Textile Terms | Different Terms used in Garments Sector

Allowance: Some extra measurement is added with actual body measurement while making garments. This extra measurement for making garments is known as allowance. For example, if the chest measurement as are 100cm than it is counted as 100+2+2cm while making pattern. Here, 2+2cm is allowance.
Armhole: Armhole is the boundary measurement of arm where the sleeve is attached with garments.

Back tacking: back tacking is a safe stitch which is done after completing a stitch the direction of back tacking is opposite to the main stitch. Back tacking is done to protect the unwinding of the stitch and its length is normally 1cm to the back ward direction.

Back stitch: back stitch is a pattern which is made without any allowances or any style of garments.

Bar tack: Bar tack is a re-stitching over a small length after completing a stitch. There are some components of garments which are required to bear excess load than other components. That’s why; the stitch strength of those components should be more than other components. So, re-stitching is done over the stitch of those components to bear the extra load which is known as bar tack. As for example, bar tack is done to the corner of the pocket belt loop etc.

Button measurements: the diameter of the button is known as button measurements. The unit of button measurements is ligne. 

1 ligne = 0.635mm

Bundle: after cutting of fabric similar parts of garments are kept by tiding them up temporarily, this is convenient to shift from one place to another which is called bundle.

C, B line: C, B line means centre back line. It is the straight line through the midpoint of the body in back part of a shirt.

C, F line: C, F line means centre front line. It starts from the collar and ends to the bottom hem and passes through the middle of the front part of a shirt.

Crutch point: The point at which the two inside seam of a part is connected together is known as Crutch point.

Dummy: It is a copy of a human body. It is made of plastic. Rubber, stone etc, it is usually used to check the fitting of a garment. In the shop different dummies are used to display their products in wearing condition. There are different sizes dummies are found in the markets.

Epaulet: The sharp which is used in the shoulder of overcoat, jacket, sportswear etc are known as Epaulet. It is used in the garments to protect the unwilling extension at shoulder point.

Grading: The making of different sizes pattern from the master pattern is called grading.

Grain line: The straight line with arrow which is drawn on every pattern pieces to indicate the grain of fabric is called grain line. This line is used to place the pattern parallel with the grain of fabric/cloth.

Work wear: The garments which are worn while working to protect the body from adverse environment and dust are called work wear.

Or, The garments specially produced to encounter adverse environment condition is known as work wear. It is produced for workers who are working in adverse condition.

LC: It means letter for credit. The letter or document issued by a bank which ensures the certainty to pay the price of products/goods in favor of buyer of those goods is called LC. LC is an important document on export, import business.

Back to back LC: If the raw materials are imported from a foreign country and the produced goods by those raw materials are again exported to that country, then the LC opened for that business is called back to back LC. The raw materials which are imported by back to back LC cannot be sold in local/open market.

Invoice: It is an important document in business which is sent with the goods after setting. The invoice includes items descriptions, prices, no of cartoons, number of items in every cartoon etc. Any shipment is not allowed without commercial invoice.

FOB: FOB means “Free On Board”. It is a pricing system. If the price of goods is mentioned in the invoice without any transportation cost, then this system is called FOB price-system.

C & F: C&F means “Cost and Flight”. It is a pricing system. If the actual price of goods and transportation cost are mentioned in the invoice, then this system is called C & F price system.

CIF: CIF means “Cost, Insurance and Flight”. It is a pricing system. If the actual price of goods and transportation cost and insurance cost are mentioned in the invoice, then this system is called C & F price system.