Unlocking the Language of Fashion: Key Fashion Terms and Fashion Abbreviations

Fashion is more than creativity- it's a world rich with technical terminology that helps designers, producers, and marketers communicate seamlessly. For those diving into 3D product design, understanding key abbreviations and industry terms can supercharge your workflow and collaboration. Whether you're sketching your first product or finalizing tech packs, these essential fashion terms will keep you ahead of the curve.

Fashion Abbreviations to Know

1. CAD (Computer-Aided Design):A vital tool in modern fashion, CAD software allows designers to create precise 2D and 3D models of apparel. On Fabra, CAD elements integrate seamlessly with our drag-and-drop interface, making designing intuitive and efficient.

2. MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity):This term refers to the smallest quantity a manufacturer will produce in a single run. Fabra empowers designers with access to producers who support low MOQs, reducing both financial and environmental risks.

3. BOM (Bill of Materials):A comprehensive list of all components required to produce a garment. Fabra’s dynamic tech packs include BOMs that evolve as you refine your designs.

4. PLM (Product Lifecycle Management):The process of managing a product’s lifecycle from inception to production. Fabra's collaborative tools streamline PLM, ensuring efficient transitions from design to delivery.

5. TP (Tech Pack):A document containing all the specifications for producing a garment, including measurements, materials, and instructions. Fabra creates dynamic tech packs that update in real time, eliminating traditional inefficiencies. Learn more about Fabra tech packs.

6. T&A (Time and Action):A detailed timeline outlining key milestones and deadlines in the production process. Fabra streamlines T&A management by providing tools for real-time collaboration.

7. POM (Points of Measure):Specific points on a garment where measurements are taken, such as chest width or sleeve length. Fabra integrates POMs into tech packs to ensure precision.

Additional fashion acronyms for measurement points include :

• SNP: Side neck point
• BP: Bust Point
• CF: Centre Front
• CB: Centre Back
• SS: Side Seam
• HPS: High Point Shoulder (where the shoulder meets the neckline)
• SH: Shoulder
• SM: Seam
• UAP: Under Arm Point
• NK: Neck
• LS/SS: Long Sleeves / Short Sleeves

8. CMT (Cut, Make, Trim):A production model where a manufacturer cuts fabric, assembles the garment, and adds finishing touches. This usually states that fabric is sourced and costed out separately.

9. FOB (Free on Board):A shipping term indicating who is responsible for the product during transit. Knowing terms like FOB is essential when managing supply chains and understanding pricing variations. 

10. WIP (Work in Progress):Refers to garments currently in production. Fabra’s collaborative features allow you to monitor WIP status in real time.

11. CO (Cut Order):Instructions sent to a manufacturer detailing the amount and type of fabric to cut for production. Fabra integrates CO details into its dynamic tech packs with yardages calculated based on set fabric widths.

12. BOML (Bill of Material and Labor):An expanded BOM that includes labor costs in order to calculate total production pricing. 

13. GRS (Global Recycled Standard):A certification for recycled materials. Fabra supports eco-conscious creators by sourcing GRS-certified producers where possible. 

14.GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard)

A certification for organically grown and produced materials.

15. RFD (Request for Design):A formal request for custom design work. Fabra enables easy sharing of design previews and tech packs for RFDs.

16. CMYK and RGB: Color models used for design. RGB is ideal for digital displays, while CMYK is used in printing. Fabra ensures color consistency by allowing designers to work with both.

17. RPT (Repeat Pattern Template):

Refers to all over print design development.

18: DTM (Dye To Match):

Referring to trims such as buttons, zips, ribbed finishings, bindings and linings with the instruction these items are dyed to match to the main fabric color.

19. SMS (Salesman Sample):

Salesman sample - a refined sample that is the closest representation to the approved design. SMS are often used for wholesale and preorder sales before moving onto the production process.

20. PP (Pre-production Sample):

Pre-production sample - this is often a sample made from your bulk fabric order and used to approve bulk production. It is a crucial process that allows you to check the quality of your products.

21. QA (Quality Assurance):

Quality Assurance is an important process to ensure that your products are up to the quality standard you expect.

Fashion Terms to Elevate Your Design Process

1. 3D Rendering: A digital representation of your product that showcases its design, texture, and details in three dimensions. Fabra’s AI-powered 3D rendering brings your ideas to life with stunning accuracy and 360 degree views.

2. Digital Prototyping: Creating virtual samples of garments before physical production. This feature on Fabra saves time and cost while reducing the need for multiple iterations of prototypes.

3. Production-Ready Templates: Pre-designed frameworks that serve as a starting point for your product. Fabra offers 3D templates tailored for various product categories. Our templates are fit tested and sampled into physical garments to ensure premium quality.

5. Sustainable Fashion: A growing focus in the industry, emphasizing eco-friendly materials, ethical production, and low-waste processes. Fabra supports sustainable practices with tools like low MOQ production and dynamic BOMs.

6. Fabric Simulation: Replicating the texture, stretch, and behavior of fabrics in a digital environment. Fabra’s 3D tools enable lifelike fabric simulations to visualize your designs more accurately.

7. Seam Allowance: The extra fabric between the stitching and the edge of the garment. Understanding seam allowance is crucial for accurate pattern creation, size grading and fabric yields.

8. Style Line: The design lines that define the structure of a garment, such as princess seams or darts. Fabra’s intuitive interface allows you to easily incorporate style lines into your designs.

9. Capsule Collection: A small, focused collection of versatile pieces designed to mix and match. Fabra’s production-ready templates make creating capsule collections quick and efficient.

10. Mockup: A visual representation of a design, often used to preview a product before finalizing. Fabra’s AI-powered 3D renderings act as advanced mockups.

11. Design Spec: Short for design specifications, this refers to detailed instructions and information should be outlined in your tech pack.

12: Proto: Short for prototype this usually refers to the first initial samples of your design.

13. Drape: The way fabric hangs and folds on a garment. 3D design allows you to simulate drape for various materials, providing a realistic preview of your designs.

14. Pattern Grading: Adjusting a base pattern to create a full size range for a product. While Fabra simplifies the design process, understanding grading ensures your garments maintain a consistent fit across a variety of body types and simplifies sizing standards for your customers.

15. Spec Sheet: A detailed document listing measurements, construction methods, and materials. Fabra integrates spec sheet creation into its platform for seamless communication with producers.

16. Cut and Sew: A manufacturing method where garments are produced using patterns pieces cut from fabrics and sewn together. 

17. Fully Fashioned: Fully fashioned often refers to knitwear styles that are constructed purely with a knitting process as opposed to cut and sewn together. 

18. Prototype Iteration:The process of refining a product through multiple prototypes. Fabra’s dynamic design tools make iterative changes seamless.

19. Colorway: Variations of a product in different colors. Fabra’s tools allow designers to create and preview multiple colorways effortlessly.

20. Lab Dips: Lab dips are sample fabric swatches that show variations of a requested fabric colorway. The process is to approve one swatch which will be used as a reference to batch dye your fabric.

21. Fit Model: A person used to check the fit of a garment during the design process. Fabra’s 3D avatars simulate fit models digitally, saving time and resources.

22. Grainline: The direction of the fabric’s weave, critical for cutting patterns. Fabra includes tools to ensure accurate grainline placement.

Terms relating to the grainline are:

• Warp is the long yarn that runs vertically up and down the roll of fabric, this governs the vertical pattern repeat regardless of fabric width.
• Weft is the yarn that passes horizontally across the fabric roll, generally is it shorter and governs the horizontal pattern repeat regardless of fabric width.
• Bias is any diagonal direction on a woven fabric. The "true" bias is along the 45- degree angle and has the most elasticity.

23. On-Demand Manufacturing: A production model where items are made only after an order is placed, reducing waste. Fabra’s platform supports on-demand production seamlessly.

24. Fabric Yield: The amount of fabric required to create a garment. Fabra’s integrated tech packs help calculate fabric yield accurately.

25. Trend Forecasting: Anticipating future fashion trends to design relevant collections. Fabra can integrate mood boards and templates aligned with current trends.

26. Mood Board: A mood board is a compilation of design inspiration and is created by designers as a starting point to visualise colors, trends, shapes and design details to incorporate into a collection. Mood boards tel; a visual story and highlight core details and themes that will flow throughout a collection and create cohesion.

27:Silhouette: A silhouette refers to the shape or garment eg: longline silhouette

Other terms related to silhouette are:

• A line- narrow at the top and wider at the bottom like an “A”.
• Empire- fitted on the bust and flared out from the under bustline.
• Fit and flare- fitted to the waist and then flared out to the hemline.
• Drop waist- slim or fitted to the hipline with a flared or gathered skirt to the hemline.
• Column / sheath - skims the body without excessive ruffles, flares.

The Importance of Knowing Fashion Design Terms

Understanding fashion terminology isn’t just about speaking the language of fashion; it’s about unlocking the full potential of your design and manufacturing processes.

• Enhance collaboration: Communicate effectively with producers and team members.
• Streamline workflow: Navigate tech packs and go into design details and templates with ease.
• Elevated designs: Leverage advanced understanding of design features like drape, adding design lines and detailed instructions to refine your creations.
• Sustainable practice: Align your process with industry standards in sustainability and ethical production.

Empowering You With Our Design Experience

Understanding the industry’s key terms and abbreviations is a game-changer for anyone with a creative eye. Whether you’re an entrepreneur launching a new line or an established brand exploring custom apparel and 3D product design, our Fabra fashion glossary is your first step towards mastering the design process and thriving in the world of fashion.

Unlock your full potential with Fabra, create standout products with our easy to use 3D design tool and produce premium custom apparel. Sign up for exclusive design resources and early access!