Different Terms Used in Apparel Sector:

1. Allowance:
During making garments some extra measurement is added with actual body measurement, which is known
as allowance. For example, if the actual body measurement is 80cm, then it’s counted as 84cm during
pattern making. Here allowance is 4cm.

2. Armhole:
In the readymade garments sector, the armhole is the boundary measurement of the arm where the sleeve
is attached to the garments.

3. Back tacking:
In the garments manufacturing sector, back tacking is a safe stitch that is done after completing a stitch. The
direction of back tacking is opposite to the main stitch. Mainly back tacking is done to protect the unwinding
of the stitch. Normally its length is 1cm in the backward direction.

4. Backstitch:
In the apparel manufacturing sector, the backstitch is a pattern that is made without any allowances or any
style of garments.

5. Bar tack:
In the garments sector, bar tack is a re-stitching over a small length after completing a stitch. There are some
parts of garments that are required to bear excessive load than other parts of those garments. As a result,
stitching strength for those garments parts should be more than other parts of garments. In this case, re-
stitching is done over the stitch of those garments parts to bear the extra load which is known as bar tack.
For example, bar tack is done to the corner of the pocket belt loop, etc.

6. Button measurements:
The button can be measured by measuring the diameter of the button. Ligne is used to measure the
diameter of the button.
1 ligne = 0.635mm

7. Bundle:
In the garments manufacturing sector, after cutting the fabric, similar parts of clothing are kept by tiding
them up temporarily to shift easily from one place to another, which is known as a bundle.

8. C. B.L (Centre backline):

C.B.L means center backline. It is the straight line through the midpoint of the body in the back part of a shirt
or jacket.

9. C.F.L (Centre front line):

C.F.L means center front line. C.F.L starts from the collar, ends to the bottom hem, and passes through the
middle of the front part of a shirt.

10. Crutch point:

In the readymade garments sector, the crutch point is that point, where the two inside seam of a part is
connected.

11. Dummy:
Dummy is a copy of a human body which is made of plastic, rubber, stone, etc. Dummy is usually used to
check the fitting of a garment. We have seen regularly in the shop that different size dummies are used to
display their products in wearing condition.

12. Epaulet:
Epaulet is known as the sharp which is used in the shoulder of overcoat, jacket, sportswear, etc. Epaulet is
used in the garments to protect the unwilling extension at the shoulder point.

13. Grading:
Grading is the process, where different sizes pattern have to make by following the master pattern.

14. Grainline:
The grainline is the straight line with an arrow that is drawn on every pattern piece to indicate the grain of
the fabric is. A grainline is used to place the pattern parallel with the grain of fabric/cloth.

15. L/C:
L/C means letter for credit. L/C is an important document on export, import business. The letter or document
issued by a bank that ensures the certainty to pay the price of goods in favor of the buyer of those goods is
called L/C.

16. Back to back L/C:

If the raw materials are imported from a foreign country and the produced goods by using those raw
materials are again exported to that country, then the L/C opened for that business is called back to back
L/C. It should be mentioned that the raw materials which are imported by back-to-back L/C cannot be sold in
the local market.

17. Invoice:
It is a very important document in the readymade garments business which is sent with the goods to the
buyer. The invoice includes product descriptions, prices, number of cartons, number of products in every
cartoon, etc. A shipment is not allowed without a commercial invoice.

18. FOB:
FOB means “Free On Board”, which is a pricing system. If the actual price of goods is mentioned in the
invoice without any transportation cost and insurance cost, then this system is called the FOB price-system
or costing system.

19. C&F:
C&F means “Cost and Freight”. It is also a pricing system. If the actual price of goods and transportation cost
is mentioned in the invoice without any insurance cost, then this system is called the C&F price system or
costing system.

20. CIF:
CIF means “Cost, Insurance and Freight”. It is also a pricing system. If the actual price of goods,
transportation cost, and insurance cost are mentioned in the invoice, then this system is termed as a CIF
price system or costing system.