Fashion & Textile Glossary (A–Z)
Authoritative definitions of garment terminology, textile weaves, couture methods, and tailoring definitions.
A
Atelier
A designer workshop or studio where luxury garments are hand-crafted and fitted.
Avant-Garde
Experimental, innovative fashion designs that push conventional aesthetic boundaries.
B
Bespoke
Garments custom-made from scratch to individual buyer measurements and specifications.
Bias Cut
Cutting fabric diagonally across the grain to create fluid, body-skimming drape.
C
Capsule Wardrobe
A curated collection of essential, interchangeable clothing pieces that create versatile outfits.
Couture
High-end fashion constructed by hand from start to finish using premium textiles.
D
Draping
The process of positioning and pinning fabric directly onto a dress form to create garment patterns.
E
Embroidery
Decorative needlework embellishing textile surfaces with thread, beads, or sequins.
F
Fast Fashion
Mass-manufactured rapid clothing production mimicking catwalk trends at low prices.
G
Gauze
A thin, sheer, open-weave fabric commonly crafted from cotton or silk.
H
Haute Couture
Legally protected Parisian term for high-fashion houses creating bespoke hand-sewn garments.
J
Jacquard
A intricately woven pattern produced on a specialized loom, creating textured relief.
L
Lining
An inner layer of smooth fabric attached inside tailored coats, jackets, and skirts.
S
Selvedge
Self-finished edge of woven denim fabric preventing fraying or unraveling.
Silhouette
The overall outline or shape a garment creates when worn.
T
Tweed
A rough, un-cleansed wool fabric with flexible woven patterns, associated with tailoring.
W
Warp & Weft
The longitudinal (warp) and transverse (weft) threads woven together to form fabric structure.