Fashion Glossary
Your comprehensive guide to fashion industry terminology. From fabric types to heritage textiles, manufacturing terms to design vocabulary — everything you need to know as a fashion entrepreneur and designer.
Heritage Textiles
Cotton Fabric
The world's most widely used natural fiber, accounting for 39% of global textile revenue — a $43 billion market prized for breathability, versatility, and accessibility across every fashion segment from basics to luxury.
Silk Fabric
The world's most luxurious natural protein fiber, produced by silkworms — a $12–20 billion global market growing at 7–9% CAGR, prized for its unmatched luster, temperature regulation, and premium brand positioning.
Linen Fabric
The world's oldest textile fiber made from flax, 30% stronger than cotton — a $1+ billion global market growing at 11% CAGR, driven by the "quiet luxury" movement and demand for sustainable, breathable premium fabrics.
Denim Fabric
The world's most iconic cotton twill fabric — a $24.7 billion global market producing 6.3+ billion meters annually, defined by its indigo dyeing, diagonal weave, and unmatched versatility from workwear to luxury fashion.
Chiffon Fabric
A lightweight, sheer plain-weave fabric with flowing drape and subtle texture — a $1.2+ billion global market essential for evening wear, bridal, layering, and feminine fashion across both Western and ethnic garment categories.
Velvet Fabric
A luxurious pile-woven fabric with a dense, even surface that reflects light directionally — originating in 14th-century Europe, now a $377M+ market spanning fashion, bridal, and home decor with demand growing 18% in recent years.
Rayon Fabric
A semi-synthetic regenerated cellulose fiber family — a $21+ billion global market (viscose alone: $9.6B) that includes viscose, modal, and lyocell/Tencel, offering silk-like drape at accessible price points across fashion worldwide.
Tweed Fabric
A rough-textured woolen fabric originating from Scotland and Ireland, legally protected in the case of Harris Tweed — prized for durability, warmth, and timeless heritage appeal in tailored blazers, coats, and luxury accessories.
Jersey Fabric
A soft, stretchy knit fabric originally from Jersey Island in the Channel Islands — now the world's most widely used knit fabric, responsible for over 65% of global T-shirt production and foundational to casual wear, athleisure, and basics across every market.
Corduroy Fabric
A durable ridged fabric with distinctive vertical "wales" — part of a $2.4 billion global market experiencing a major vintage revival, used for pants, jackets, and retro-inspired fashion across all genders and age groups.
Banarasi Silk
A 2,000-year-old GI-protected handwoven silk brocade from Varanasi — India's most prestigious bridal textile with real gold/silver zari, 1.2 million artisans, and sarees priced ₹5K-5L ($60-6,000).
Chikankari
A 400-year-old Lucknow hand embroidery with 32 traditional stitches — GI tag 2009, 250,000+ artisans, ₹800-900 crore industry, 84% export growth, kurtas ₹8,999-16,999 ($107-$203).
Khadi Fabric
India's "fabric of freedom" — a handspun and handwoven natural fiber textile that powered the independence movement. KVIC sector turnover reached ₹1.70 lakh crore ($20 billion) in FY2024-25 with 447% sales growth since 2013, driven by zero-electricity sustainability, PM Modi's promotion, and global runway recognition.
Bandhani
A 5,000-year-old Indian tie-dye craft from Gujarat and Rajasthan — $1.2B global tie-dye market (9.4% CAGR), GI-protected Khatri artisan tradition, 5,000-100,000 hand-tied knots per saree.
Kalamkari
A 3,000-year-old hand-painted or block-printed textile from Andhra Pradesh — 23-step natural dye process, GI-protected (2005/2008/2013), UNESCO-recognized, ₹300-15,000/meter ($4-180/yard).
Ikat Fabric
A global resist-dyeing technique where yarns are tie-dyed before weaving, creating distinctive blurred-edge patterns found across India, Indonesia, Japan, Central Asia, and Latin America — practiced in 30+ countries with roots spanning 1,000+ years.
Kantha Embroidery
An ancient Bengali running-stitch embroidery originating pre-1500 BCE, UNESCO-recognized in 2020, practiced by 350,000+ artisans across West Bengal and Bangladesh — the world's oldest upcycling textile tradition.
Bandhani Fabric
A 5,000-year-old GI-tagged resist tie-dye technique from Gujarat and Rajasthan where artisans hand-tie 10,000-100,000+ knots per saree — one of the world's oldest and most labor-intensive textile crafts.
Ajrakh Print
A 4,500-year-old GI-tagged block-printing craft from Kutch, Gujarat using 100% natural dyes (indigo, madder, iron) in a 14-21 day reversible double-sided process — one of the world's most complex textile printing traditions.
Chikankari Embroidery
A GI-tagged Mughal-era embroidery from Lucknow using up to 36 specialized stitches — practiced by 250,000+ artisans across Uttar Pradesh, India's largest hand embroidery craft employing 95% women.
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)
The smallest number of units a manufacturer will produce in a single order, a critical factor for fashion startups managing inventory and cash flow.
Tech Pack
A comprehensive technical document containing all garment specifications — flat sketches, measurements, fabric details, BOM, and construction notes — that serves as the production blueprint between designers and manufacturers worldwide.
CMT (Cut, Make, Trim)
A manufacturing model where the brand supplies fabric and trims, and the factory only handles cutting, sewing, and finishing — offering more control but requiring more sourcing work.
GSM (Grams per Square Meter)
The standard measurement of fabric weight indicating thickness and quality, essential for specifying materials in fashion production.
Sampling
The process of creating prototype garments before bulk production, essential for testing fit, construction, and appearance.
Mood Board
A visual collage of images, textures, colors, and references that captures the aesthetic direction and emotional tone of a fashion collection.
Capsule Collection
A small, curated collection of essential, interchangeable pieces designed to work together as a cohesive wardrobe.
Lookbook
A curated collection of photographs showcasing a fashion brand's collection, used for marketing, sales, and brand storytelling.
Trend Forecasting
The practice of predicting future fashion trends by analyzing cultural, social, economic, and industry signals to guide design and business decisions.
Visual Merchandising
The practice of designing retail spaces and product displays to attract customers, enhance brand experience, and drive sales.
Organza Fabric
A crisp, sheer woven fabric with a stiff hand that holds structured silhouettes — part of a $1.95 billion global market growing at 7.2% CAGR, widely used in bridal gowns, evening wear, and layered occasion garments worldwide.
Satin Fabric
A smooth, glossy woven fabric defined by its lustrous face and dull back — satin is a weave structure (not a fiber) used across silk, polyester, and nylon, dominating 54% of global formal wear sales in bridal, lingerie, and evening fashion.
Georgette Fabric
A lightweight, crinkled sheer fabric with a matte finish and excellent drape — a type of crepe fabric made from tightly twisted yarns, widely used in dresses, blouses, scarves, and flowing occasion wear across global fashion markets.
Modal Fabric
A semi-synthetic fabric made from beech tree cellulose — the second generation of rayon that is 50% more absorbent than cotton, retains softness after 50+ washes, and is the gold standard for premium basics, underwear, and loungewear globally.
Polyester Fabric
The world's most produced textile fiber — polyethylene terephthalate (PET) accounts for 52%+ of global fiber production in a $77 billion market, valued for durability, wrinkle resistance, quick-dry performance, and affordability across fashion, sportswear, and industrial applications.
Kanjeevaram Silk
The "Queen of Indian Silks" — a GI-tagged (2005) pure mulberry silk saree woven in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu by 45,000+ weavers across 60,000 looms, exceeding ₹200 crore annual turnover with the signature korvai interlocking technique.
Zardozi
A GI-tagged (2013) Mughal-era metallic embroidery from Lucknow using gold/silver threads, dabka wires, sequins, and precious stones — practiced by 175,000 artisans in the $1.54-11.27 billion global embroidery market.
Phulkari
Phulkari ("flower work") is a 15th-century Punjabi darning-stitch embroidery using silk pat thread on handspun khaddar cotton — GI-tagged in 2010, with fewer than 5,000 practicing artisans remaining in the $11.27 billion global embroidery market.
Block Printing
Block printing is a 3,000+ year textile technique using hand-carved wooden blocks to stamp patterns onto fabric — India's largest block print hub Sanganer has 315 units (GI-tagged 2009), while Bagru has 150 units (GI-tagged 2011).
Natural Dyes
Natural dyes are plant, mineral, and insect-derived colourants with 5,000+ years of textile heritage — the $4.8 billion global market (6% of total dyes) is growing at 5.7–8.4% CAGR driven by sustainability demand.
Leheriya
Leheriya is a 300–500 year Rajasthani tie-dye technique creating diagonal wave patterns — integral to Teej festival traditions, supporting ~600,000 handicraft artisans across Rajasthan with exports reaching $91 million (Apr–Aug FY 2024).
FOB Pricing (Full Package / Free on Board)
A manufacturing pricing model where the factory sources all materials and handles production end-to-end, with the buyer only paying a per-unit price for finished goods delivered at the port.
Lead Time
The total time from placing a production order to receiving finished goods — one of the most critical variables in fashion supply chain management.
Bill of Materials (BOM)
A comprehensive list of every material, component, and trim required to produce a garment, serving as the foundation for costing, ordering, and production planning.
Quality Control (QC)
The systematic process of inspecting garments during and after production to ensure they meet specified standards before shipment to customers.
Grading
The process of scaling a base pattern up and down to create a full size range, ensuring fit is maintained across all sizes.
Flat Sketch (Technical Drawing)
A 2D technical illustration showing a garment as if laid flat, used in tech packs to communicate construction details, proportions, and design features to manufacturers.
Colour Palette
A curated selection of colours that defines a fashion collection's visual identity, guiding fabric selection, design decisions, and brand communication.
Silhouette
The overall shape and outline of a garment as seen from the outside, one of the most fundamental design decisions that defines a collection's visual identity.
Sustainable Fashion
An approach to designing, producing, and selling clothing that minimises environmental and social harm while creating long-term value — a rapidly growing consumer priority and business strategy.
Brand Identity
The visual and verbal elements that distinguish your clothing brand, creating recognition and emotional connection with your target audience.
Wholesale Distribution
Selling your clothing line in bulk to retailers at wholesale prices, who then sell to end consumers through their stores or platforms.
Crepe Fabric
A family of textured fabrics with a distinctive crinkled, pebbled surface created by highly twisted crepe yarns — spanning from lightweight crepe de Chine to heavy moss crepe, prized for elegant drape, wrinkle-hiding properties, and matte sophistication.
Chambray Fabric
A lightweight plain-weave fabric woven with a colored warp and white weft, creating a soft two-toned appearance — often called "denim's refined cousin," chambray weighs 3.5–5.5 oz/yd² and is the go-to fabric for year-round casual and smart-casual shirting globally.
Muslin Fabric
A lightweight, loosely woven cotton fabric with over 2,000 years of Indian origins — Bengal's legendary Dhaka muslin was called "woven air," and modern muslin remains one of the most breathable, versatile cotton fabrics for fashion, baby products, and artisanal collections worldwide.
Poplin Fabric
A tightly woven plain-weave fabric with a smooth surface and fine horizontal ribs — poplin (called broadcloth in the US) is the world's most-used shirting fabric, the standard for formal, business, and uniform shirts across every global market.
Nylon Fabric
The world's first synthetic fiber (DuPont, 1935) — nylon is a $35 billion global market valued for exceptional strength, elasticity, and abrasion resistance, the standard fabric for premium activewear, swimwear, hosiery, outerwear, and performance accessories.
Spandex (Lycra)
The world's first elastic synthetic fiber — spandex (elastane/Lycra) is an $8.5 billion global market that stretches 500–700% of its original length, now present in over 80% of garments sold worldwide and essential for activewear, swimwear, shapewear, and stretch denim.
Jacquard Fabric
A $3.7 billion global market fabric with intricate patterns woven directly into the structure on a Jacquard loom — the 1804 invention that inspired modern computing and produces brocade, damask, matelasse, and tapestry textiles for fashion, home decor, and upholstery worldwide.
Voile Fabric
A lightweight, semi-sheer plain-weave fabric made from highly twisted yarns — voile (French for "veil") is one of the most breathable woven fabrics, essential for summer fashion globally and a cultural staple in West African formal wear as Swiss voile.
Canvas Fabric
A heavy-duty plain-weave fabric whose name derives from "cannabis" (hemp) — canvas is one of the strongest woven fabrics, the foundation of a projected $6.6 billion global market powering bags, footwear, workwear, and the $2.75 billion tote bag industry.
Tulle Fabric
A lightweight hexagonal-mesh netting fabric named after Tulle, France — the foundation of the $82 billion global bridal wear market, haute couture from Dior to Valentino, and ballet's iconic tutu, with the tulle fabric market valued at $1.5 billion and growing at 5.2% CAGR.
Terry Cloth
A looped-pile fabric powering a $3.5 billion global market (4.5% CAGR to $5.2B by 2033), known for absorbing up to 7x its weight in water — used in towels, robes, resort wear, and the French terry that dominates streetwear hoodies and joggers worldwide.
Hemp Fabric
A durable, eco-friendly natural fiber driving a $5.6 billion global market (16.2% CAGR) made from the Cannabis sativa plant — 3–8x stronger than cotton, requiring 50% less water and zero pesticides, with 10,000+ years of textile heritage.
Pashmina
Pashmina is ultra-fine cashmere (10–16 microns) from Changthangi goats on Ladakh's Changthang plateau — GI-tagged 2005/2008, $1.5 billion global market (5.8–8.5% CAGR), with world's first QR-code GI certification authenticating 51,000+ shawls since 2024.
Patola Silk
Patola is a 900-year-old double-ikat silk textile from Patan, Gujarat — only 2–3 Salvi families still weave it, GI-tagged September 2013, each saree takes 6–12 months and costs ₹60,000–₹10,00,000 ($720–$12,000).
Chanderi Fabric
Chanderi is a 2,000+ year-old lightweight handwoven textile from Ashoknagar, Madhya Pradesh — GI-tagged in 2005 (India's 4th GI product), 3,600 active handlooms, 11,000 weavers, 35–150 GSM sheer fabric with zari work.
Tussar Silk
Tussar (tussah/tasar/kosa) is a wild silk from Antheraea moth species feeding on forest trees — $350.71 million global market (2023), India produces 1,363 MT (2024–25), Jharkhand leads with 40%+ output, GI-tagged varieties from Jharkhand and Gopalpur (Odisha).
Baluchari Silk
Baluchari is a 300-year-old figured silk saree from Bengal with jacquard-woven Ramayana/Mahabharata narratives on the pallu — GI tag 2011 (GI No. 102), 2,000+ weavers in 600 handlooms in Bishnupur, 5–25 days weaving, prices ₹8,000–75,000+ ($95–$900+).
Kashmiri Aari Work
Kashmiri Aari (Zalakdozi) is a 600-year-old chain-stitch embroidery using a hooked needle — 381,505 registered artisans across 60 crafts, part of Kashmir's Rs 3,000 crore handicraft economy, Srinagar designated UNESCO Creative City 2021.
Kutch Embroidery
A GI-registered mirror-work embroidery tradition from Kutch, Gujarat with 5+ distinct tribal styles (Rabari, Suf, Ahir, Mutwa, Jat) — part of the $3.2 billion global embroidery market (2023, 9.5% CAGR). Dupattas from ₹2,500 ($30), sarees ₹8,250–33,725 ($100–405). USA holds 29.69% of global market share.
Bagru Print
A GI-tagged, 400+ year-old hand block printing tradition from Bagru village near Jaipur — using natural dyes (indigo, alizarin, iron rust) and hand-carved teak blocks in a 4–14 day process. Exported to the UK, US, Germany, Japan, and Australia within India's $1.5 billion block print market.
Dabu Print
A centuries-old Rajasthani mud-resist printing technique where dabu paste (local clay, wheat flour, guar gum, lime) is block-stamped onto fabric before dyeing — creating signature crackled patterns impossible to replicate by machine. Part of India's $1.5 billion hand block printing industry.
Kani Shawl
A GI-tagged, handwoven Kashmiri tapestry shawl using 100–200 small wooden bobbins (kanis) instead of a shuttle — taking 6 months to 3 years per piece. Napoleon gifted these to Empress Josephine; their European demand created the "Paisley pattern." Priced from $300 to $12,000+ (₹25,000–10,00,000+).
Maheshwari Fabric
A GI-tagged, 18th-century handwoven silk-cotton fabric from Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh — patronised by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar, featuring 5 signature weave patterns (Chandrakala, Beli, Chatai, Bugdi, Tisri) with reversible borders. Sarees from ₹2,000–20,000 ($24–240). Supported by Rehwa Society (est. 1979, 500+ weavers).
Pochampally Ikat
A GI-tagged (2005) and UNESCO-recognized double-ikat weaving tradition from Telangana — generating ₹1,000+ crore annually through 10,000+ weaving families and 5,000+ looms. Sarees from ₹1,500–50,000 ($18–600). 65% of consumers pay premium for GI-certified Pochampally.
Paithani Silk
A GI-tagged, 2,500-year-old handwoven silk saree from Paithan, Maharashtra — featuring interlocked-weft tapestry technique, gold zari peacock pallus, and three-shuttle weaving. Within the $16 billion global silk market (9.1% CAGR). Handwoven: ₹15,000–5,00,000+ ($180–6,000+).
Pattern Making
The process of creating flat templates (patterns) from which garment pieces are cut, translating a 3D design concept into 2D shapes that assemble into a wearable garment.
Marker Making
The process of arranging all pattern pieces for a garment onto fabric to maximise fabric utilisation and minimise waste during cutting.
Lab Dip
A small fabric swatch dyed to match a specified colour standard, used to approve colour accuracy before bulk fabric dyeing begins.
Fit Sample
A garment sample produced specifically to evaluate fit, proportion, and construction before approving patterns for bulk production.
Pre-Production Sample (PPS)
The final sample made with actual production fabric, trims, and construction methods before bulk manufacturing begins — the last approval checkpoint.
Garment Washing
Post-production washing treatments applied to finished garments to achieve specific aesthetics, improve hand feel, reduce shrinkage, and enhance wearability.
Color Fastness
The resistance of a fabric's colour to fading or bleeding when exposed to washing, light, rubbing, perspiration, and other conditions.
Shrinkage Testing
Laboratory or practical testing to measure how much a fabric or garment shrinks after washing, drying, and steaming — critical for accurate sizing.
Landed Cost
The total cost of a product delivered to your warehouse, including manufacturing, shipping, duties, taxes, insurance, and all handling charges.
Private Label Manufacturing
A business model where a manufacturer produces garments that are branded and sold under your brand name, allowing you to sell products without owning a factory.
Inventory Management
The systematic process of ordering, storing, tracking, and selling your fashion inventory to minimise costs while meeting customer demand.
Fabric Inspection
A systematic quality check of incoming fabric before cutting, identifying defects that could cause production rejections or finished garment quality issues.
Production Costing
The detailed calculation of all costs involved in producing a garment, from raw materials to finished product, used to determine pricing and profitability.
Draping
A fashion design technique where fabric is pinned and shaped directly on a dress form to create three-dimensional garment patterns, allowing designers to sculpt silhouettes organically.
Toile
A test garment made in inexpensive fabric (usually muslin) to check the design, fit, and construction before cutting into expensive production fabric.
Line Sheet
A sales document presenting your collection to wholesale buyers, featuring product images, descriptions, wholesale prices, and ordering information.
Target Audience
The specific group of consumers your fashion brand designs for and markets to, defined by demographics, psychographics, lifestyle, and purchasing behaviour.
Go-to-Market Strategy
A comprehensive plan for launching your fashion products to market, covering sales channels, pricing, positioning, and promotional strategy.
Pricing Strategy
The method of setting retail and wholesale prices for your fashion products, balancing production costs, market positioning, competition, and consumer willingness to pay.
Collection Planning
The strategic process of curating which styles, fabrics, colours, and price points will comprise your fashion collection for a specific season or launch.
Size Chart
A standardised reference guide listing garment measurements for each size your brand offers — critical for reducing returns, building customer trust, and ensuring consistent fit across global markets.
Fashion Illustration
The art of drawing clothing designs on stylised human figures to communicate design concepts, used in the creative process before technical drawings and production.
Textile Design
The creative process of designing patterns, prints, weaves, and surface treatments for fabrics, determining how the textile looks and feels before garment construction.
Product Development
The end-to-end process of transforming a fashion design concept into a production-ready garment, from initial sketch through sampling to final approval.
Color Story
A curated palette of colours selected for a specific fashion collection, creating visual cohesion and emotional narrative across all styles in the range.
Brocade Fabric
A richly decorative jacquard-woven fabric powering a $5.76 billion global market (7% CAGR to $10.84B by 2031), with raised patterns using gold or silver zari threads — the foundation of Indian bridal wear and one of the oldest luxury textiles in world history.
Fleece Fabric
A soft, insulating synthetic fabric driving a $718 million market (5.2% CAGR) and $9.9 billion fleece jackets market (7.3% CAGR) — invented by Malden Mills in 1979, now the backbone of outdoor, athleisure, and gorpcore fashion worldwide.
Flannel Fabric
A soft, brushed (napped) fabric originating from 17th-century Wales — made from cotton, wool, or blends, used in everything from iconic plaid shirts (Pendleton since 1863) to Savile Row suiting, with cultural impact spanning grunge to workwear.
Taffeta Fabric
A crisp, lustrous plain-weave fabric with a signature "scroop" (rustling sound), derived from the Persian "taftah" — used in ball gowns, bridal wear, and premium linings, with heritage spanning ancient Persia to European court fashion.
Lycra Fabric
The world's most recognized elastane/spandex brand powering a $8.8–9.3 billion global market (5% CAGR) — invented by DuPont chemist Joseph Shivers in 1958, stretching up to 600% with 95%+ recovery after 200 cycles.
Net Fabric
An open-mesh fabric powering a $2–4 billion global mesh market (8.4% CAGR to $7.1B by 2031), created by knotting, looping, or twisting yarns — dominating Indian bridal/ethnic fashion and global activewear with types ranging from delicate tulle to power net shapewear.
Woven Fabric
The dominant textile construction comprising ~66.5% of global textile production ($121–200B+ market, 5% CAGR) — created by interlacing warp and weft yarns on a loom, with 27,000 years of history from Paleolithic Czech Republic to modern power looms.
Knit Fabric
The world's fastest-growing textile category ($32–35 billion market, 4.3% CAGR) powering 2+ billion T-shirts sold annually — created by interlocking loops of yarn, with history from 11th-century Egypt to William Lee's 1589 stocking frame to today's $338B athleisure market.
Dupioni Silk
A crisp, textured silk fabric woven from irregular double-cocoon yarn — the global silk market is valued at $16.05 billion (2024), with dupioni prized for its distinctive slubs and iridescent sheen.
Muga Silk
The world's only naturally golden silk, produced exclusively in Assam, India — annual production just 261 metric tons, with the global silk market at $15.2 billion (2025).
Eri Silk
The world's only cruelty-free "peace silk" — produced without killing the silkworm, growing at 7.2% CAGR as the fastest-growing silk segment in the $16 billion global silk market.
Velour Fabric
A plush, knitted pile fabric with a velvet-like softness — the $470 million global velour market (2025) is growing at 5% CAGR, driven by the Y2K revival and athleisure boom.
Scuba Fabric
A thick, double-knit polyester-spandex fabric with neoprene-like structure — part of the $18.9 billion global neoprene market (2023), prized for structured dresses and athleisure.
Ponte Fabric
A heavyweight double-knit fabric within the $348.18 billion global knit fabric market, ponte di Roma delivers the structure of wovens with knit comfort — 250–400 GSM, 66/30/4 rayon-nylon-spandex typical blend, and wrinkle-free performance driving its dominance in the $105 billion women's workwear segment.
Charmeuse Fabric
A lightweight satin-weave fabric valued at $2.25 billion globally (4.53% CAGR to $3.2B by 2032), charmeuse features a lustrous front and matte back created by a 4:1 or 5:1 float ratio — originally crafted from silk in China circa 3630 BCE, the French-named "female charmer" now dominates the $105 billion lingerie and $35 billion evening wear markets in both silk (12–30 momme) and polyester (95 GSM) variants.
Dobby Fabric
A textured woven fabric within the $139.36 billion global fabric market, dobby uses up to 28 harness shafts to weave small geometric patterns — piqué, bird's eye, waffle, and dot motifs — directly into the fabric structure at 110–180 GSM, commanding a 40–100% premium over plain weave while costing 3–5x less than jacquard.
Bamboo Fabric
A regenerated cellulose textile from bamboo pulp valued at $1.20 billion globally (9% CAGR to $2.50B by 2033), bamboo fabric has seen 5,000% production growth since 2004 — absorbs 60% more moisture than cotton, keeps 2–3°C cooler, but faces FTC greenwashing enforcement ($5.5M+ penalties) requiring "rayon made from bamboo" labeling for chemically processed variants.
Tencel Fabric
A branded sustainable fiber by Lenzing AG (EUR €2.66B revenue, 1.11 million tonnes capacity) within the $1.5 billion lyocell market (6.2% CAGR to $2.5B by 2033), TENCEL™ uses a closed-loop NMMO solvent process with 99.5% recovery — 50% more absorbent than cotton, 20–50% less water, 30% less energy, and fully biodegradable in soil, freshwater, and marine environments.
Microfiber Fabric
Ultra-fine synthetic fibers less than 1 denier — a $14.80 billion global market growing at 6.8% CAGR to $24.60B by 2033, revolutionizing cleaning (60% of market), sportswear (35%), and home textiles through split-fiber technology that delivers 200,000 fibers per square inch, 7–8x water absorption versus cotton, and 99% bacterial removal.
Viscose Fabric
A semi-synthetic regenerated cellulose fabric within the $17.85 billion global viscose fiber market (4.8% CAGR), viscose/rayon was patented by Cross & Bevan in 1891 and commercialized by Courtaulds in 1905 — offering 11–14% moisture regain (vs. cotton's 8%), exceptional dye affinity, and silk-like drape at $5–30/yard across five generations: regular viscose, Modal, lyocell, Cupro, and bamboo viscose.
Khadi Silk
A handspun, handwoven silk within India's $8.2 billion handloom sector — khadi silk blends charkha-spun silk yarn with Gandhi-era heritage, GST-exempt status, and 4.5 million+ artisan livelihoods into a zero-waste luxury fabric commanding $15–50/meter ($6–30/yard) in global markets.
Matka Silk
A hand-spun, handloom silk within India's ₹612.7 billion sericulture market (14.6% CAGR to ₹2,217.5B by 2033), matka silk is made from waste mulberry cocoons in West Bengal (Murshidabad, Malda) and Bihar (Bhagalpur) — the retained sericin gum and short-staple hand-spinning create a distinctive 80–350 GSM slubby, matte-finish fabric prized by Abraham & Thakore, Raw Mango, and Anavila.
Burnout Velvet
A decorative velvet with sheer and pile areas created by French devoré acid-etching technique — $3.45B velvet market, sodium bisulfate process, 80-301 GSM range, used by DVF, Johnny Was, and Free People.
Jamdani Weaving
A UNESCO Intangible Heritage (2013) handloom tradition from Bengal using supplementary-weft technique on 300-count muslin — called "woven air" for its translucency. GI-tagged, Tk 100 crore ($12M) annual exports. Sarees ₹2,000–50,000 ($25–600). 2–6 months per piece by two weavers.
Kota Doria
A GI-tagged (2005) ultra-lightweight cotton-silk handloom from Kaithun, Rajasthan — 60–120 GSM with signature "khat" square-check weave (28 yarns, 140 threads/inch). 1,500–5,000 weavers. Sarees ₹500–2,00,000 ($6–$2,400). 77% of weavers report GI improved customer confidence.
Gota Patti
A Mughal-era Rajasthani bridal embellishment where gold/silver metallic ribbon (gota) is folded, cut, and hand-stitched into 3D floral motifs — part of the $3.2B global embroidery market (9.5% CAGR). Dupatta ₹500–3,000 ($6–36), bridal lehenga ₹8,000–3,00,000+ ($96–3,600+). Ships globally to US, UK, UAE, Japan.
Kasuti Embroidery
A GI-tagged, ancient folk embroidery from Karnataka executed entirely in four traditional stitches, creating perfectly reversible motifs of temples, chariots, elephants, and palanquins on silk or cotton fabric.
Sambalpuri Weaving
A GI-tagged (2012) double-ikat handloom from western Odisha using bandha resist-dye technique — heritage from 600 BC. Part of $6.15B India saree market (6.43% CAGR). Sarees ₹700–34,000+ ($9–$410). Exports to US, UK, Canada, UAE, Japan, Australia.
Gadwal Silk
A GI-tagged (2005) Telangana handloom saree using unique kuttu/Kumbha interlocking technique — cotton body + pure silk border woven separately, then joined seamlessly. 35,926 weavers, 17,069 looms. Sarees ₹2,000–25,000+ ($24–$300+). Exports to USA, UK, UAE, Singapore.
Mangalagiri Fabric
A GI-tagged (2013, GI #180) cotton handloom from Mangalagiri, Andhra Pradesh woven by 5,000+ master weavers on pit looms — part of India's $6.15B saree market (6.43% CAGR). Ribbed texture, nizam gold border. Sarees ₹2,380–3,095+ ($29–$37+); fabric ₹80–2,000/m ($1–$24). 20% of India's saree market is export ($1.14B).
Ilkal Saree
A GI-tagged handloom saree from Ilkal, Karnataka with 626+ handlooms in Hunagund Block — distinguished by the tope-teni interlocking technique. Part of India's $6.15B saree market and $7.9B global saree market (2029). Cotton-silk ₹1,999–4,500 ($24–$54); GI-tagged Kasuti-embroidered ₹16,233–17,696 ($195–$213). 7 days per saree.
Mirror Work Embroidery
A centuries-old embroidery technique (shisha/abhla bharat) using reflective glass or mica stitched onto fabric — part of the $3.2 billion global embroidery market (2023, 9.5% CAGR to $6.2B by 2032). Asia Pacific holds 36.7% market share. Dupattas ₹800–2,500 ($10–$30); bridal lehengas ₹25,000–1,50,000 ($300–$1,800). Gujarat, Rajasthan, Pakistan.
Aari Work
A chain-stitch embroidery technique from Kashmir using a hooked needle (aari) — part of the $3.2B global embroidery market (9.5% CAGR to $6.2B by 2032). Stoles ₹8,000–40,000 ($96–$480); bridal lehengas ₹35,000–2,50,000 ($420–$3,000). Exported to Europe, Middle East, North America. Also practiced in Lucknow, Rajasthan, South India.
Kashmiri Sozni
A GI-tagged (2021) ultra-fine needle embroidery from Kashmir Valley — fewer than 3,000 active artisans working with size-28 needles on pashmina. Kashmir handicraft exports ₹1,162 crore ($138M, 2023-24). Shawls ₹10,000–10,00,000+ ($120–$12,000+). 6 months to 3 years per piece. Dorukha (double-sided) is the rarest form.
Lambani Embroidery
A GI-tagged (2010) tribal embroidery from Karnataka's Banjara/Lambani community — 14 stitch types, 40+ techniques, ~300 craftswomen in Sandur, Ballari district. Part of the $3.2B global embroidery market (9.5% CAGR). Accessories ₹150–2,000 ($2–$24); garments ₹1,500–8,000 ($18–$96). 4 days to 6 months per piece.
Gharchola
A GI-tagged (2024, 27th Gujarat GI) bridal textile combining zari gold-thread grid with bandhani tie-dye — from Jamnagar and Rajkot, Gujarat. Bandhani exports grew 83% (2023-24). Part of India's $50B+ wedding industry. Cotton ₹1,200–3,500 ($14–$42); bridal silk ₹12,000–1,20,000 ($145–$1,440). USA imports 75% of India's bandhani.
Mashru Fabric
A heritage satin-weave fabric with silk exterior and cotton interior from Gujarat — only 2 active production centres (Patan, Mandvi/Kutch). Part of India's ₹612.7B ($7.3B) silk industry (14.6% CAGR to ₹2,217.5B by 2033). Fabric ₹400–6,000/m ($5–$72); garments ₹1,500–12,000 ($18–$145). Arabic "mashru" = "permitted."
Tanchoi Silk
A richly woven brocade silk from Varanasi with Parsi-Chinese origins, characterized by its smooth surface with self-colored or multicolored woven motifs using an extra weft technique without raised threads.
Nakshi Kantha
A traditional Bengali quilt-making and embroidery art form using running stitch to create pictorial narratives on layered cloth, originating in rural West Bengal and Bangladesh.
Mulmul Fabric
An ultra-fine, lightweight muslin cotton fabric originating from Bengal, historically woven from the finest Phuti Karpas cotton to create near-transparent textiles of extraordinary softness and quality.
Warli Print
A textile print style derived from the traditional tribal wall painting art of the Warli community of Maharashtra, featuring white geometric and figurative motifs on earthy backgrounds depicting village life, nature, and ritual.
Bagh Print
A traditional hand block print from Bagh village in Madhya Pradesh, using natural dyes derived from plant sources on cotton and silk, known for its bold geometric and floral patterns with characteristic red and black color palette.
Madhubani Textile
Fabric featuring Madhubani painting — the ancient Mithila art tradition from Bihar — applied directly to cloth using natural and synthetic colors, depicting mythological narratives, nature, and ritual through intricate line work.
Sualkuchi Silk
Premium handloom silk from Sualkuchi town in Assam, known as the "Manchester of the East," producing the world's only natural golden silk (muga) alongside white pat silk and eri silk in intricate mekhela chador and other textiles.
OEM Manufacturing
A production model where a factory manufactures garments to the exact specifications provided by a brand, who then sells them under their own label.
ODM Manufacturing
A model where a factory designs and manufactures a garment that a brand purchases and sells under its own label with minimal or no design changes.
AQL Inspection
A statistical sampling method used to assess the quality of a production batch by inspecting a representative sample and comparing defect rates to a pre-agreed acceptable threshold.
Seam Allowance
The extra fabric added beyond the stitch line when cutting pattern pieces, providing material for joining seams and allowing for fit adjustments.
Warp and Weft
The two perpendicular sets of threads that interlace to form a woven fabric — warp runs lengthwise along the loom and weft runs crosswise.
Interfacing
A support fabric applied to the wrong side of a garment piece by fusing or sewing to add structure, stability, and shape retention.
Lining Fabric
A fabric layer sewn inside a garment to cover inner construction, provide comfort, improve drape, and protect the outer shell from perspiration and wear.
Interlining
A middle layer of fabric inserted between the outer shell and the lining of a garment to provide warmth, structure, or padding.
Overlock Stitch
A looped stitch that simultaneously trims, encloses, and finishes a fabric edge using an overlocker (serger) machine, preventing fraying and creating a clean seam.
Denier
A unit of measurement for the linear mass density of a fiber or yarn — specifically, the mass in grams of 9,000 meters of that fiber — used to express fineness or coarseness.
Thread Count
The number of warp and weft threads per square inch of woven fabric, used as a quality metric particularly for cotton textiles and bed linen.
Yarn Count
A numerical measure of yarn fineness expressed as the length of yarn per unit weight (indirect system) or weight per unit length (direct system), used to specify yarns for fabric manufacturing.
Selvedge
The self-finished lengthwise edge of a woven fabric formed during weaving, which prevents fraying and serves as a reference line for grain alignment in cutting.
Pleats
Controlled folds of fabric sewn or pressed into a garment to add volume, allow movement, or create structured decorative effects.
Dart Construction
A dart is a triangular fold of fabric stitched to a point, used to shape flat fabric around the curves of the human body.
Cut and Sew
Cut and sew is a garment manufacturing method in which fabric is cut into pattern pieces and sewn together to create a finished garment, as opposed to knitting the garment whole.
Deadstock Fabric
Deadstock fabric refers to surplus, unused, or overrun fabric from mills and garment factories that would otherwise go to waste, often sold at discounted prices.
Garment Dyeing
Garment dyeing is the process of dyeing a fully constructed garment rather than dyeing the yarn or fabric before manufacturing, resulting in a distinctive vintage-toned aesthetic.
Enzyme Wash
Enzyme wash is a bio-chemical finishing process that uses naturally derived enzymes to break down surface fibres on fabric or garments, creating a soft, slightly faded, and worn-in appearance.
Stone Wash
Stone washing is a garment finishing process in which pumice stones are tumbled with garments in industrial washing machines to create a worn, faded, and softened appearance, most commonly associated with denim.
Trims and Findings
Trims and findings are all the components used in garment construction beyond the main fabric, including buttons, zippers, labels, threads, elastic, ribbons, hooks, and decorative accessories.
Woven Label
A woven label is a brand identification tag woven on a Jacquard loom using yarn, producing a durable, premium-quality label with text, logos, and graphics integrated into the fabric structure.
Care Label
A care label is a mandatory garment label providing washing, drying, ironing, bleaching, and dry-cleaning instructions using standardised symbols or text, required by law in many countries.
Hang Tag
A hang tag (also called a swing tag or price tag) is a card, label, or branded tag attached to a retail garment by string or pin, carrying brand identity, pricing, and product information.
Full Package Production
Full Package Production (FPP) is a manufacturing model in which the factory handles the complete production process — from fabric sourcing and pattern making through to finished, packed garments — with minimal involvement required from the brand.
Mercerization
Mercerization is a chemical finishing process for cotton in which yarn or fabric is treated with a sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) solution under tension, permanently increasing lustre, strength, and dye affinity.
Bias Cut
Bias cut is a fabric cutting technique in which the fabric is cut at a 45-degree angle to the selvage (grain line), resulting in enhanced drape, stretch, and a body-skimming silhouette in the finished garment.
Haute Couture
Paris-regulated, custom-made high fashion clothing handcrafted to a client's exact measurements by approved couture houses.
Fast Fashion
A business model that rapidly translates runway and trend forecasts into affordable, mass-produced clothing sold at high volume and low price points.
Slow Fashion
A conscious approach to fashion that prioritizes quality, ethical production, environmental sustainability, and longevity over speed and volume.
Athleisure
A fashion category that blends athletic performance wear with casual, everyday clothing — designed to be worn both for exercise and daily life.
Bespoke Fashion
Custom-made clothing individually crafted from scratch to a client's specific measurements, preferences, and lifestyle requirements.
Greenwashing
The practice of making misleading or unsubstantiated sustainability claims about a fashion product or brand to appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.
Circular Fashion
A regenerative approach to fashion production and consumption where garments are designed to be reused, repaired, remanufactured, and recycled in closed loops.
Upcycling Fashion
The creative process of transforming discarded materials, fabric waste, or old garments into new products of equal or greater value.
Zero Waste Fashion
A design approach where pattern pieces are created to use 100% of the fabric, eliminating cutting waste entirely from the production process.
Colorway
A specific combination of colors used for a particular design, product, or collection, representing one complete color execution of a style.
Pantone Color
A standardized color identification and matching system used globally in fashion, textiles, and product design to ensure consistent color communication across the supply chain.
Fashion Seasons
The structured calendar cycles by which fashion brands design, present, and sell collections — traditionally Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter, with additional Resort and Pre-Fall seasons.
Brand DNA
The fundamental, unchanging core identity elements of a fashion brand — including its values, aesthetic, story, customer, and creative codes — that remain consistent across all expressions.
Hero Product
A fashion brand's signature bestselling item that embodies the brand's identity, drives the majority of revenue, and serves as the primary entry point for new customers.
Embellishment
Decorative additions applied to garments — including beading, sequins, embroidery, and surface ornamentation — that enhance visual appeal and perceived value.
Appliqué
A decorative technique where cut fabric pieces are sewn, fused, or bonded onto a base fabric to create patterns, motifs, or textural contrast.
Smocking
A decorative needlework technique that gathers fabric into pleats using embroidery stitches, creating elastic texture and ornamental surface patterns.
Gender-Neutral Fashion
A design approach that creates clothing without gender-specific construction, sizing, or cultural coding — intended to be worn across or outside the gender binary.
Streetwear
A casual, youth-oriented fashion style originating from skate and hip-hop subcultures in the 1980s–90s, now a dominant global commercial fashion category.
Ready-to-Wear
Factory-manufactured clothing produced in standardised sizes and sold off-the-rack, as opposed to bespoke or made-to-measure garments.
Resort Collection
A pre-season fashion collection (also called Cruise or Holiday) released between Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer, originally designed for affluent travellers visiting warm destinations in winter.
Diffusion Line
An affordable secondary line produced by a luxury or premium fashion brand, offering accessible versions of the parent brand's aesthetic at a lower price point.
Fashion Photography
A specialised photography genre focused on showcasing clothing, accessories, and fashion brands through commercial, editorial, or campaign imagery.
Social Commerce
The integration of shopping and purchasing capabilities directly within social media platforms, allowing consumers to discover and buy fashion without leaving the app.
Influencer Marketing
A marketing strategy that partners fashion brands with content creators who have established audiences to promote products authentically to their followers.
Size Inclusivity
A design philosophy and commercial practice of offering extended size ranges across fashion collections, ensuring that clothing is accessible to people across diverse body types.
Dropshipping Fashion
An inventory-free fashion retail model where the seller takes orders and collects payment without holding stock, while a third-party supplier or manufacturer fulfils and ships directly to the customer.
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