Glossary

The words you need to know to sound like a pro when ordering or talking about Haute Couture Fashion, Textiles Art and Sustainable Style.
    A
    Applique – To attach one fabric on top of another with small stitches.
  
    A
    Artisan - A worker in a skilled trade, especially one that involves making things by hand.
  
    B
    Bespoke – From the old English “Bespoken for” when a garment is made to a client’s exact measurements and specifications.
  
    C
    Couture – French term for “Sewing”.
  
    C
    Cruelty Free - Items made ensuring animals are not harmed in the process.
  
    D
    Drape - Process of positioning and pinning fabric to develop the more fluid structure. Used particularly in haute couture.
  
    D
    Dress-making - Simple sewing processes involving less time, layers of fabric and attention to detail than haute couture.
  
    E
    Embroidery - Decorative stitching.
  
    E
    Ethical - Relating to moral principles.
  
    F
    Fabric - Cloth used in fashion constructed with weave or knit.
  
    F
    Fair Trade - A social movement whose stated goal is to help producers in developing countries achieve better trading conditions and to promote sustainable farming, living wage salaries and no forced labour.
  
    G
    Godet - A triangular piece of material inserted in a dress, shirt, or glove to make it flared or for ornamentation.
  
    G
    GOTS - Global Organic Textiles Standard.
  
    H
    Haute Couture - “Haute” meaning “high”, “Couture” meaning “sewing”. A term protected by law to be used only by members of the Syndicate of Haute Couture, Paris.
  
    H
    Herringbone - A weave pattern that resembles a fish skeleton.
  
    I
    Interlining - The layers of fabric used in couture construction to ensure the drape, weight and hang of the outer fabric are correct for the design.
  
    J
    Jacquard - Detailed patterned fabrics woven on specialist looms.
  
    K
    Kalamkari - A hand block printing method traditional to India.
  
    L
    Lace - A delicate fabric made of yarn or thread in an open web-like pattern, made by machine or by hand.
  
    M
    Made to Measure - A garment made to a customer’s exact body shape and size.
  
    N
    Natural Fibres - Defined as substances produced by plants and animals that can be spun into filament, thread or rope and further be woven, knitted, matted or bound.
  
    O
    Organic Cotton - cotton grown in accordance with organic agricultural standards.
  
    P
    Pattern - A flat template made of paper or card used as a guide to cut the fabric pieces of a garment.
  
    P
    Perfect Block - A drafted pattern based on a customer’s measurements used to create their garment patterns.
  
    P
    Peace Silk - silk derived from moths that are not killed or harmed in the process of extraction, usually when the moth is allowed to fly away before the fibre is extracted. The Eri moth is a popular species to use for peace, or ahimsa, silk as it naturally forms an open-ended cocoon.
  
    Q
    Quilting - The process of sewing two or more layers of fabric together to make a thicker padded material.
  
    R
    Recycling - Also Upcycling - re-using old or deadstock material to create new products.
  
    R
    Red Carpet - Used to mark the route for celebrity and formal events - the ideal place to show off couture fashion.
  
    S
    Sustainability - Providing environmental, social and economic benefits while protecting public health, welfare and the environment, from the extraction of raw materials to final disposition. At Tammam we have a “from fibre to finishing” sustainable supply chain.
  
    S
    Sewing - Attaching fabric using stitches with a needle and thread.
  
    T
    Toile - A mock up in calico or muslin cloth of a design to ensure fit is correct before cutting in final fabric.
  
    U
    Underpinnings - Clothes to be worn under a couture gown, of course as modern feminists we don’t insist you hold it in, a couture gown is made to enhance every feature of a woman, but a curve inducing corselette can make one feel pretty amazing.
  
    V
    Vegan - A product which is made using no animal products.
  
    V
    Vendeuse - Saleswoman.
  
    V
    Vintage - Denoting something from the past of high quality. Vintage fashion is typically from 1910-1970, with anything older being classed as antique.
  
    W
    Weave - Fabrics made from yarns that are woven on a loom can be constructed in various ways. Lengthwise or warp yarns are placed on the loom first, and crosswise or weft (also called filling) yarns are interlaced with the warps. There are three basic weaves: plain weave, twill weave, and satin weave.
  
    X
    XX - Muah Muah sweety darling, two kisses are better than one. Remember right side first.
  
    Y
    Yarn - Spun thread used for knitting, weaving or sewing.
  
    Z
    Zero Waste - A philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused. Nothing is sent to landfills or incinerators. A use is found for even the smallest scraps.