Do you aspire to make your mark in the fashion industry or just adore everything about fashion, understanding fashion terminology is essential. Whether you're thinking about starting your own clothing line or exploring the business of fashion, knowing key fashion terms is essential for navigating the creative landscape of style and commerce. Let's explore the vocabulary of fashion and unlock the language that drives this dynamic industry.
Why Learn Fashion Terminology
Here at OTB - ONTHEBIASDESIGN, we're dedicated to equipping you with the expertise needed to excel in fashion company interviews, fashion studies, and launching your own clothing line. We have compiled a list of 20 most used fashion terms to ensure you're fluent in the language of fashion, empowering you to navigate the industry with confidence and success.
Scroll down to learn more.
Atelier
An "atelier" is the dedicated workspace within a fashion company where various creative processes unfold, including design, pattern making, and fittings. This term is commonly associated with Couture Houses, emphasizing the artisanal craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail inherent in their work.
Ready-to-Wear - Prêt-à-porter
If you've followed Fashion Week, you've likely come across the term "Ready-to-wear" used for new collections, such as Fall/Winter Ready-to-wear and Spring/Summer Ready-to-wear. But what does "Ready-to-wear" mean? Simply put, it refers to clothing items that are ready for immediate purchase and wear. In French, it's known as "Prêt-à-porter." Most fashion lines we buy are ready-to-wear.
Haute Couture
Haute Couture is custom-made and unlike ready to wear is not mass produced. Representing the pinnacle of luxury and prestige within the fashion industry. Translated is French for 'high sewing' or 'high dressmaking. This exclusive division is characterized by its meticulous craftsmanship and unparalleled attention to detail. High fashion houses under the Haute Couture umbrella produce two collections annually, each comprising meticulously crafted designs. What sets Haute Couture apart is its bespoke service, where garments are tailored to individual clients' precise measurements. These custom creations are crafted from the most exquisite materials, with every element executed with meticulous attention to detail. The labor-intensive process often requires 200-500 hours to complete a single garment, highlighting the epitome of artistry and luxury in the fashion world.
Cruise Collection
A Cruise collection, also referred to as Resort collection, fills the gap between the two main fashion seasons: Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. Typically showcased in May and June, these collections originated to cater to affluent travelers embarking on cruises or vacations, requiring wardrobe options suitable for various climates. Nowadays, many prominent brands have embraced Cruise collections as an opportunity to introduce a new must have mid-season collection to the market.
Capsule Collection
Capsule Collections, pioneered by Donna Karan in the 1980s, revolutionized fashion. The idea was to create a capsule wardrobe that features only the most essential or key pieces from a collection. These collections present a compact essential version of the designer's vision. They transcend seasonal trends, focusing on functionality and versatility to form the foundation of a wardrobe.
Bespoke
Bespoke or "custom-made," refers to garments tailored precisely to the measurements of an individual client. Contrary to popular belief, "bespoke" doesn't necessarily denote one-of-a-kind pieces. Instead, bespoke garments typically start from a general pattern that is then meticulously adjusted to fit the client's unique body measurements.
Direct to Consumer
Direct-to-consumer or D2C describes a business model wherein a brand sells its garments directly to consumers through its own physical and online stores, rather than distributing them through multi-brand retailers via wholesale channels.
Standardized Sizing
Standardized sizing refers to a method of producing manufactured garments in consistent measurement intervals, commonly known as "standard" sizes, to accommodate a variety of body types. This system, which categorizes clothing into sizes such as small, medium, large, and extra-large, originated in the 1800s to fulfil the need for uniforms. Selecting the appropriate sizing range is a crucial aspect of establishing a fashion brand as it ensures that the garments fit your target demographic accurately.
Silhouette
In fashion, a silhouette refers to the outline or shape created by clothes when worn on the body. The purpose of fashion silhouettes is to specifically represent the overall outline shape of a clothed fashion figure. These silhouettes play a crucial role in fashion sketches or illustrations, serving as defining features that capture the essence of the design.
Flat Drawing
Flat drawings are precise, two-dimensional technical illustrations depicting the intended appearance of a garment. These drawings serve as detailed blueprints, transforming abstract concepts into tangible designs by detailing essential technical elements such as front and back views, side profiles, stitch lines, fastenings, and other details. Typically created by technical designers, flat drawings are indispensable tools utilized throughout the production process. At OTB, we specialize in providing a diverse array of vector flat drawings, perfect for designers and brand owners. Our offerings include vector flat technical drawings and tech packs ensuring clarity and accuracy at every stage of garment production.
Tech Pack
In essence, a Technical Pack, or Tech Pack for short, serves as a comprehensive blueprint for the final garment. It includes all the vital technical specifications and design details that render your product distinct. Essentially, it acts as a vital communication tool between designers and manufacturers, ensuring a clear understanding of expectations. The quality of the finished product hinges entirely on the effectiveness of this communication. For more information on our Tech Pack services, feel free to get in touch with us.
Toile - Sample
A toile is a preliminary mock-up of your design, typically made from inexpensive fabric, to evaluate and refine the fit and design. Similarly, a sample serves as a prototype to evaluate the design before production. Modern Digital sampling offers cost-effective and sustainable options during the design phase, minimizing physical sampling while you fine-tune your design. Reach out to us for assistance with sampling and refining your designs.
Facing fabric
Facing fabric has two meanings in fashion design. A ‘facing fabric’ is applied to tidy up the raw edges of a garment, such as necklines and armholes. Shaped facings, typically crafted from the same fabric as the garment, are tailored to match the edge they'll cover, while bias facings are strips of fabric cut on the true bias or cross-grain, providing flexibility. Additionally, facing fabric can refer to the 'face side' of a fabric - the right side of a fabric.
Seam
A "seam" is a stitched line where two pieces of fabric are joined together. Several types of seams are utilized to finish garments, each serving a specific function. For instance, a cover stitch seam is ideal for stretch garments, ensuring durability and flexibility, while a topstitch can add decorative elements to the garment. Stay tuned for more detailed coverage of different seam types in our upcoming blog post.
Bias Cut
Cut on the Bias is a diagonally placed pattern to cut a garment from fabric at a 45° angle, at this angle, the 'warp' and 'weft' threads give the fabric more of an elastic 'stretch. Allowing it to drape and contour elegantly around the body. This unique cutting technique enhances the garment's fit and appearance.
Dart
Darts are essential dressmaking techniques used to shape garments by curving straight fabric to fit the body. They involve sewing a fold or tuck to a point, which is then pressed to one side. Darts vary in width and length to provide shaping at areas such as the shoulder, neck, bust, and waistlines, tapering at one or both ends as needed.
Appliqué
Appliqué is a decorative technique in which pieces of fabric are sewn onto a base fabric to create designs or patterns. These fabric pieces can be attached using various stitching methods such as straight stitch, satin stitch, or blanket stitch. Appliqué adds texture, dimension, and visual interest to garments and accessories, making it a versatile and creative embellishment technique in the realm of fashion.
Look-Book
Look-books are curated collections of photographs showcasing a designer's collection of clothing, accessories, or footwear, presented in a flipbook format. They serve as invaluable tools for buyers and press, aiding in the selection of key pieces for editorial features or sales orders. Each look is meticulously numbered and clearly displayed, bridging the gap between runway presentations and commercial collections. Originally conceived before the digital era, look-books were essential for press and sales personnel who relied on notes and memory for selecting looks. Today, digital look-books are increasingly requested from fashion brands, offering convenience and accessibility for browsing and decision-making.
Line Sheet
A line sheet is a key sales tool created by fashion brands and designers to sell their products. It serves as a comprehensive summary, detailing crucial information about each product, including price, color, size, and style variations. Whether selling to wholesale clients or retail customers, line sheets provide essential details to facilitate transactions. Buyers frequently request line sheets when contemplating wholesale purchases, making them indispensable tools for B2B sales. If you're venturing into business-to-business sales, a well-crafted line sheet can significantly enhance your marketing and sales efforts.
Trend Forecasting
Trend forecasting entails identifying and predicting new trends that will influence the fashion industry. Trend forecasters agencies like WGSN, analyze cultural, economic, and celebrity trends to anticipate industry shifts. These forecasts are not solely focused on fashion but also consider broader societal and cultural influences. Trend forecasting serves as a valuable tool for startups, offering insights and guidance crucial for achieving growth and success in the market.
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