commercial Terms are standardized trade terms that define the responsibilities and obligations of buyers and sellers in international transactions, including shipping, insurance, and customs clearance.
Packaging Options:
Retail packaging: The packaging used for garments sold directly to consumers, often including branded boxes, bags, or wrapping.
Poly mailers: Lightweight, water-resistant plastic envelopes used for shipping garments, often with adhesive strips for easy sealing.
Box packaging: Rigid cardboard boxes used for shipping multiple garments or bulk orders, providing more protection during transportation.
Hang tags: Tags attached to garments that display branding, pricing, care instructions, and other information, often hung from a garment's neckline or with a safety pin.
Tissue paper: Thin, lightweight paper used to wrap garments within packaging to prevent wrinkling or damage during transit.