Below you'll find a bunch of lingo and jargon related to the custom apparel business. Some you might find helpful, some you may not. Use the search box or jump to a letter.
A
- Anti-ShrinkageApparel
- A fabric treatment that makes the material less prone to shrinking after washing.
- Art RequirementsScreen Printing
- Guidelines that specify what types of art can be used for decoration and how to format digital files for use for screen printing.
- Athletic WearApparel
- A piece of clothing that is designed to be worn when performing athletic activities like physical exercise, sports, and games.
B
- BackingEmbroidery
- Stiff fabric applied to the inside of the garment to keep the embroidery stitches stable through embroidery, wear, and wash.
- BlendApparel
- A fabric or yarn that is made with more than one type of fiber.
- BreathabilityApparel
- An attribute of a fabric or garment that allows for movement of air through the fibers to keep the wearer comfortable.
- Breathable FabricApparel
- A type of fabric that allows air and moisture to pass through its fibers.
- Butt-To-Butt RegistrationScreen Printing
- When colors in a design line up exactly next to each other with no space in between and no overlap.
- Button-Down CollarApparel
- A type of collar where the wings can be buttoned together in front of the shirt.
C
- Carhartt Force®Apparel
- Carhartt's patented technology that features apparel with fast-drying properties to wick away sweat and keep the wearer cool and comfortable even in warm settings.
- Casual MicrofiberApparel
- A fabric created by weaving polyester thread tightly and characterized by a smooth, suede feel. Also referred to as 100% microfiber.
- CollarApparel
- The neckband part of a shirt, blouse, or dress that can be fastened together.
- Collar StandApparel
- The band-like portion of a shirt, blouse, or dress that holds up the collar.
- Color SeparationScreen Printing
- The process of breaking down a digital art file, image or photo into 14 or fewer colors that can be used for screen printing.
- ColorfastApparel
- The ability of a fabric to retain its original color and resist bleeding or fading even when exposed to elements such as water, moisture, or sunlight.
- Combed Ring Spun CottonApparel
- A type of cotton fabric that has been processed to remove uneven fibers, resulting in finer, more even yarn that gives a garment a smooth, softer feel and better durability.
- Cut-Away BackingEmbroidery
- Used on softer materials that we embroider. This type of backing eliminates the tendency of a fabric to pull away from the embroidered logo when using tear away backing.
D
- DigitizingEmbroidery
- Process for converting digital images or logos into a map of stitches. The digitized file is uploaded to the embroidery machine to provide instructions for location of stitches and thread color.
- Direct to FilmPrinting
- A modern printing method where designs are printed onto a special film and then transferred to fabric using heat and adhesive powder. DTF printing provides high-quality, durable prints with vibrant colors and is effective on a wide variety of materials, including cotton, polyester, blends, and even darker fabrics. Known for its flexibility and sharp detail, DTF is popular for small runs or complex, multi-color designs.
- Dri-FIT (Nike)Apparel
- A proprietary technology developed by Nike which features moisture-wicking properties, breathability, versatility, and comfort. Some Dri-FIT garments are also made with UV protection.
- Dri-Mesh® PolyesterApparel
- A variant of polyester fabric typically used in manufacturing athletic and performance apparel due to its moisture-wicking properties and breathability.
- Duck ClothApparel
- A type of fabric that's plain and tightly woven to make it sturdy and water-resistant.
- Durable Water Repellent (DWR)Apparel
- A special treatment applied to fabrics to repel water and moisture. A DWR-treated garment resists water absorption and, in some cases, stains.
- Dye SublimationPrinting
- A method of printing that uses heat to transfer dye onto materials like polyester, which are commonly used for athletic wear.
E
- Eco-FriendlyApparel
- Refers to products designed to help minimize environmental impact, whose end-to-end production is certified safe to the health of consumers and laborers who manufacture them.
- EmbroideryEmbroidery
- A decoration method where colored threads are sewn into a garment or fabric to create a design such as company logos, shapes, or texts.
F
- Fabric BackingEmbroidery
- Silky, super light and barely visible on even the most fragile materials.
- FastDry® (Carhartt)Apparel
- A proprietary technology developed by Carhartt featuring quick-drying properties so sweat, moisture, and water easily evaporate, helping keep the wearer dry and comfortable.
- Film PositiveScreen Printing
- Used to burn a stencil onto a screen for printing, the film positive is created by printing black ink on a clear plastic surface. Each design has one film positive per color.
- Firm Duck (Carhartt)Apparel
- A type of cotton fabric used by Carhartt. Firm duck is the most durable canvas and the brand's strongest cotton duck. It is water-resistant, wind-resistant, and ideal for rugged clothing.
- FitApparel
- Refers to how the clothes fit the body when worn.
- Flame-Resistant (FR)Apparel
- A type of fabric designed to resist ignition and combustion even when exposed to high temperatures or open flame. Often used in manufacturing safety apparel. Note that flame-resistant does not necessarily mean fire-proof.
G
- GradientScreen Printing
- A series of halftones created when a digital graphic transitions from a darker to lighter shade. These gradients can be layered to create printed blends when transitioning from one color to another.
H
- HalftoneScreen Printing
- Halftones are dots or ellipses used to create lighter shades of a print color without changing the actual ink color. Smaller dots spaced farther apart create a lighter shade. Larger dots spaced closer create a darker shade.
- Heather CVC (Bella+Canvas)Apparel
- Chief Value Cotton (CVC) is a fabric made of heathered cotton and polyester, used by Bella+Canvas in comfortable garments such as T-shirts and sweaters. The heathered pattern refers to the fabric's speckled look with flecks of varying colors.
- HoodieApparel
- The short-form term for 'hooded sweatshirt'. The hood is attached to the neckline of a sweatshirt and is pulled up to the head to serve as a covering.
- Hook and LoopApparel
- A fastening mechanism used to secure a garment and provide a comfortable fit. The hooks are made with stiff, tiny plastic protrusions while the loops are made with flexible fibers. More commonly known as Velcro.
J
- JoggersApparel
- Jogger pants are trousers designed for athletic activities and exercising but may also be worn for comfort or lounging.
L
- Line CountScreen Printing
- Refers to the number of vertical lines of halftone spots per inch. Measured in lpi (lines per inch) and/or dpi (dots per inch). Most shops use anywhere from 45 lpi to 85 lpi depending on the desired effect. Higher line counts hold more detail but tend to print with less saturation.
- Loose RegistrationScreen Printing
- When colors in a logo or design do not have to line up next to each other. Any of the colors can overlap or fall in the vicinity of a designated area without having to be exact.
M
- MeshApparel
- A type of fabric characterized by open spaces between the yarns. It has a net-like structure and is often used in sportswear due to its breathability and moisture-wicking properties.
- MicrofleeceApparel
- A fabric known for its softness, lightweight properties, and warmth, often used in pajamas, loungewear, and sweatshirts. It retains warmth and has moisture-wicking properties.
- Moisture-WickingApparel
- A garment made with moisture-wicking properties has the ability to draw perspiration away from the skin so that it evaporates quickly.
P
- PolyesterApparel
- A type of synthetic fiber widely used in manufacturing clothing and textile products. Popular for its durability, wrinkle resistance, and moisture-wicking properties.
- Pre-ShrunkApparel
- Fabrics that have undergone pre-shrinking treatment to minimize further shrinking when washed.
Q
- Quick-DryApparel
- A type of fabric made to dry fast when exposed to perspiration or after swimming. Often used in apparel meant for exercising, swimming, and other physically intensive activities.
R
- Raglan SleevesApparel
- A style of sleeves where the sleeve extends from the collar to the underarm, often seen in casual garments like T-shirts and sweatshirts. The sleeves are typically a different color from the rest of the shirt.
- Rain Defender® (Carhartt)Apparel
- A technology used by Carhartt for enhancing water-repellent features of their garments while adding durability to their rugged workwear and outerwear.
- Rapid Dry™ TechnologyApparel
- A fabric treatment designed to wick sweat from the body and accelerate the evaporation of moisture to keep the wearer dry and comfortable.
- Raster ArtScreen Printing
- Digital art composed of pixels (as opposed to paths). Raster files for screen print are best created in Adobe Photoshop at a minimum resolution of 150 dpi at print size.
- ResolutionScreen Printing
- Refers to the quality and clarity of raster art files. The higher the resolution, the cleaner and more clearly a print can be produced. Measured in dpi (dots per inch), ppi (pixels per inch), or lpi (lines per inch).
S
- ScreenprintingPrinting
- A printing technique where a mesh screen is used to transfer ink onto the fabric.
- Solvy ToppingEmbroidery
- Used to create a smooth foundation for embroidering custom designs. Applied on the top or outside of the garment and covered by the embroidered design. Primarily used on high pile fabrics (fleece, hoodies, towels) to help the stitches stay visible.
- SublimationPrinting
- A printing technique used to create vibrant, colorful prints on garments like polyester. Sublimation uses heat and pressure to transfer the design onto the fabric and works best on light-colored textiles.
- Super Heavyweight FleeceApparel
- A type of fleece fabric that is thick and heavy, used to create insulated clothing and dense outerwear garments.
T
- T-shirtApparel
- A short-sleeved or long-sleeved casual top that can be worn on its own or layered. Often made of cotton and ideal for everyday wear.
- TableScreen Printing
- Shirts are loaded onto a flat surface that moves around the press stopping at each color station for printing. The pallet we pull the shirt over is often referred to as a table.
- Tack (Spray Tack)Screen Printing
- A light adhesive is sprayed on the press pallet to stabilize the t-shirt and keep it from lifting up in the printing process. This adhesive is often referred to as tack or spray tack. Although a residue may be left in the shirt, the tack is water soluble and comes out easily when washed.
- Tear Away BackingEmbroidery
- The most common type of backing used. It is the quickest and easiest to remove for the most common types of embroidered garments. Used on sturdy, strong fabrics such as caps, dress shirts, and backpacks.
- Tie-DyeApparel
- A dyeing method involving two or more colors to dye a garment, binding the cloth to create distinctive patterns.
- Tri-blendApparel
- A type of fabric made up of three different fibers. A common example is the combination of cotton, polyester, and rayon.
U
- Underbase (White Underbase)Screen Printing
- When printing on dark colored garments, a layer of white ink must be printed first, so the actual logo or design print colors are visible. The under base is also commonly referred to as underlay, white underlay, flash white, or simply base white.
- UniformApparel
- A specific set of clothes worn by members of the same organization or team, helping a team stand apart and be easily identified.
- Up-SamplingScreen Printing
- Taking a piece of low resolution digital art and merely re-assigning the dpi value to a higher resolution. This does not actually increase the size or quality of the image. Low resolution art files must be completely redrawn or created in an acceptable file type.
V
- V-NeckApparel
- A neckline in the shape of the letter V, where the edge of the neck forms slanting sides downward to the chest giving it depth.
- Vector ArtScreen Printing
- In the screen print industry, refers to a type of digital file that is acceptable for use. The images are created using paths instead of pixels.
W
- Water-Based InkScreen Printing
- Water-based inks are defined as those that utilize water as the main solvent. That does not mean, however, that water is the only solvent. Many water base inks contain co-solvents which may even be petroleum based. One key reason these are used is to decrease the time and heat necessary to cure the ink film on the fabric. Water-based has a different aesthetic than standard plastisol inks.
- Wet-On-WetScreen Printing
- Wet-on-wet is the screen print technique eliminating a flash cure on press. It is used for color blending of simulated process prints. For simpler design and spot color designs, the under base is flashed to cure inline on press.
No terms match your search.
