10 Abbreviations To Know In The Fashion Industry

Are you thinking about starting an apparel line, but aren’t from the fashion industry? It is easy to feel overwhelmed when you first enter the fashion world and learn all of the many different directions you can go in. You’ll quickly be introduced to the terminology you may have never heard of before along with the many frequently used abbreviations in the industry. Don’t worry, we have you covered! We’ve made a list of the top 10 abbreviations to know in the fashion industry. Understanding fashion terminology will not only help you feel more confident to take your next steps, but it’ll also let experts know you’ve done your research and know what you’re talking about! 

1. Bill Of Materials (BOM) - Can be found in your tech pack and contains very detailed information of every physical item necessary to produce your finished product for factories to be able to create your samples.

2. Chinese New Year (CNY) - If you are looking to manufacture overseas, it is important to consider holidays or events throughout the year which may cause production to slow down, or become unavailable. In China, factories tend to close for up to 8 weeks in January and February for the Chinese New Year. 

3. Country Of Origin (COO) - There are legal requirements in some countries which require the origin of a garment to be included in the labels. Some countries may even have size and position requirements for the label. 

4. Gauge (GG) - The amount of stitches a garment has per inch. GG can best be described as “a knitting machine’s finesse size.” The finer the yarn or needle is, the higher the gauge will be.

5. Lock Stitch (LS) - The most commonly used stitch with one Single Needle (SN) on a machine that used a top thread and bottom thread that get “locked” together. 

6. Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) - The minimum amount of garments a factory is able to produce. The MOQ could also be the minimum amount of fabric, trims, or labels you are required to purchase. 

7. Pre-Production Sample (PPS) or Top Of Production (TOP) - Once your first sample is created, there are usually a series of revisions made until your product is perfected and meets your vision. The PPS or TOP is the final, approved sample created that will be used as a reference when you are prepared to begin manufacturing. Since this is the final sample, it is important to assure all of the correct fabric, trims, and measurements are accurate. 

8. Seam Allowance (SA) - The amount of fabric between the stitch line and the edge of the fabric. The amount can vary anywhere from ¼ inch to several inches depending on the style and garment. 

9. Stitches Per Inch/ Stitches Per Centimeter (SPI/SPC) - Can be found in your tech pack and specifies the particular stitch style to use in addition to the amount of SPI/SPC.

10. Unit Of Measure (UOM) - The type of measurement utilized to manage various parts of your garments. Common UOM are: yards, meters, inches, centimeters. 

We truly want to make the manufacturing process more simple, and we want to help you turn your ideas into reality. Are you interested in learning more about the apparel industry? If so, we offer FREE WEBINARS on a monthly basis where we discuss a variety of topics such as tech packs, 3D prototyping, fabric sourcing, and so much more - Click here to sign up for our upcoming webinars! 

If you have an idea you want to turn into a reality, contact 651-225-8025 for a free phone consultation!