English for Fashion: Essential Vocabulary & Phrases

"silhouette"

The overall outline or shape of a garment as seen from the outside

"The designer chose an A-line silhouette for the evening collection to flatter a wide range of body types."

"drape"

The way a fabric falls and flows around the body when worn or displayed

"The bias-cut silk gown had a beautiful drape that moved elegantly with the model on the runway."

"color palette"

The specific set of colors chosen for a fashion collection or garment

"The spring collection featured a soft color palette of blush, sage green, and warm ivory."

"deconstructed"

A design approach in which traditional garment construction is deliberately exposed or subverted

"His deconstructed blazer with exposed seams and an unfinished hem was the standout piece of the show."

"avant-garde"

Experimental, innovative, or unconventional fashion that pushes beyond mainstream aesthetics

"The avant-garde collection challenged conventional ideas of wearability with sculptural forms and unusual materials."

"minimalist"

A design philosophy focused on simplicity, clean lines, and the absence of unnecessary decoration

"The minimalist aesthetic of the brand relies on precise tailoring and a neutral color palette rather than embellishment."

"embellishment"

Decorative elements added to a garment, such as beading, embroidery, or appliqué

"Each couture gown required over 400 hours of hand embellishment by the atelier's skilled artisans."

"proportion"

The relationship between the sizes of different parts of a garment or outfit

"The stylist balanced the oversized jacket with slim-fit trousers to create harmonious proportion in the look."

"warp and weft"

The two sets of threads in a woven fabric: the warp runs lengthwise and the weft runs crosswise

"The quality of a woven fabric depends largely on the tension of both the warp and weft during production."

"bias cut"

Cutting fabric at a 45-degree angle to the grain, resulting in a stretchy, body-hugging drape

"Madeleine Vionnet popularised the bias cut in the 1930s, creating gowns that clung to the body effortlessly."

"selvage"

The tightly woven edges of a fabric that run parallel to the warp threads and prevent fraying

"The tailor instructed the apprentice never to cut through the selvage when laying out the pattern pieces."

"jacquard"

A fabric woven on a Jacquard loom, featuring intricate woven-in patterns or figures

"The brocade jacket was made from a silk jacquard with a floral motif woven directly into the fabric structure."

"hand feel"

The tactile quality of a fabric — its texture, weight, softness, and overall sensation when touched

"Buyers at the trade show consistently praised the hand feel of the new organic cashmere blend."

"deadstock"

Unused fabric left over from previous production runs, often sourced sustainably by emerging designers

"The sustainable brand built its entire collection from deadstock fabrics sourced from Italian mills."

"technical fabric"

A high-performance material engineered for specific properties such as moisture-wicking, stretch, or water resistance

"The activewear line used a four-way stretch technical fabric that retained its shape after repeated washing."

"grège"

Raw or undyed silk thread or fabric in its natural state before any processing

"The couturier preferred grège silk for toile work because its weight closely matched the final fabric."

"toile"

A prototype garment made in inexpensive fabric to test a pattern before cutting into the final material

"The head seamstress fitted the toile on the house model and marked alterations before cutting the duchess satin."

"grading"

The process of scaling a pattern up or down to create a range of standardised sizes

"After finalising the sample in a size 10, the pattern cutter began grading the design across sizes 6 to 18."

"basting"

Temporary hand or machine stitching used to hold pieces together before final sewing

"The tailor used long basting stitches to assemble the coat before the customer arrived for the first fitting."

"ease"

The amount of extra room built into a garment beyond the body measurements to allow for movement and comfort

"The pattern included 5 cm of ease across the chest to ensure the jacket was comfortable for everyday wear."

"notch"

A small cut or mark on a pattern edge used to align fabric pieces correctly during assembly

"Matching the notches carefully when sewing the sleeve head prevents twisting and ensures a clean set-in sleeve."

"flat pattern making"

A method of creating patterns by drafting directly onto paper using measurements and geometric principles

"Students in the technical design course learned both flat pattern making and draping on the stand."

"overlocker"

A sewing machine that trims the seam allowance and encloses raw edges simultaneously to prevent fraying

"All internal seams were finished with an overlocker to give the ready-to-wear garments a clean, professional interior."

"bespoke"

Clothing made entirely to an individual client's measurements and specifications, typically by a skilled tailor

"The diplomat ordered a bespoke suit from a Savile Row tailor, requiring three fittings before completion."

"lookbook"

A visual catalogue of photographs showcasing a brand's collection, used for marketing and wholesale purposes

"The creative director shot the lookbook in Morocco to reinforce the collection's North African-inspired aesthetic."

"wholesale"

The sale of goods in large quantities to retailers at a lower price than the eventual retail selling price

"The brand expanded from direct-to-consumer sales into wholesale by signing stockist agreements with ten department stores."

"markdown"

A reduction in the retail price of merchandise, typically used to clear unsold inventory at the end of a season

"The buying team negotiated a markdown allowance with the vendor to cover end-of-season stock that did not sell through."

"sell-through rate"

The percentage of inventory sold within a given period compared to the amount originally received

"A sell-through rate above 80% in the first four weeks indicated the new denim line was a strong commercial success."

"capsule collection"

A small, focused range of versatile pieces designed to work together, often released as a limited edition

"The celebrity collaborated on a ten-piece capsule collection that sold out within hours of its online launch."

"merchandising"

The process of selecting, buying, and presenting products to maximise sales appeal and commercial performance

"Visual merchandising played a crucial role in the flagship store's success, drawing customers deeper into the space."

"trade show"

An industry event where brands present new collections to buyers, press, and distributors

"The accessories brand secured twelve new stockists after showing at the trade show in Paris."

"fast fashion"

A business model based on rapidly producing large volumes of trend-driven clothing at low cost

"The documentary examined the environmental and social costs of the fast fashion model on garment workers worldwide."

"opening look"

The first outfit worn by a model as a show begins, setting the tone and creative direction for the entire collection

"The opening look — a stark white sculptural coat — immediately signalled a departure from the brand's previous maximalism."

"finale"

The closing sequence of a fashion show, often featuring the most dramatic pieces and the designer's walk

"The bridal gown that closed the finale drew a standing ovation from the audience in the Palais Royal gardens."

"casting"

The process of selecting models to appear in a fashion show or campaign, conducted by a casting director

"The casting for the spring show prioritised diversity, featuring models from twenty different countries."

"fit model"

A model hired specifically for fittings and garment adjustments during the design and production process

"The atelier's fit model had been with the house for fifteen years and was central to the development of every collection."

"walk"

A model's individual style of moving down the runway, which can significantly affect how a garment is perceived

"Her distinctive walk — slow, deliberate, and commanding — made every garment she wore appear more powerful."

"press day"

An event held after a fashion show where journalists and editors review the collection up close and speak with the brand

"Editors from Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and WWD attended press day to examine the construction details of the couture pieces."

"stylist"

A professional who selects and coordinates clothing, accessories, and overall looks for shows, shoots, or clients

"The editorial stylist pulled looks from six different brands to create the unified narrative of the magazine shoot."

"mood board"

A visual collage of images, textures, and references used to communicate the creative direction of a collection

"The designer's mood board for the autumn collection combined imagery of 1970s Tokyo with brutalist architecture."

"circular fashion"

A system designed to keep clothing in use for as long as possible through repair, resale, rental, or recycling

"The brand's take-back programme is central to its circular fashion model, recovering over 60% of sold garments annually."

"greenwashing"

The practice of making misleading claims about the environmental benefits of a product or business practice

"The consumer advocacy group accused the retailer of greenwashing after finding that its "eco" line contained mostly virgin polyester."

"traceability"

The ability to track and verify every stage of a product's supply chain from raw material to finished garment

"Full supply chain traceability is now a prerequisite for premium retailers that have made public sustainability commitments."

"upcycling"

Transforming waste materials or old garments into new products of higher quality or value

"The collection was built entirely through upcycling vintage deadstock and end-of-roll fabrics sourced from European mills."

"living wage"

A wage level sufficient to meet a worker's basic needs for a decent standard of living, beyond the legal minimum wage

"The certification body requires all member brands to pay a living wage to workers at every tier of their supply chain."

"carbon footprint"

The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, event, organisation, or product

"The brand published an audit showing that shifting to renewable energy had cut its carbon footprint by 34% in one year."

"slow fashion"

A counter-movement to fast fashion that promotes quality over quantity, ethical production, and longer garment lifespans

"Slow fashion advocates encourage consumers to buy fewer, better-made pieces and care for them properly to extend their life."

"B Corp certification"

A third-party accreditation awarded to companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency

"Achieving B Corp certification required the fashion label to demonstrate ethical labour practices throughout its entire supply chain."